This Day in Top 40 History: March 7
March 7 has seen notable performances by artists such as SZA, Bruno Mars, and Usher. Singer Ke$ha left a rehabilitation center and dropped the $ from her name to start a softer era of her music. The hit single “We Are the World” was released, and Lady Gaga had mysterious markings and letters on her website teasing the lyrics of her upcoming album.
Breakthrough Hits and Milestones
Many March 7 hits and milestones have kept the Top 40 industry thrumming:
- 2019: Singer Shawn Mendes started his world tour with an appearance in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. His back-to-back shows sold out.
- 2020: Bruno Mars played MGM’s Park Theater in Las Vegas as part of his Las Vegas residency.
- 2023: For her SOS tour, singer SZA appeared at the State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. This was the first time the Grammy-nominated SZA had performed in a sizable arena.
Cultural Milestones
Performances and songs can impact the music industry and overall culture, with many coming to prominence on March 7:
- 1985: The single “We Are the World” was released, raising thousands of dollars to aid Africa. It still raises money today after the release of the documentary The Greatest Night in Pop.
- 2025: Lady Gaga’s seventh studio album, Mayhem, which followed a companion project she and Joaquin Phoenix created for the film Joker: Folie à Deux, was released. She’s teased the album lyrics with mysterious floating letters on her website. Lady Gaga continues to break barriers in the music industry with her appearances, performances, and crossovers into the acting business.
Notable Recordings and Performances
March 7 saw several notable songs and performances:
- 1998: Madonna’s “Frozen” went to No. 2 on the Billboard Eurochart and No. 1 on the U.K. chart. This song was from her Ray of Light album.
- 2014: Usher performed at Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas, for the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. The rodeo fans were thrilled to have such a big name play at this show.
- 2018: Demi Lovato performed at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas.
- 2024: After canceling his It’s All a Blur tour, Drake rescheduled with new dates, one of them on March 7 at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Industry Changes and Challenges
Often, Top 40 artists have personal challenges and triumph over them:
- 2014: Singer Ke$ha left a rehab center after treatment for an eating disorder. She restyled her name to Kesha and thanked her fans for their support during her challenging time.
- 2024: Singer and actress Selena Gomez shared a TikTok video about getting over a breakup with a crush. The video also featured her Only Murders in the Building costar Steve Martin.
The music industry has its challenges, but artists shine through. With stand-out performances, hit recordings, and benefit records raising money to help better the world, March 7 was a big day in Top 40 music history.
