Senior Moments: Never Too Old to Top the Charts

This summer, two middle-aged artists hit No. 1 on the Billboard albums chart, each for the very first time in their long careers. In July, 54-year-old "Weird Al" Yankovic scored with Mandatory Fun. Just two weeks later, Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers (average age: 63) topped the chart with Hypnotic Eye.

Pop-chart guru and Soundcheck regular Chris Molanphy  wrote about these "senior moments" for Pitchfork. Even though this year's other No. 1 albums were released by relatively younger artists, Molanphy writes, Yankovic and the Heartbreakers are the latest in a decade-long string of acts reaching the penthouse for the first time -- or for the first time in decades. It's partially about older fans still buying music, but many of these older acts are also working every possible angle to score a hit. 

Before you read his piece, take Molanphy's pop-chart quiz!