The “visual sizzle” of music video defines the look—and sound—of the ’80s, Miami Vice premieres and a record ten Platinum movie soundtracks yield multiple chart hits. Veteran Rock and Soul icons re-tool and relaunch, MTV unveils its Video Music Awards and Prince floods the zone with Purple Rain.
#1 Song of the Year
Artists of the Year
- Lionel Richie
- Cyndi Lauper
- Huey Lewis & The News
Artist with Most Charting Songs
- Rick Springfield (5)
Average #1 Artist Age
- 31.6 years
#1 Songs
- Yes – Owner of a Lonely Heart (January, 2 wks)
- Culture Club – Karma Chameleon (February, 3 wks)
- Van Halen – Jump (February, 5 wks)
- Kenny Loggins – Footloose (March, 3 wks)
- Phil Collins – Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now) (April, 3 wks)
- Lionel Richie – Hello (May, 2 wks)
- Deniece Williams – Let’s Hear It for the Boy (May, 2 wks)
- Cyndi Lauper – Time After Time (June, 2 wks)
- Duran Duran – The Reflex (June, 2 wks)
- Prince – When Doves Cry (July, 5 wks)
- Ray Parker Jr. – Ghostbusters (August, 3 wks)
- Tina Turner – What’s Love Got to Do with It (September, 3 wks)
- John Waite – Missing You (September, 1 wk)
- Prince & The Revolution – Let’s Go Crazy (September, 2 wks)
- Stevie Wonder – I Just Called to Say I Love You (October, 3 wks)
- Billy Ocean – Caribbean Queen (No More Love on the Run) (November, 2 wks)
- Wham! – Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go (November, 3 wks)
- Daryl Hall & John Oates – Out of Touch (December, 2 wks)
