Backstreet Boys, J Lo, Enrique in 2018 top 40

But Top 40 radio is relentlessly focused on youth. Top current acts include Shawn Mendes (19), Halsey (23), Post Malone (23), Bazzi (20) and Ariana Grande (25).

Most acts from the late 1990s, from Sugar Ray to Ricky Martin, have not had top 40 hits in ages.

So it's like getting thrown into a time machine to see the Backstreet Boys, J. Lo and Enrique all on the top 40 chart in 2018 at the same time. Four of the five Backstreet Boys are older than 40 (with Nick Carter the relative baby at 38). Enrique is 43. J. Lo is a year shy of turning 50 (but looking 15 years younger.)

This week, the Backstreet Boys’ “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart” is at No. 17 in its ninth week on the Mediabase top 40 airplay chart and is still climbing with an outside shot at the top 10. And they are still making their signature dance moves in their video.

J Lo’s multi-lingual “Dinero,” with assists from the ubiquitous combo of DJ Khaled and Cardi B, is at No. 25. In its eighth week, it’s still gaining airplay but it will need a real push to get into top 10. In her music video, she is shown at a mansion turning ribs on a grill wearing lingerie and playing poker with three shirtless hot dudes. There’s also an ostrich.

Enrique’s “Move to Miami” with help from Pitbull (of course) peaked at No. 26 a couple of weeks ago and is now at No. 37 after 10 weeks. That’s not quite a hit but it did get some airplay for a time.  He also looks far younger than his actual age. In the video, wearing a backwards baseball cap certainly doesn’t hurt.

Q100 program director Louis Diaz said those three acts were played regularly when the station debuted in 2001. Despite their veteran status, he noted, "current audiences have responded positively to their new hits with little or no-tune out when the song plays on the radio."

The station has played all three singles.

Backstreet Boys is on light rotation on Q100, with 16 spins the past week and 188 spins since May. (Power has not played the single beyond countdown shows.)

Enrique had 181 spins so far. Rival Power 96.1 tried it only 51 times.

Both Q100 and Power increased their airplay of J Lo’s song this past week with Q100 up to 23 spins from 10 and Power from 5 to 10.

There are two other acts that broke it big in the early 2000s that are also in the top 40: Big Boi and Maroon 5.

Atlanta's Big Boi, 43, who had his first big song in 2000 with "Mrs. Jackson" with Outkast, is at No. 28 with his solo single "All Night." The Candler Park market and downtown's Metro Cafe Diner are featured in the video along with a blatant promo for Lyft.

And Maroon 5 has managed to pump out more than 20 top 40 hits since "Harder to Breath" in 2002, an impressive feat. Lead singer Adam Levine, 39, has helped keep the momentum going since joining "The Voice" seven years ago.

“Maroon 5 have worked hard to remain relevant through the years,” Diaz of Q100 noted, “including their current song ‘Girls Like You’ with Cardi B featured on the song. Cardi B is red hot in both Urban and Top 40 charts so the collaboration is very timely.”

Yes, Cardi B is fueling two older acts up the charts along with her own single “I Like It” at No. 7.

Indeed, the song is now at No. 3 in its seventh week and is primed to hit No. 1.

It’s in the highest level of rotation on Q100 with 110 spins this past week. On Power, it’s on the second level of power rotation with 63 spins.

One more veteran is on the top 40 right now: 37-year-old Justin Timberlake, who has been charting since 'N Sync sine 1996 and as a solo artist since 2002. He is at No. 30 with "Soulmate" in its second week.

And speaking of the 1990s, two actors who defined themselves that decade are literally titles of songs in the top 40. "Drew Barrymore" by Bryce Vine is at No. 22 and "Jackie Chan" by Tiesto & Dzeko is at No. 31.