Justin Bieber’s comeback single “What Do You Mean?” is unstoppable. After delivering the superstar his first No. 1 debut on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart, the tropical house-pop jam has topped Billboard’s Pop Songs chart and is on track to top the U.K.’s official singles chart for the fifth non-consecutive week.
After the horrendous invasion of privacy of last week, Bieber’s new week has kickstarted in the best way. The 21-year-old’s immaculate pop stomper hiked two place from No. 3 to No. 1 on the Pop Songs chart, and is concurrently leading the race for No. 1 on the next Mediabase pop airplay chart.
Billboard’s Pop Songs chart positions are based on top 40-based radio airplay as measured by Nielsen Music. And for the week ending October 24, Bieber’s “ What Do You Mean? ” is No. 1 on the chart, which is a first for the singer.
Billboard Pop Songs: #1(+2) What Do You Mean?, @justinbieber [8 weeks]. *his 1st #1 single* — Chart News (@chartnews) October 12, 2015
The zenith spot echoes Bieber scoring his historic No. 1 with the song on Billboard’s Hot 100 singles chart on September 8. Currently, the track — which is the lead single from his November 13-dropping Purpose album — is No. 3 on the Hot 100.
Billboard Hot 100: #3(-1) What Do You Mean?, @justinbieber [6 weeks]. *peak: #1 for a week*
— Chart News (@chartnews) October 12, 2015
Meanwhile, in the U.K., the Biebs is tracking for a fifth week at No.1 on the official singles chart. On Monday, the Official Charts Company confirmed the song is still No.1 on their midweek update.
With that said, the margin between “Mean” and the rest of the top five — in descending order: R City’s “Locked Away,” Naughty Boy’s “Runnin’ (Lose It All),” and Sam Smith’s “Writing On The Wall” — is only 4,000 units.
There’s a three-way battle for Number 1 on this week’s singles chart… http://t.co/9Ov2DySGzq pic.twitter.com/j6L9Yr7HCR
— Official Charts (@officialcharts) October 12, 2015
Billboard cited two names in radio for their views on the success of “Mean,” one before the record was released. The other, after. “Radio’s going to embrace it in a big way,” Sharon Dastur, iHeartMedia senior VP of programming integration, told the music publication in August.
She added, “[ Bieber’s ] gotten back into the good graces of people, not only from [‘Where Are U Now’], but from the way he’s basically said, ‘Hey, I’ve been growing up.’”
WBLI Nassau, N.Y. program director Jeremy Rice was even more direct. Of “Mean,” he said, “[It] is a great pop song.”
To date, “What Do You Mean?” is approaching 900,000 in sales in the U.S. alone. According to Nielsen Music, the song sold 80,163 copies during the October 2-8 tracking period, brining its cume sales total to 893,281.
In other Bieber news, hot on the heels of the revealing Purpose’s cover artwork on Friday — designed by Los Angeles-based street artist Retna — the heartthrob also previewed a snippet of “Sorry,” his highly anticipated collaboration with pal Drake.
The singer posted two teaser clips to his Instagram on Sunday but one was deleted. Both clips show the shirtless Biebs working on urban dance moves with longtime choreographer, Nick DeMoura.
Justin captioned the still remaining video “It it too late to say I’m sorry now? @nickdemoura.” The second previously read, “Sorry @nickdemoura.”
Another part of the song is heard in the second clip.
Drake and Justin worked together on “Right Here” in 2012. The Toronto rapper also co-wrote “One Life” on the singer’s low-fi, R&B Journals project in 2013.
Justin first revealed Drake will guest on his new record during an August interview. Describing the feted MC as his “Canadian brother,” the singer said he was “excited” about collaborating with him.
The Biebs is set to unleash the second single from his album on November 6, one week before Purpose officially touches down on November 13.
Following hints on the singer’s Instagram and a fresh sounds listing on the website of the U.K.’s Capital FM, all signs point to “No Pressure” being the next single. But don’t hold us to that. “Sorry” may well be the next roll-out.
Before teasing new music over the weekend, Justin followed up his multi- Purpose posts with a pic taken from the album cover shoot . It’s very “I’m Spartacus” and we’re kind of loving it. Whether it’s used in the final cover art visuals remains to be seen.
https://instagram.com/p/8r7J97gvkz/?taken-by=justinbieber
Congrats! @JustinBieber scores his first Pop Songs No. 1 with “What Do You Mean?” http://t.co/PC74asEyCy
— billboard (@billboard) October 12, 2015
[Images via Getty Images]