The Sony Walkman fuels the fitness craze but dooms music on staticky AM as Top 40 moves to FM. Upbeat workout songs top the charts, fledgling MTV triples its subscribers and launches a “Second British Invasion” of video-savvy New Wave and Synthpop acts, John Cougar’s “Heartland Rock” soundtracks the recession-plagued first full year of the Reagan presidency, and Black artists hit a low ebb on the charts before Michael Jackson and Thriller at year’s end.

#1 Song of the Year   The top song according to our Chartcrush ranking of all Hot100 songs that earned the majority of their chart ranking points in the year

Artists of the Year   The top three artists based on all charted songs during the calendar year

1. John Cougar
2. Hall & Oates
3. Rick Springfield

Artist with Most Charting Songs   Artist(s) with the most Hot100 charting songs during the year (song count in parentheses)

• 5-WAY TIE: Hall & Oates/Air Supply/Rick Springfield/Kool & The Gang/Sheena Easton (4)

Average #1 Artist Age   The average of how old artists who scored #1 Hot100 hits during the year were when their songs first reached #1

• 34.1 years

#1 Songs   List of Hot100 #1 songs that earned the majority of their chart ranking points in the year, and (in parentheses), the month the song first hit #1 and the total number of weeks it was #1

1. Daryl Hall & John Oates – I Can’t Go for That (No Can Do) (January, 1 wk)
2. J. Geils Band – Centerfold (February, 6 wks)
3. Joan Jett & The Blackhearts – I Love Rock ‘n Roll (March, 7 wks)
4. Vangelis – Chariots of Fire – Titles (May, 1 wk)
5. Paul McCartney with Stevie Wonder – Ebony and Ivory (May, 7 wks)
6. The Human League – Don’t You Want Me (July, 3 wks)
7. Survivor – Eye of the Tiger (July, 6 wks)
8. The Steve Miller Band – Abracadabra (September, 2 wks)
9. Chicago – Hard to Say I’m Sorry (September, 2 wks)
10. John Cougar – Jack & Diane (October, 4 wks)
11. Men at Work – Who Can It Be Now? (October, 1 wk)
12. Joe Cocker & Jennifer Warnes – Up Where We Belong (November, 3 wks)
13. Lionel Richie – Truly (November, 2 wks)
14. Toni Basil – Mickey (December, 1 wk)
15. Daryl Hall & John Oates – Maneater (December, 4 wks)