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\n\tThe Contenders<\/a> is a midweek column that looks at artists aiming for the top of the <\/em>Billboard charts, and the strategies behind their efforts. This week, for the upcoming Billboard Hot 100 dated Nov. 30, we look at whether the longest-running No. 1 of 2024 is about to tie the record the longest-running No. 1 of all-time. <\/em>\u00a0<\/p>\n \n\tShaboozey, \u201cA Bar Song (Tipsy)\u201d (American Dogwood\/EMPIRE\/Magnolia Music): \u00a0<\/strong>It\u2019s graduation week for \u201cA Bar Song\u201d on the Billboard Hot 100<\/a> this week, as its reign on top turns 18. The song is currently also trending toward a 17th week at No. 1 on Radio Songs<\/a> \u2013 while this past week, it logged its 15th week atop the charts simultaneously, a new record for the longest such double-up since Radio Songs began in 1990, passing Mariah Carey<\/a>\u2019s \u201cWe Belong Together.\u201d It has also been top 10 on the Digital Song Sales<\/a> chart continuously since late April and Streaming Songs<\/a> since May; it has been top 10 on all three Hot 100 component charts, including Radio Songs, concurrently each week since late June.\u00a0<\/p>\n \n\tIs there any reason to think it\u2019s due for any big falls or rises before next week, where it goes for its all-time record-tying 19th week at No. 1 \u2013 potentially matching Lil Nas X\u2019s Billy Ray Cyrus-featuring \u201cOld Town Road\u201d from five years earlier? Well, it slid more (though not a tremendous amount) this week in both streaming and radio airplay, though its sales were up 16%. The song\u2019s overall momentum going into next week might depend\u00a0on tonight\u2019s (Nov. 20) CMA Awards, where Shaboozey<\/a> is both a scheduled performer and a nominee in single of the year (for \u201cBar Song\u201d) and best new artist. \u00a0<\/p>\n \n\tWith a big, consumption-driving night at the CMAs tonight (and with next week\u2019s charts reflecting consumption for the tracking week ending Thursday), the timing might be right next week for Shaboozey to etch his name in the Billboard<\/em> history books. \u00a0<\/p>\n \n\tLady Gaga & Bruno Mars, \u201cDie With a Smile\u201d (Streamline\/Interscope\/Atlantic\/ICLG): <\/strong>Despite being a full three months into its lifespan at this point, \u201cDie With a Smile\u201d is still gaining chart momentum, as it hits the Radio Songs top five and No. 1 on Pop Airplay<\/a> \u2014 Gaga<\/a>\u2018s first time reaching those heights since 2011. The song\u2019s streaming looks to be relatively even with last week, and it\u2019s currently discounted to 69 cents on iTunes \u2013 as is\u00a0\u201cA Bar Song\u201d \u2014 so it should be a pretty close battle next week on the Hot 100 between the two. If Shaboozey does get a CMAs bump, can Gaga and Bruno<\/a> and their respective teams\u00a0find a way before Friday to get their song a little extra juice? These questions might determine the winner in what should be a very closely monitored Hot 100 race next week. \u00a0<\/p>\n \n\tGracie Abrams, \u201cThat\u2019s So True\u201d (Interscope\/ICLG)<\/strong>: After topping Streaming Songs and hitting the Hot 100\u2019s top 10 for the first time this week, \u201cThat\u2019s So True\u201d has become the first truly undeniable smash of Gracie Abrams<\/a>\u2019 career. The song\u2019s streaming growth seems to be slowing this week \u2014 so it might not be challenging for No. 1 as soon as next week \u2013 but it\u2019s gotten big enough that Abrams\u2019 Interscope label has started to shift its radio promotional efforts (previously focused on \u201cClose to You\u201d and \u201cI Love You, I\u2019m Sorry\u201d) to it. If radio starts to pick up on \u201cTrue\u201d the way streaming has, there\u2019s probably no ceiling on how high the song can continue to climb for the rest of 2024 and into 2025. \u00a0<\/p>\n \n\tMariah Carey, \u201cAll I Want for Christmas Is You\u201d (Columbia\/Legacy)<\/strong>: As the weather cools down, Mariah Carey<\/a> just starts getting stronger. \u201cAll I Want for Christmas Is You\u201d is starting to get its usual seasonal airplay, and jumps from 34 to 21 on this week\u2019s Streaming Songs chart \u2014 the highest-ranking holiday entry \u2014 and should continue climbing in leaps and bounds in the weeks to come. \u201cAll I Want\u201d could rechart on the Hot 100 \u2014 maybe even in the top 10 \u2014 as soon as next week, and from then it\u2019s only a matter of time before it becomes the frontrunner to reign again during the holiday season, for the sixth calendar year in a row. And if it does\u2026 it\u2019s already racked up 14 weeks total at No. 1, so it might not be long until it gets in the all-time record conversation with Lil Nas X and Billy Ray Cyrus (and soon enough, possibly Shaboozey). \u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n