Gen-X lifts a raunchy Hip-Hop track that radio can’t play during the day to #1 as Billboard ditches its ancient survey system and takes the charts digital in the first year of the “Soundscan Era.” Underground sounds surface and crossover becomes the norm, but Michael Jackson finds Pop’s new sweet spot, the decade’s top Girl Group debuts, Boyz II Men breaks the record for weeks at #1, and Eurodance notches one last big early ’90s smash.

#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. En Vogue
2. TLC
3. Boyz II Men

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

• TIE: Ce Ce Peniston/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

• 26.8 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 Jackson – Black or White (December ’91, 7 wks)
2. Color Me Badd – All 4 Love (January, 1 wk)
3. George Michael & Elton John – Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me (February, 1 wk)
4. Right Said Fred – I’m Too Sexy (February, 3 wks)
5. Mr. Big – To Be with You (February, 3 wks)
6. Vanessa Williams – Save the Best for Last (March, 5 wks)
7. Kris Kross – Jump (April, 8 wks)
8. Mariah Carey – I’ll Be There (Live-Unplugged) (June, 2 wks)
9. Sir Mix-a-Lot – Baby Got Back (July, 5 wks)
10. Madonna – This Used to Be My Playground (August, 1 wk)
11. Boyz II Men – End of the Road (August, 13 wks)
12. The Heights – How Do You Talk to an Angel (November, 2 wks)