Ultratop celebrates its 25-year milestone
On 8 April 1995 the first Ultratop-chart was released, the official Belgian charts. There was a need for an accurate overview of the best-selling music. That is why Ultratop was founded by the music industry with the aim of creating the best possible charts that could serve as an objective reference for the music industry, the media, the public and to promote the music as a whole.
25 years later, Ultratop is still changing with the times and all parameters (sales, streaming, airplay) are objectively mapped to see how music is consumed and which music is most popular. The broadcasts remain popular and the playlists on the streaming platforms are doing well. The Ultratop website is well visited and with its unique, extensive archives helps to build and support local music heritage.
Sam Jaspers, director Ultratop: "We were of course very happy with the recognition we received with the Lifetime Achievement MIA early this year. To celebrate our 25th anniversary, we also created an Ultratop 1000, an overview of the biggest hits of the past 25 years. You'll be amazed at how many artists and genres were featured in those years. Sometimes one-hit-wonders, but also numerous hits that have made their way into the collective memory. The impressive careers of many artists are now fully embodied in those 25 years. For me, the success of Fixkes stays with me, just like the immense sales of 'Candle In The Wind '97' by Elton John (released after the death of Princess Diana), Las Ketchup, Stromae, Ed Sheeran, Adele, K3, The Black Eyed Peas and the immense album successes of Helmut Lotti and Céline Dion".
Patrick Guns, chairman of the board of directors of Ultratop and general manager of Universal Music: "Ultratop has been providing weekly and reliable coverage of the most successful songs and artists in Flanders and Wallonia for 25 years. For every artist it is a dream to be number 1 on this list one day and for us as a music company the Ultratop charts remain an indispensable working tool and an important promotional tool".
Below you'll find a movie about Ultratop with the cooperation of a few people from the record companies, presenters and artists:
https://www.ultratop.be/nl/press/1009/Bekijk-ons-filmpje:-25-jaar-Ultratop,-een-blik-op-vroeger-en-nu
The Ultratop 1000 can be viewed in full below:
https://www.ultratop.be/nl/charts/25-jaar-ultratop-top-1000
We'd like to list some records of the Ultratop 1000:
- 24% of the titles are local
- 11% of the titles are in Dutch
- Biggest local hits:
1 Artiesten Voor Tsunami 12-12 – Geef een teken
2 Gotye feat. Kimbra – Somebody that I used to know
3 Mozaïek & Walter Grootaers – Leef
-Most local hits: -Most international hits:
K3: 12 Rihanna: 16
Milk Inc.: 12 David Guetta: 13
Natalia: 9 Britney Spears: 9
Clouseau: 7 Christina Aguilera: 9
Lost Frequencies: 7 Lady Gaga: 9
-Most hits man: -Most hits woman:
David Guetta: 13 Rihanna: 16
Bruno Mars: 8 Britney Spears: 9
Calvin Harris: 8 Christina Aguilera: 9
Ed Sheeran: 8 Lady Gaga: 9
Eminem: 7 Natalia: 9
Lost Frequencies: 7
Marco Borsato: 7
-Most hits group: -Biggest hits:
K3: 12 Vlaams: Artiesten Voor Tsunami 12-12 – Geef een teken
Milk Inc.: 12 Nederlands: Marco Borsato – Rood
Black Eyed Peas: 8 Spaans: Las Ketchup – The ketchup song (Aserejé)
Clouseau: 7 Frans: Stromae – Alors on danse
Pussycat Dolls: 6 Duits: Schnappi – Schnappi, das kleine Krokodil
Clean Bandit: 5 Italiaans: Andrea Bocelli - Con te partirò
Coldplay: 5 Portugees: Michel Teló – Ai se eu te pego!
Instrumentaal: Martin Garrix – Animals
90's: Elton John – Candle in the wind ‘97
00's: Artiesten Voor Tsunami 12-12 – Geef een teken
10's: Ed Sheeran – Perfect
-Most number one hits: -Most top 10 hits:
Black Eyed Peas + Will.i.am: 10 (7 + 3) Milk Inc. + Regi: 50 (31 + 19)
Milk Inc. + Regi: 6 (4 + 2) Rihanna: 27
Lost Frequencies: 5 David Guetta: 23
Marco Borsato: 5
-Longest at number 1 spot (weeks):
17 Tones and I – Dance monkey
16 Fixkes – Kvraagetaan
15 Ed Sheeran – Shape of you
15 Ava Max – Sweet but psycho
ALBUMS
-Most number 1 albums: -Longest at number 1 spot (weeks):
K3: 13 38 Adele - 21
Clouseau: 12 19 Stromae – Racine carrée
Helmut Lotti: 9 18 Marco Borsato - Onderweg
Christoff: 7 18 Stan Van Samang – Liefde voor publiek
Madonna: 7 16 Niels Destadsbader - Dertig
Marco Borsato: 7