Dear Fred,
Mariah Carey seems to be the biggest thing to hit Billboard since Elvis and the Beatles. She seems to be the owner of every Billboard singles' chart record around (e.g. first woman to debut at No. 1, to have back-to-back debuts at No. 1, to have five singles in a row debut in the top 2, most No. 1's, most weeks at No. 1, most consecutive weeks at No. 1, two streaks of five consecutive No. 1s. . .). However, I was wondering if she would be credited on the Jermaine Dupri single "Sweetheart," if it gets released. If the single is released and doesn't make it to No. 1, would that end her current streak of five consecutive No. 1 singles (each of which have debuted at 1 or 2)? That is a long question which leads me to my next question: If Mariah gets credited on the Jermaine Dupri single "Sweetheart," would that mean that Boyz II Men are credited on the best single-to-date in Billboard history with "One Sweet Day"? If this is the case, that would give the Boyz a total of 51 weeks at No. 1, breathing down the necks of both Mariah and that other musical juggernaut . . . the Beatles. Or am I wrong?
Don Mason

Hello Fred, This is my first time posting here but I was wondering about Mariah Carey's history of single releases and her chances of breaking Whitney Houston's record setting streak of seven No. 1 singles. Mariah currently has five No. 1 songs in a row, and she currently has a record out with Jermaine Dupri entitled "Sweetheart." I was wondering that if this song were to hit No. 1, would it count toward Mariah's No. 1 streak or would it be credited only to Jermaine Dupri?
Mike Grace

FRED's ANSWER:

Dear Don and Mike, "Sweetheart" is credited to JD (Jermaine Dupri) and Mariah Carey, so both get the credit (and conversely, both get the blame if it flops). There's no difference between this and "One Sweet Day" by Mariah Carey & Boyz II Men being credited to both acts (to answer another of your questions), except that Carey got top billing on that hit. The same goes for the forthcoming collaboration of Carey and Whitney Houston on "When You Believe" from "The Prince Of Egypt" soundtrack. Boyz II Men have 50 weeks at No. 1, by the way. Their chart-toppers to date: "End Of The Road" (13 weeks), "I'll Make Love To You" (14), "On Bended Knee" (6), "One Sweet Day" (16), and "Four Seasons Of Loneliness" (1).