Michael Jackson’s “You Are Not Alone” was the first single to debut at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 without a prior charting week.
Billboard introduced the possibility of a No. 1 debut when sales and radio data could support an immediate summit entry. “You Are Not Alone” made that history on the chart dated September 2, 1995. It followed an extensive promotional campaign for Jackson’s HIStory album and drew substantial demand from both pop and adult-contemporary listeners.
The song was written by R. Kelly and became Jackson’s 11th solo No. 1 in the United States. Its chart debut was especially notable because the Hot 100 had traditionally shown a song’s climb from lower positions before it reached the top.
Mariah Carey’s “Fantasy” is another famous No. 1 debut, but it came later in 1995. “You Are Not Alone” therefore holds the earlier milestone, while Carey became the first female performer to achieve the feat.