Record World Annual Award - 1970

[johnjeb]

I did find a pdf of the 12/26/70 issue of Billboard and on page TA-20, it lists Diana as #1 Female Vocalist in the Top Singles Artist category, with three charted singles. Behind her rounding out the top five were Freda Payne, Aretha, Dionne, and Melanie.

https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Ar...1970-12-26.pdf

I was wondering why the discrepancy from the 1970 publication showing Diana as #1 Female vocalist for 1970 and the Billboard Singles book published in 2000 showing Aretha as #1.

Most likely their point system changed. Diana had 3 releases and a #1 hit in 1970, her 3 releases were on the charts for a total of 33 weeks. Freda had 2 releases and a #3 hit, her singles charting for a total of 31 weeks; Aretha had 4 releases but none in the Top 10, her singles charting for a total of 37 weeks.

So it seems the ranking in 1970 was based on the highest chart number achieved followed by number of weeks all records charted. The 2000 publication states that ranking was based solely on points for highest charted position. In the case of a tie then ranking was based on: most charted singles, followed by most Top 40 hits, followed by most Top 10 hits. So Diana and Aretha possibly tied and Aretha having 4 singles to Diana's 3 broke the tie. [I did not try to figure out the point values and just reached a conclusion based on the information. No deep dive here. The 2000 publication only provides the #1 artist so I'm guessing Diana was possibly #2.]