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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)

The Petrillo recording ban ends in time for America to celebrate its returning soldiers and victory in World War 2 with one last burst of Big Band Swing. Glenn Miller is lost over the English Channel, but new bands step into the limelight, girl singers tear up the charts, the Crooner craze rolls on with new bobbysoxer heartthrobs and everyone is humming a heroic theme by Frédéric Chopin.

#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. Les Brown & His Orchestra
3. Johnny Mercer

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

• Bing Crosby (14)

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

• 34.2

#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. Bing Crosby & The Andrews Sisters – Don’t Fence Me In (December ’44, 13 wks)
2. The Andrews Sisters – Rum and Coca-Cola (February, 8 wks)
3. Les Brown & His Orchestra, vocal Doris Day – My Dreams Are Getting Better All the Time (April, 7 wks)
4. Johnny Mercer, Jo Stafford & The Pied Pipers – Candy (May, 1 wk)
5. Vaughn Monroe & His Orchestra, vocal Vaughn Monroe & Norton Sisters – There! I’ve Said it Again (May, 3 wks)
6. Les Brown & His Orchestra, vocal Doris Day – Sentimental Journey (June, 6 wks)
7. Johnny Mercer & The Pied Pipers – On the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe (July, 7 wks)
8. Perry Como – Till the End of Time (September, 10 wks)
9. Swing and Sway with Sammy Kaye, vocal Nancy Norman & Billy Williams – Chickery Chick (November, 5 wks)
10. Bing Crosby with Les Paul & His Trio – It’s Been a Long, Long Time (December, 1 wk)
11. Harry James & His Orchestra, vocal Kitty Kallen – It’s Been a Long, Long Time (December, 2 wks)

Hip-Hop’s last year of chart dominance until the late ’10s is also a year of epic female chart debuts like Katy Perry, Adele, Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift and Miley Cyrus. Top Rappers T.I. and Lil Wayne face jail time on serious drug and weapons charges while Hip-Hop culture proves that it’s upstream of politics by turning out the vote and helping elect “the Hip-Hop President,” Barack Obama.

#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. Rihanna
2. Lil Wayne
3. Chris Brown

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

• TIE: Taylor Swift/David Cook (11)

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

• 27.1 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. Alicia Keys – No One (December ’07, 5 wks)
2. Flo Rida feat. T-Pain – Low (January, 10 wks)
3. Usher feat. Young Jeezy – Love in This Club (March, 3 wks)
4. Leona Lewis – Bleeding Love (April, 4 wks)
5. Mariah Carey – Touch My Body (April, 2 wks)
6. Lil Wayne feat. Static Major – Lollipop (May, 5 wks)
7. Rihanna – Take a Bow (May, 1 wk)
8. Coldplay – Viva la Vida (June, 1 wk)
9. Katy Perry – I Kissed a Girl (July, 7 wks)
10. Rihanna – Disturbia (August, 2 wks)
11. T.I. – Whatever You Like (September, 7 wks)
12. Pink – So What (September, 1 wk)

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)

Disco peaks with half of the top ten hits of the year by four brothers: Barry, Maurice and Robin Gibb (The Bee Gees), and younger brother, Andy. Movies Saturday Night Fever and Grease, both starring John Travolta, yield multiple hits and usher in an era of blockbuster soundtrack albums. Meanwhile, Lionel Richie, still in The Commodores, scores his first #1 hit crossover ballad and Yacht Rock comes into its own.

#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. Andy Gibb
2. The Bee Gees
3. Billy Joel

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

• Billy Joel (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

• 30.4 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. Bee Gees – How Deep Is Your Love (December ’77, 3 wks)
2. Player – Baby Come Back (January, 3 wks)
3. Bee Gees – Stayin’ Alive (February, 4 wks)
4. Andy Gibb – (Love Is) Thicker than Water (March, 2 wks)
5. Bee Gees – Night Fever (March, 8 wks)
6. Yvonne Elliman – If I Can’t Have You (May, 1 wk)
7. Wings – With a Little Luck (May, 2 wks)
8. Johnny Mathis/Deniece Williams – Too Much, Too Little, Too Late (June, 1 wk)
9. John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John – You’re the One That I Want (June, 1 wk)
10. Andy Gibb – Shadow Dancing (June, 7 wks)
11. The Rolling Stones – Miss You (August, 1 wk)
12. Commodores – Three Times a Lady (August, 2 wks)
13. Frankie Valli – Grease (August, 2 wks)
14. A Taste of Honey – Boogie Oogie Oogie (September, 3 wks)
15. Exile – Kiss You All Over (September, 4 wks)
16. Nick Gilder – Hot Child in the City (October, 1 wk)
17. Anne Murray – You Needed Me (November, 1 wk)
18. Donna Summer – MacArthur Park (November, 3 wks)
19. Barbra & Neil – You Don’t Bring Me Flowers (December, 2 wks)