Culture War! as the distinction between “pop culture” and “culture” in America disappears, postmodern irony, boundary-pushing and serial shock prevail and MTV bans a Madonna vid. The Cold War is all but over after the Berlin wall comes down, but the Gulf War energizes the Pop charts, yellow ribbons trend, and chart newcomers Mariah Carey and Celine Dion usher in ’90s Divadom.

#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. Janet Jackson
2. Wilson Phillips
3. Phil Collins

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

• 7-WAY TIE: Janet Jackson/Phil Collins/Michael Bolton/Depeche Mode/Seduction/Motley Crue/Billy Joel

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

• 26.5 years

#1 Songs on the Weekly Hot100   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. Michael Bolton – How Am I Supposed to Live Without You (January, 3 wks)
2. Paula Abdul & The Wild Pair – Opposites Attract (February, 3 wks)
3. Janet Jackson – Escapade (March, 3 wks)
4. Alannah Myles – Black Velvet (March, 2 wks)
5. Taylor Dayne – Love Will Lead You Back (April, 1 wk)
6. Tommy Page – I’ll Be Your Everything (April, 1 wk)
7. Sinead O’Connor – Nothing Compares 2 U (April, 4 wks)
8. Madonna – Vogue (May, 3 wks)
9. Wilson Phillips – Hold On (June, 1 wk)
10. Roxette – It Must Have Been Love (June, 2 wks)
11. New Kids on the Block – Step by Step (June, 3 wks)
12. Glenn Medeiros & Bobby Brown – She Ain’t Worth It (July, 2 wks)
13. Mariah Carey – Vision of Love (August, 4 wks)
14. Sweet Sensation – If Wishes Came True (September, 1 wk)
15. Jon Bon Jovi – Blaze of Glory (September, 1 wk)
16. Wilson Phillips – Release Me (September, 2 wks)
17. Nelson – (Can’t Live Without Your) Love and Affection (September, 1 wk)
18. Maxi Priest – Close to You (October, 1 wk)
19. George Michael – Praying for Time (October, 1 wk)
20. James Ingram – I Don’t Have the Heart (October, 1 wk)
21. Janet Jackson – Black Cat (October, 1 wk)
22. Vanilla Ice – Ice Ice Baby (November, 1 wk)
23. Mariah Carey – Love Takes Time (November, 3 wks)
24. Whitney Houston – I’m Your Baby Tonight (December, 1 wk)
25. Stevie B – Because I Love You (The Postman Song) (December, 4 wks)