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Billboard Charts

Hot 100

Primary source of ratings for rock singles; based on record sales

Forerunners of the Hot 100

Chart Title	Dates	# of Positions
Best Sellers in Stores	1/1/55 to 10/13/58	25-50
Most Played by DJs	1/1/55 to 7/28/58	20-25
Most Played in Juke Boxes	1/1/55 to 6/17/57	20
Top 100	11/12/55 to 7/28/58	100
*Hot 100*	*8/4/58 to present*	*100*

Emergence of Distinct Teen Culture in the Early 50s

allowance ($$ to spend)
movies geared to teens (Rebel Without a Cause & Blackboard Jungle)
fostered image of "rebellious teen"
teen fashion (dress code, slang, hairstyles, etc.)
rock & roll was their music

Record Sales

Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), began certifying gold singles in 1958 and platinum singles in 1976

Gold Record—1 million units (changed to 500,000 on 1/1/89)
Platinum Record—2 million units (changed to 1 million on 1/1/89)

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