Madonna takes center stage and becomes an icon, George Michael grows up and goes solo, and video fuels a surge of over-the-top melodrama on the charts as President Reagan starts his second term with a massive mandate, Rock turns 30, and a who’s who of Pop’s biggest stars raise millions for Africa with “We Are the World” and the Live Aid benefit. But where is Prince?

#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. Madonna
2. Bryan Adams
3. Phil Collins

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

• 3-WAY TIE: Madonna/Bryan Adams/Prince (5)

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

• 30.0 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. Madonna – Like a Virgin (December ’84, 6 wks)
2. Foreigner – I Want to Know What Love Is (February, 2 wks)
3. Wham! feat. George Michael – Careless Whisper (February, 3 wks)
4. REO Speedwagon – Can’t Fight This Feeling (March, 3 wks)
5. Phil Collins – One More Night (March, 2 wks)
6. USA for Africa – We Are the World (April, 4 wks)
7. Madonna – Crazy for You (May, 1 wk)
8. Simple Minds – Don’t You (Forget About Me) (May, 1 wk)
9. Wham! – Everything She Wants (Remix) (May, 2 wks)
10. Tears for Fears – Everybody Wants to Rule the World (June, 2 wks)
11. Bryan Adams – Heaven (June, 2 wks)
12. Phil Collins – Sussudio (July, 1 wk)
13. Duran Duran – A View to a Kill (July, 2 wks)
14. Paul Young – Everytime You Go Away (July, 1 wk)
15. Tears for Fears – Shout (August, 3 wks)
16. Huey Lewis & the News – Power of Love (August, 2 wks)
17. John Parr – St. Elmo’s Fire (Man in Motion) (September, 2 wks)
18. Dire Straits – Money for Nothing (September, 3 wks)
19. Ready for the World – Oh Sheila (October, 1 wk)
20. A-Ha – Take on Me (October, 1 wk)
21. Whitney Houston – Saving All My Love for You (October, 1 wk)
22. Stevie Wonder – Part-Time Lover (November, 1 wk)
23. Jan Hammer – Miami Vice Theme (November, 1 wk)
24. Starship – We Built This City (November, 2 wks)
25. Phil Collins & Marilyn Martin – Separate Lives (November, 1 wk)
26. Mr. Mister – Broken Wings (December, 2 wks)