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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)

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#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. Elton John
2. Gladys Knight & The Pips
3. Charlie Rich

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

• 3-WAY TIE: Gladys Knight & Pips/Charlie Rich/James Brown (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

• 30.5 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. Jim Croce – Time in a Bottle (December ’73, 2 wks)
2. Steve Miller Band – The Joker (January, 1 wk)
3. Al Wilson – Show and Tell (January, 1 wk)
4. Ringo Starr – You’re Sixteen (January, 1 wk)
5. Barbra Streisand – The Way We Were (February, 3 wks)
6. Love Unlimited Orchestra – Love’s Theme (February, 1 wk)
7. Terry Jacks – Seasons in the Sun (March, 3 wks)
8. Cher – Dark Lady (March, 1 wk)
9. John Denver – Sunshine on My Shoulders (March, 1 wk)
10. Blue Swede – Hooked on a Feeling (April, 1 wk)
11. Elton John – Bennie and the Jets (April, 1 wk)
12. MFSB feat. The Three Degrees – TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia) (April, 2 wks)
13. Grand Funk – The Loco-Motion (May, 2 wks)
14. Ray Stevens – The Streak (May, 3 wks)
15. Paul McCartney & Wings – Band on the Run (June, 1 wk)
16. Bo Donaldson & the Heywoods – Billy, Don’t Be a Hero (June, 2 wks)
17. Gordon Lightfoot – Sundown (June, 1 wk)
18. The Hues Corporation – Rock the Boat (July, 1 wk)
19. George McCrae – Rock Your Baby (July, 2 wks)
20. John Denver – Annie’s Song (July, 2 wks)
21. Roberta Flack – Feel like Makin’ Love (August, 1 wk)
22. Paper Lace – The Night Chicago Died (August, 1 wk)
23. Paul Anka with Odia Coates – (You’re) Having My Baby (August, 3 wks)
24. Eric Clapton – I Shot the Sheriff (September, 1 wk)
25. Barry White – Can’t Get Enough of Your Love, Babe (September, 1 wk)
26. Andy Kim – Rock Me Gently (September, 1 wk)
27. Olivia Newton-John – I Honestly Love You (October, 2 wks)
28. Billy Preston – Nothing from Nothing (October, 1 wk)
29. Dionne Warwicke & The Spinners – Then Came You (October, 1 wk)
30. Stevie Wonder – You Haven’t Done Nothin’ (November, 1 wk)
31. Bachman-Turner Overdrive – You Ain’t Seen Nothin’ Yet (November, 1 wk)
32. John Lennon & The Plastic Ono Nuclear Band – Whatever Gets You Thru the Night (November, 1 wk)
33. Billy Swan – I Can Help (November, 2 wks)
34. Carl Douglas – Kung Fu Fighting (December, 2 wks)
35. Harry Chapin – Cat’s in the Cradle (December, 1 wk)
36. Helen Reddy – Angie Baby (December, 1 wk)

Streaming playlists revolutionize music discovery for the first time since Top 40 radio, and labels and platforms pounce to regain control of Pop from unpredictable fans and their chaotic clicks and taps. Meanwhile, breakthroughs by Trap Hip-Hop and The Weeknd steer things toward darker, more ominous waters and Taylor Swift leaves Nashville, goes full Pop, conquers the charts and powers two of the year’s biggest Male Singer-Songwriters.

#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. Taylor Swift
2. The Weeknd
3. Fetty Wap

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

• Drake (23)

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

• 27.7 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. Taylor Swift – Shake It Off (September ’14, 4 wks)
2. Taylor Swift – Blank Space (November ’14, 7 wks)
3. Mark Ronson feat. Bruno Mars – Uptown Funk! (January, 14 wks)
4. Wiz Khalifa feat. Charlie Puth – See You Again (April, 12 wks)
5. Taylor Swift – Bad Blood (June, 1 wk)
6. OMI – Cheerleader (July, 6 wks)
7. The Weeknd – Can’t Feel My Face (August, 3 wks)
8. Justin Bieber – What Do You Mean? (September, 1 wk)
9. The Weeknd – The Hills (October, 6 wks)

The Black Eyed Peas, Lady Gaga and Taylor Swift each land two of the year’s top 10 hits as EDM Pop surges, the Great Recession bottoms out, Barack Obama becomes President and the King of Pop succumbs. Meanwhile, Gay marriage inflames the Culture Wars, Obama’s Beer Summit highlights racial profiling, Kanye West interrupts Taylor Swift’s VMA speech to boost Beyoncé, and T.I. scores the first meme-wrought #1 with help from Rihanna in her first Rap record feature.

#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. Lady Gaga
2. Taylor Swift
3. Beyoncé

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

• TIE: Glee Cast (25)

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

• 28.9 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. T.I. feat. Rihanna – Live Your Life (October ’08, 6 wks)
2. Britney Spears – Womanizer (October ’08, 1 wk)
3. Beyonce – Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It) (December ’08, 4 wks)
4. Lady Gaga feat. Colby O’Donis – Just Dance (January, 3 wks)
5. Kelly Clarkson – My Life Would Suck Without You (February, 2 wks)
6. Eminem, Dr. Dre & 50 Cent – Crack a Bottle (February, 1 wk)
7. Flo Rida – Right Round (February, 6 wks)
8. Lady Gaga – Poker Face (April, 1 wk)
9. Black Eyed Peas – Boom Boom Pow (April, 12 wks)
10. Black Eyed Peas – I Gotta Feeling (July, 14 wks)
11. Jay Sean feat. Lil Wayne – Down (October, 2 wks)
12. Britney Spears – 3 (October, 1 wk)
13. Owl City – Fireflies (November, 2 wks)
14. Jason Derulo – Whatcha Say (November, 1 wk)

Country crossover surges, Pop is migrating from AM to FM and the charts are a mishmash the year before MTV changes the game. Meanwhile, the Iran hostages are free, Reagan takes office and Americans are choosing confidence and optimism over ’70s malaise, strapping on their Walkmans, hitting the gym and getting “Physical.” And there’s a new spotlight on the dark side of fandom after John Lennon and the President are shot just months apart, Lennon fatally.

#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. Daryl Hall & John Oates
2. REO Speedwagon
3. Sheena Easton

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

• 4-WAY TIE: Neil Diamond/Diana Ross/REO Speedwagon/Don McLean (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

• 33.1 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. John Lennon – (Just Like) Starting Over (December ’80, 5 wks)
2. Blondie – The Tide Is High (January, 1 wk)
3. Kool & The Gang – Celebration (February, 2 wks)
4. Dolly Parton – 9 to 5 (February, 2 wks)
5. Eddie Rabbitt – I Love a Rainy Night (February, 2 wks)
6. REO Speedwagon – Keep on Loving You (March, 1 wk)
7. Blondie – Rapture (March, 2 wks)
8. Daryl Hall & John Oates – Kiss on My List (April, 3 wks)
9. Sheena Easton – Morning Train (Nine to Five) (May, 2 wks)
10. Kim Carnes – Bette Davis Eyes (May, 9 wks)
11. Stars on 45 – Medley (June, 1 wk)
12. Air Supply – The One That You Love (July, 1 wk)
13. Rick Springfield – Jessie’s Girl (August, 2 wks)
14. Diana Ross & Lionel Richie – Endless Love (August, 9 wks)
15. Christopher Cross – Arthur’s Theme (Best That You Can Do) (October, 3 wks)
16. Daryl Hall & John Oates – Private Eyes (November, 2 wks)
17. Olivia Newton-John – Physical (November, 10 wks)

A synthy Swedish Reggae-lite outfit is the first act since the Bee Gees to land three of the year’s top hits the year before the internet explodes, but the Pop Diva space delivers big hits and adds a new A-lister. Meanwhile, the first #1 by an unsigned act is a song from a GenX-defining movie, and ever-smoother R&B Vocal Groups prevail on radio and the Hot100 offering an antidote, for the time being, to aggressive Gangsta Rap.

#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. Ace of Base
2. Mariah Carey
3. Janet Jackson

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

• TIE: Janet Jackson/Ace of Base (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

• 26.6 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. Janet Jackson – Again (December ’93, 2 wks)
2. Mariah Carey – Hero (December ’93, 4 wks)
3. Bryan Adams, Rod Stewart & Sting – All for Love (January, 3 wks)
4. Celine Dion – The Power of Love (February, 4 wks)
5. Ace of Base – The Sign (March, 6 wks)
6. R. Kelly – Bump N’ Grind (April, 4 wks)
7. All-4-One – I Swear (May, 11 wks)
8. Lisa Loeb & Nine Stories – Stay (August, 3 wks)
9. Boyz II Men – I’ll Make Love to You (August, 14 wks)
10. Ini Kamoze – Here Comes the Hotstepper (December, 2 wks)

Pop’s ADHD year as hits churn faster than ever on radio and the charts, Frank Sinatra scores his last top 10 weeks after his daughter Nancy scores her first, and John Lennon sparks a Beatles backlash with his “bigger than Jesus” comment, clearing the field for The Monkees’ debut. Meanwhile, Garage Bands stomp, Motown and Detroit surge, Vaudeville makes a comeback, and three of the year’s top 10 acts are Folk-Rock newcomers. But the year’s biggest hit is a pro-military anthem by an Army medic as Vietnam escalates.

#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. The Beatles
2. The Lovin’ Spoonful
3. The Rolling Stones

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

• The Beatles (8)

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

• 25.7 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. Simon & Garfunkel – The Sounds of Silence (January, 2 wks)
2. The Beatles – We Can Work It Out (January, 3 wks)
3. Petula Clark – My Love (February, 2 wks)
4. Lou Christie – Lightnin’ Strikes (February, 1 wk)
5. Nancy Sinatra – These Boots Are Made for Walkin’ (February, 1 wk)
6. Barry Sadler – The Ballad of the Green Berets (March, 5 wks)
7. The Righteous Brothers – (You’re My) Soul and Inspiration (April, 3 wks)
8. The Young Rascals – Good Lovin’ (April, 1 wk)
9. The Mamas & The Papas – Monday, Monday (May, 3 wks)
10. Percy Sledge – When a Man Loves a Woman (May, 2 wks)
11. The Rolling Stones – Paint It, Black (June, 2 wks)
12. The Beatles – Paperback Writer (June, 2 wks)
13. Frank Sinatra – Strangers in the Night (July, 1 wk)
14. Tommy James & The Shondells – Hanky Panky (July, 2 wks)
15. The Troggs – Wild Thing (July, 2 wks)
16. The Lovin’ Spoonful – Summer in the City (August, 3 wks)
17. Donovan – Sunshine Superman (September, 1 wk)
18. The Supremes – You Can’t Hurry Love (September, 2 wks)
19. The Association – Cherish (September, 3 wks)
20. Four Tops – Reach Out I’ll Be There (October, 2 wks)
21. ? & The Mysterians – 96 Tears (October, 1 wk)
22. The Monkees – Last Train to Clarksville (November, 1 wk)
23. Johnny Rivers – Poor Side of Town (November, 1 wk)
24. The Supremes – You Keep Me Hangin’ On (November, 2 wks)
25. The New Vaudeville Band – Winchester Cathedral (December, 3 wks)
26. The Beach Boys – Good Vibrations (December, 1 wk)

It’s settle or scramble in the third year of the Petrillo musicians’ strike: Decca and Capitol churn out hit after hit but Victor and Columbia dig in, reissue old stuff and record their Singers a capella. Bing Crosby on Decca has his best year ever, Louis Jordan becomes the first R&B crossover act and king of Billboard‘s new Jukebox chart, and a single movie musical launches five of the year’s top 10 hits.

#1 Song of the Year   The top song according to our Chartcrush ranking of all 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 that spent most of their chart runs in the year

1. Bing Crosby
2. The Mills Brothers
3. Jimmy Dorsey & His Orchestra

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

• Bing Crosby (12)

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

• 37.8

#1 Songs   List of #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. Glen Gray & His Casa Loma Orchestra, vocal Eugenie Baird – My Heart Tells Me (Should I Believe My Heart?) (January, 5 wks)
2. Jimmy Dorsey & His Orchestra, vocal Kitty Kallen – Besame Mucho (March, 8 wks)
3. The Merry Macs – Mairzy Doats (March, 3 wks)
4. Guy Lombardo & His Royal Canadians, vocal Skip Nelson & The Lombardo Trio – It’s Love-Love-Love (April, 2 wks)
5. Bing Crosby – San Fernando Valley (May, 2 wks)
6. Bing Crosby – I Love You (May, 4 wks)
7. Harry James & His Orchestra, vocal Dick Haymes – I’ll Get by (As Long as I Have You) (June, 6 wks)
8. Bing Crosby – I’ll Be Seeing You (July, 3 wks)
9. Bing Crosby – Swinging on a Star (August, 10 wks)
10. Mills Brothers – You Always Hurt the One You Love (October, 2 wks)
11. Dinah Shore – I’ll Walk Alone (November, 6 wks)

One of the most depressing years in American history kicks off with a pair of somber hymns topping the charts, the second of which is a Beatles song that hits #1 the day after Paul McCartney leaves the band. The Jackson 5’s first four singles hit #1, The Carpenters debut, protest songs chart big after Kent State, and a new made-for-TV sitcom act comes complete with a #1 debut and the era’s top Teen heartthrob.

#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. Neil Diamond
2. The Jackson 5
3. The Guess Who

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

• TIE: Neil Diamond/James Brown (7)

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

• 24.3 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. Diana Ross & The Supremes – Someday We’ll Be Together (December ’69, 1 wk)
2. B.J. Thomas – Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head (January, 4 wks)
3. The Jackson 5 – I Want You Back (January, 1 wk)
4. The Shocking Blue – Venus (February, 1 wk)
5. Sly & the Family Stone – Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin) (February, 2 wks)
6. Simon & Garfunkel – Bridge Over Troubled Water (February, 6 wks)
7. The Beatles – Let It Be (April, 2 wks)
8. The Jackson 5 – ABC (April, 2 wks)
9. The Guess Who – American Woman (May, 3 wks)
10. Ray Stevens – Everything Is Beautiful (May, 2 wks)
11. The Beatles – The Long and Winding Road (June, 2 wks)
12. The Jackson 5 – The Love You Save (June, 2 wks)
13. Three Dog Night – Mama Told Me (Not to Come) (July, 2 wks)
14. Carpenters – (They Long to Be) Close to You (July, 4 wks)
15. Bread – Make It with You (August, 1 wk)
16. Edwin Starr – War (August, 3 wks)
17. Diana Ross – Ain’t No Mountain High Enough (September, 3 wks)
18. Neil Diamond – Cracklin’ Rosie (October, 1 wk)
19. The Jackson 5 – I’ll Be There (October, 5 wks)
20. The Partridge Family – I Think I Love You (November, 3 wks)
21. Smokey Robinson & The Miracles – The Tears of a Clown (December, 2 wks)