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Big Band Swing is all but extinct but the record biz prospers and ’20s superstar Al Jolson is cool again as a nostalgia wave sweeps the nation and the year’s top hit is a record from 1933! A recently-unemployed bandleader’s B-side sells millions, studio gimmickry becomes a thing, and upstart indies do an end run around the big-4’s monopoly on Tin Pan Alley’s A-list “plug songs” with under-the-radar “material hits” like the breakthrough smash by a trailblazing emotive Crooner.

#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. Eddy Howard & His Orchestra
2. Ted Weems & His Orchestra
3. Frankie Laine

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

• Frank Sinatra (8)

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

• 37.2

#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. Swing and Sway with Sammy Kaye, vocal Billy Williams – The Old Lamp-Lighter (December ’46, 8 wks)
2. Eddy Howard & His Orchestra, vocal Eddy Howard – (I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons (February, 1 wk)
3. Count Basie & His Orchestra, vocal Harry Edison & Bill Johnson – Open the Door, Richard! (February, 1 wk)
4. Freddy Martin & His Orchestra, vocal Stuart Wade – Managua, Nicaragua (March, 1 wk)
5. Ted Weems & His Orchestra, whistling Elmo Tanner – Heartaches (March, 15 wks)
6. The Harmonicats – Peg o’ My Heart (June, 6 wks)
7. Eddy Howard & His Orchestra, vocal Eddy Howard – I Wonder, I Wonder, I Wonder (July, 3 wks)
8. Tex Williams & His Western Caravan, vocal Tex Williams & Trio – Smoke! Smoke! Smoke! (That Cigarette) (August, 8 wks)
9. Francis Craig & His Orchestra, vocal Bob Lamm – Near You (September, 13 wks)

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)

Elton John can do no wrong at his pinnacle of fame and success, but other established acts and their fans are moving in bold new directions. Soppy ballads flood the charts but Disco dancing starts to emerge as America’s preferred escape from ecomonic, political and social woes as unemployment hits 9%, domestic terrorism spikes, New York City collapses and ’70s “malaise” deepens.

#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. John Denver
3. Freddy Fender

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

• 4-WAY TIE: John Denver/Linda Ronstadt/Tony Orlando & Dawn/Gloria Gaynor (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

• 30.8 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. Elton John – Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds (January, 2 wks)
2. Barry Manilow – Mandy (January, 1 wk)
3. Carpenters – Please Mr. Postman (January, 1 wk)
4. Neil Sedaka – Laughter in the Rain (February, 1 wk)
5. Ohio Players – Fire (February, 1 wk)
6. Linda Ronstadt – You’re No Good (February, 1 wk)
7. AWB – Pick Up the Pieces (February, 1 wk)
8. Eagles – Best of My Love (March, 1 wk)
9. Olivia Newton-John – Have You Never Been Mellow (March, 1 wk)
10. The Doobie Brothers – Black Water (March, 1 wk)
11. Frankie Valli – My Eyes Adored You (March, 1 wk)
12. LaBelle – Lady Marmalade (Voulez-Vous Coucher Avec Moi) (March, 1 wk)
13. Minnie Riperton – Lovin’ You (April, 1 wk)
14. Elton John Band – Philadelphia Freedom (April, 2 wks)
15. B.J. Thomas – (Hey Won’t You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song (April, 1 wk)
16. Tony Orlando & Dawn – He Don’t Love You (Like I Love You) (May, 3 wks)
17. Earth, Wind and Fire – Shining Star (May, 1 wk)
18. Freddy Fender – Before the Next Teardrop Falls (May, 1 wk)
19. John Denver – Thank God I’m a Country Boy (June, 1 wk)
20. America – Sister Golden Hair (June, 1 wk)
21. Captain & Tennille – Love Will Keep Us Together (June, 4 wks)
22. Wings – Listen to What the Man Said (July, 1 wk)
23. Van McCoy & The Soul City Symphony – The Hustle (July, 1 wk)
24. Eagles – One of These Nights (August, 1 wk)
25. Bee Gees – Jive Talkin’ (August, 2 wks)
26. Hamilton, Joe Frank & Reynolds – Fallin’ in Love (August, 1 wk)
27. KC & The Sunshine Band – Get Down Tonight (August, 1 wk)
28. Glen Campbell – Rhinestone Cowboy (September, 2 wks)
29. David Bowie – Fame (September, 2 wks)
30. John Denver – I’m Sorry (September, 1 wk)
31. Neil Sedaka – Bad Blood (October, 3 wks)
32. Elton John – Island Girl (November, 3 wks)
33. KC & The Sunshine Band – That’s the Way (I Like It) (November, 2 wks)
34. Silver Convention – Fly, Robin, Fly (November, 3 wks)
35. The Staple Singers – Let’s Do It Again (December, 1 wk)
36. Bay City Rollers – Saturday Night (January ’76, 1 wk)

The new millennium begins a lot like the ’90s ended: with The Latin Invasion, Boy Bands and Britney v. Christina all over MTV’s Total Request Live and the Pop and Album charts. But Country unexpectedly lands two hits among the year’s top ten, Post-Grunge makes 2000 the best year for Rock on the Hot100 since the ’80s, and Urban R&B Pop goes next-level with multiple hits by Destiny’s Child.

#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 during the calendar year

1. Faith Hill
2. Destiny’s Child
3. Santana

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

• 3-WAY TIE: Dixie Chicks/Jay-Z/Christina Aguilera (4)

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

• 28.0 years

#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. Santana feat. Rob Thomas – Smooth (October ’99, 12 wks)
2. Christina Aguilera – What a Girl Wants (January, 2 wks)
3. Savage Garden – I Knew I Loved You (January, 4 wks)
4. Mariah Carey feat. Joe & 98° – Thank God I Found You (February, 1 wk)
5. Lonestar – Amazed (March, 2 wks)
6. Destiny’s Child – Say My Name (March, 3 wks)
7. Santana feat. The Product G&B – Maria, Maria (April, 10 wks)
8. Aaliyah – Try Again (June, 1 wk)
9. Enrique Iglesias – Be with You (June, 3 wks)
10. Vertical Horizon – Everything You Want (July, 1 wk)
11. matchbox twenty – Bent (July, 1 wk)
12. N’Sync – It’s Gonna Be Me (July, 2 wks)
13. Sisqo – Incomplete (August, 2 wks)
14. Janet – Doesn’t Really Matter (August, 3 wks)
15. Madonna – Music (September, 4 wks)
16. Christina Aguilera – Come on Over Baby (All I Want Is You) (October, 4 wks)
17. Creed – With Arms Wide Open (November, 1 wk)
18. Destiny’s Child – Independent Women Part I (November, 11 wks)

The Sony Walkman fuels the fitness craze but dooms music on staticky AM as Top 40 moves to FM. Upbeat workout songs top the charts, fledgling MTV triples its subscribers and launches a “Second British Invasion” of video-savvy New Wave and Synthpop acts, John Cougar’s “Heartland Rock” soundtracks the recession-plagued first full year of the Reagan presidency, and Black artists hit a low ebb on the charts before Michael Jackson and Thriller at year’s end.

#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. John Cougar
2. Hall & Oates
3. Rick Springfield

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

• 5-WAY TIE: Hall & Oates/Air Supply/Rick Springfield/Kool & The Gang/Sheena Easton (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

• 34.1 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. Daryl Hall & John Oates – I Can’t Go for That (No Can Do) (January, 1 wk)
2. J. Geils Band – Centerfold (February, 6 wks)
3. Joan Jett & The Blackhearts – I Love Rock ‘n Roll (March, 7 wks)
4. Vangelis – Chariots of Fire – Titles (May, 1 wk)
5. Paul McCartney with Stevie Wonder – Ebony and Ivory (May, 7 wks)
6. The Human League – Don’t You Want Me (July, 3 wks)
7. Survivor – Eye of the Tiger (July, 6 wks)
8. The Steve Miller Band – Abracadabra (September, 2 wks)
9. Chicago – Hard to Say I’m Sorry (September, 2 wks)
10. John Cougar – Jack & Diane (October, 4 wks)
11. Men at Work – Who Can It Be Now? (October, 1 wk)
12. Joe Cocker & Jennifer Warnes – Up Where We Belong (November, 3 wks)
13. Lionel Richie – Truly (November, 2 wks)
14. Toni Basil – Mickey (December, 1 wk)
15. Daryl Hall & John Oates – Maneater (December, 4 wks)

It’s the Summer of Love, Hippies and Flower Power in California, but a Long, Hot Summer of racial tension and urban destruction everywhere else and one city, Los Angeles, lands seven of the top ten hits of the year. Vietnam ramps up, protest escalates, and The Monkees take over TV, teen mags and the Pop charts while The Beatles emerge from studio seclusion counterculture icons and change the game with Sgt. Pepper’s and Album Rock.

#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 Monkees
2. Nancy Sinatra
3. Aretha Franklin

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

• Nancy Sinatra (9)

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

• 23.1 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. The Monkees – I’m a Believer (December ’66, 7 wks)
2. The Buckinghams – Kind of a Drag (February, 2 wks)
3. The Rolling Stones – Ruby Tuesday (March, 1 wk)
4. The Supremes – Love Is Here and Now You’re Gone (March, 1 wk)
5. The Beatles – Penny Lane (March, 1 wk)
6. The Turtles – Happy Together (March, 3 wks)
7. Nancy Sinatra & Frank Sinatra – Somethin’ Stupid (April, 4 wks)
8. The Supremes – The Happening (May, 1 wk)
9. Young Rascals – Groovin’ (May, 4 wks)
10. Aretha Franklin – Respect (June, 2 wks)
11. The Association – Windy (July, 4 wks)
12. The Doors – Light My Fire (July, 3 wks)
13. The Beatles – All You Need Is Love (August, 1 wk)
14. Bobbie Gentry – Ode to Billie Joe (August, 4 wks)
15. The Box Tops – The Letter (September, 4 wks)
16. Lulu – To Sir with Love (October, 5 wks)
17. Strawberry Alarm Clock – Incense and Peppermints (November, 1 wk)
18. The Monkees – Daydream Believer (December, 4 wks)

It’s Teens, TikTok memes, “virality” and edgy, genre-bending Pop as Gen-Z announces its arrival on the charts, on-demand streaming continues to lead the music industry’s comeback, passing 50% of revenue and becoming the first dominant format since CDs, and BigCulture™ stops caring whether it’ll “play in Peoria” as Democrats take the House of Representatives and Trump/MAGA #resistance enters beast mode.

#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. Post Malone
2. Ariana Grande
3. Billie Eilish

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

• Taylor Swift (19)

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

• 27.2 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. Ariana Grande – Thank U, Next (November ’18, 7 wks)
2. Travis Scott – Sicko Mode (December ’18, 1 wk)
3. Halsey – Without Me (January, 2 wks)
4. Post Malone & Swae Lee – Sunflower (Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse) (January, 1 wk)
5. Ariana Grande – 7 Rings (February, 8 wks)
6. Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper – Shallow (March, 1 wk)
7. Jonas Brothers – Sucker (March, 1 wk)
8. Lil Nas X feat. Billy Ray Cyrus – Old Town Road (April, 19 wks)
9. Billie Eilish – Bad Guy (August, 1 wk)
10. Shawn Mendes & Camila Cabello – Senorita (August, 1 wk)
11. Lizzo – Truth Hurts (September, 7 wks)
12. Travis Scott – Highest in the Room (October, 1 wk)
13. Lewis Capaldi – Someone You Loved (November, 3 wks)
14. Mariah Carey – All I Want for Christmas Is You (December, 3 wks)

It’s Divas, Post-Grunge, Trip-Hop and Alanismania as the Internet takes off, Netscape battles Microsoft in the browser wars, Tupac is killed and tensions between Patriot groups and the Clinton administration help propel a song by an aging Rocker to #1. Media and music continue to fragment into tighter niches, but “The Macarena” unifies the dancefloor and an unknown Singer-Songwriter defies label marketing gimmicks to score the #1 hit of the year.

#1 Song of the Year   The top song according to our Chartcrush ranking of all Billboard Radio Songs entries 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 (on the Billboard Radio Songs chart) during the calendar year

1. Alanis Morissette
2. Mariah Carey
3. Celine Dion

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

• 8-WAY TIE: Alanis Morissette/Mariah Carey/La Bouche/Hootie & Blowfish/Oasis/Smashing Pumpkins/LL Cool J/Bush (4)

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

• 29.3 years

#1 Songs   List of Billboard Radio Songs #1's 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. Mariah Carey – One Sweet Day (December ’95, 13 wks)
2. Everything but the Girl – Missing (March, 5 wks)
3. Celine Dion – Because You Loved Me (April, 14 wks)
4. Alanis Morissette – You Learn (July, 5 wks)
5. Donna Lewis – I Love You Always Forever (August, 13 wks)
6. Celine Dion – It’s All Coming Back to Me Now (November, 2 wks)

Mod Hippie aesthetics and Feminism triumph but the “Silent Majority” re-elects President Nixon in a landslide as America’s Red/Blue political divide gets real. Amid the tension, Glam Rock grabs headlines, ’50s nostalgia spawns Oldies radio, escapism rules the Pop charts and Black artists dominate the top ten for 14 straight weeks leading up to the Wattstax Benefit.

#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. Al Green
2. Nilsson
3. Michael Jackson

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

• TIE: James Brown/Joe Simon (6)

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

• 30.9 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. Melanie – Brand New Key (December ’71, 3 wks)
2. Don McLean – American Pie (Parts 1 and 2) (January, 4 wks)
3. Al Green – Let’s Stay Together (February, 1 wk)
4. Nilsson – Without You (February, 4 wks)
5. Neil Young – Heart of Gold (March, 1 wk)
6. America – A Horse with No Name (March, 3 wks)
7. Roberta Flack – The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face (April, 6 wks)
8. The Chi-Lites – Oh Girl (May, 1 wk)
9. The Staple Singers – I’ll Take You There (June, 1 wk)
10. Sammy Davis Jr. with The Mike Curb Congregation – The Candy Man (June, 3 wks)
11. Neil Diamond – Song Sung Blue (July, 1 wk)
12. Bill Withers – Lean on Me (July, 3 wks)
13. Gilbert O’Sullivan – Alone Again (Naturally) (July, 6 wks)
14. Looking Glass – Brandy (You’re a Fine Girl) (August, 1 wk)
15. Three Dog Night – Black & White (September, 1 wk)
16. Mac Davis – Baby Don’t Get Hooked on Me (September, 3 wks)
17. Michael Jackson – Ben (October, 1 wk)
18. Chuck Berry – My Ding-a-Ling (October, 2 wks)
19. Johnny Nash – I Can See Clearly Now (November, 4 wks)
20. The Temptations – Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone (December, 1 wk)
21. Helen Reddy – I Am Woman (December, 1 wk)
22. Billy Paul – Me and Mrs. Jones (December, 3 wks)