“Empire”: Chart Performance of Hard Rock and Heavy Metal Groups, 1990–19921

1. The title of this paper is based on Queensrÿche's 1991 album Empire.

Abstract

Members of the music industry have long considered Billboard an important magazine. Published weekly, the magazine contains charts identifying current trends in popular music consumption. The magazine's charts highlight the sales of specific albums and/or singles. Hard rock and heavy metal were the most popular genres in what is been described as “The 1980s,” encompassing 1978–1992. This article scrutinizes the chart performances of select groups between 1990 and 1992. The article also examines how chart performance was affected by the decline of the genres in this period, and the change in how Soundscan compiled information for Billboard affected the genres' place in the music industry.

Notes

1. The title of this paper is based on Queensrÿche's 1991 album Empire.

2. Sernoe (“Now We're on the Top”).

3. Negus (117–18).

4. Liebowitz.

5. Sernoe (“‘Walking Away a Winner’”).

6. Sernoe (“‘Walking Away a Winner’”14).

7. Sernoe (“‘Walking Away a Winner’”15).

8. Shuker (153).

9. Harrison (41–63).

10. Weinstein (278).

11. Weinstein (45).

12. Weinstein (47).

13. Weinstein (52).

14. Pillsbury (xii).

15. Christe (230).

16. Walser.

17. “Top Pop Albums,” Billboard, each issue between 7 April 1990 and 30 June 1990. For all Billboard citations specific page numbers are listed in the reference section.

18. Whitesnake's 1987 release was titled 1987 in Europe, with two additional songs, and Serpens Albus in Japan.

19. “Top Pop Albums” (7 July–29 September 1990).

20. “Top Pop Albums” (6 October–29 December 1990).

21. “Top Pop Albums” (5 January–30 March 1990).

22. “Top Pop Albums” (6 April–29 June 1991).

23. “Top Pop Albums” (6 July–24 August 1991) and “Billboard 200” (31 August–28 September 1991). The chart's name changed with the 31 August 1991 issue.

24. “Top Pop Albums” (5 October–28 December 1991).

25. “Top Pop Albums” (4 January–28 March 1992).

26. ⟨http://www.weht.net/WEHT/Ugly_Kid_Joe.html⟩

27. “Top Pop Albums” (4 April–27 June 1992).