This Day in Top 40 History: July 18
On July 18, 2008, Billy Joel played the final concert at New York’s Shea Stadium before the iconic venue was demolished. In this farewell concert, Joel brought out Tony Bennett,…
On July 18, 2008, Billy Joel played the final concert at New York's Shea Stadium before the iconic venue was demolished. In this farewell concert, Joel brought out Tony Bennett, Garth Brooks, Paul McCartney, Steven Tyler, and more. Keep reading to see what other historic moments in Top 40 history occurred on July 18.
Breakthrough Hits and Milestones
July 18 has seen career-building successes, including:
- 1960: Young starlet Brenda Lee hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 with "I'm Sorry." This mature pop ballad helped shape the career of the teen singer, already known as "Little Miss Dynamite."
- 1964: The Rolling Stones reached No. 48 on the Billboard Hot 100 with their remake of Buddy Holly and The Crickets' "Not Fade Away." While the song only peaked at No. 48, it wouldn't be long before the band found success with U.S. audiences.
Cultural Milestones
Some acts’ achievements on July 18 had even greater significance:
- 1998: New York City locals the Beastie Boys went to No. 1 on the U.K. album charts with Hello Nasty, helping spearhead the success of rap acts across the pond.
- 2013: Pink broke two records in Melbourne, Australia, during her The Truth About Love tour, performing more shows than any other artist at the Rod Laver Arena and selling more than 250,000 tickets at the venue.
Notable Recordings and Performances
Big names that got their start on July 18 include:
- 1978: Def Leppard performed their first ever live gig for 150 students in their hometown. Less than a year later, the band released their first EP and launched into stardom.
- 1991: The Lollapalooza music festival opened for the first time in Phoenix, Arizona. What began as a tour eventually transformed into a landmark music festival with a permanent home in Grant Park, Chicago.
Industry Changes and Challenges
Events on this day show just some of the diverse ways artists can achieve iconic status in the modern music industry:
- 2018: Billy Joel became the first musician to play 100 gigs at Madison Square Garden. In honor of this and his connection to the city, New York dubbed July 18 "Billy Joel Day."
- 2019: Ed Sheeran released No. 6 Collaborations Project, which racked up over 100 million streams in just three days. At the same time, Sheeran also set a record for monthly listeners, with more than 69 million people streaming his music every month.
From once-in-a-lifetime performances to astonishing lifetime accomplishments, July 18 is full of memorable music history. As the industry evolves year after year, artists rise to meet the occasion and leave a lasting impression on audiences around the world.
