Overview of 1945 on the Billboard Pop Charts

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   

Bing Crosby and The Andrews Sisters – Don’t Fence Me In

Artists of the Year   

  1. Bing Crosby
  2. Les Brown & His Orchestra
  3. Johnny Mercer

Artist with Most Charting Songs   

  • Bing Crosby (14)

Average #1 Artist Age   

  • 34.2

#1 Songs   

  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)

Overview of 2008 on the Billboard Pop Charts

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   

Flo Rida featuring T-Pain – “Low”

Artists of the Year   

  1. Rihanna
  2. Lil Wayne
  3. Chris Brown

Artist with Most Charting Songs   

  • TIE: Taylor Swift/David Cook (11)

Average #1 Artist Age   

  • 27.1 years

#1 Songs   

  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)

Overview of 1990 on the Billboard Pop Charts

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   

Stevie B – Because I Love You (The Postman Song)

Artists of the Year   

  1. Janet Jackson
  2. Wilson Phillips
  3. Phil Collins

Artist with Most Charting Songs   

  • 7-WAY TIE: Janet Jackson/Phil Collins/Michael Bolton/Depeche Mode/Seduction/Motley Crue/Billy Joel

Average #1 Artist Age   

  • 26.5 years

#1 Songs on the Weekly Hot100   

  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)
Chartcrush Countdown Show 1952 Episode Graphic

Overview of 1952 on the Billboard Pop Charts

Crooners and Pop Singers, new and established, rule the charts the year Ike is elected President, Queen Elizabeth II is coronated, the Cold War becomes the new normal and “the ’50s” begin. Patti Page eschews overdubbing, PFC Eddie Fisher scores eight top tens while on active duty in the Army and Emo teen sensation Johnnie Ray pushes the Crooner envelope to the point of self-parody—and scores the year’s top hit.

#1 Song of the Year   

Johnnie Ray & The Four Lads – Cry

Artists of the Year   

  1. Eddie Fisher
  2. Jo Stafford
  3. Leroy Anderson & His Orchestra

Artist with Most Charting Songs   

  • Eddie Fisher (12)

Average #1 Artist Age   

  • 29.8

#1 Songs   

  1. Johnnie Ray & The Four Lads – Cry (January, 11 wks)
  2. Kay Starr – Wheel of Fortune (March, 10 wks)
  3. Georgia Gibbs – Kiss of Fire (May, 3 wks)
  4. Al Martino – Here in My Heart (June, 5 wks)
  5. Vera Lynn – Auf Wiederseh’n Sweetheart (July, 7 wks)
  6. Jo Stafford – You Belong to Me (September, 5 wks)
  7. Patti Page – I Went to Your Wedding (October, 6 wks)
  8. Mills Brothers – The Glow-Worm (November, 3 wks)

Overview of 1978 on the Billboard Pop Charts

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   

Bee Gees Night Fever 45 label
Bee Gees – Night Fever

Artists of the Year   

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

Artist with Most Charting Songs   

  • Billy Joel (5)

Average #1 Artist Age   

  • 30.4 years

#1 Songs on the Weekly Hot100   

  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)

Overview of 2014 on the Billboard Pop Charts

Social media eclipses TV as the top driver of pop culture in “the year of the booty” as the early ’10s EDM-anchored New Pop sound continues its reign. But Indie Folk-Pop’s influence spreads, underground Hip-Hop styles begin surfacing, and Pharrell Williams finally scores big as a headliner with the feel-good song of the decade.

#1 Song of the Year   

Pharrell Williams – Happy

Artists of the Year   

  1. Katy Perry
  2. Jason Derulo
  3. Iggy Azalea

Artist with Most Charting Songs   

  • One Direction (7)

Average #1 Artist Age   

  • 29.6 years

#1 Songs   

  1. Eminem feat. Rihanna – The Monster (December ’13, 4 wks)
  2. Pitbull feat. Ke$ha – Timber (January, 3 wks)
  3. Katy Perry feat. Juicy J – Dark Horse (February, 4 wks)
  4. Pharrell Williams – Happy (March, 10 wks)
  5. John Legend – All of Me (May, 3 wks)
  6. Iggy Azalea feat. Charli XCX – Fancy (June, 7 wks)
  7. MAGIC! – Rude (July, 6 wks)
  8. Meghan Trainor – All About That Bass (September, 8 wks)

Overview of 1984 on the Billboard Pop Charts

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   

Prince – When Doves Cry

Artists of the Year   

  1. Lionel Richie
  2. Cyndi Lauper
  3. Huey Lewis & The News

Artist with Most Charting Songs   

  • Rick Springfield (5)

Average #1 Artist Age   

  • 31.6 years

#1 Songs   

  1. Yes – Owner of a Lonely Heart (January, 2 wks)
  2. Culture Club – Karma Chameleon (February, 3 wks)
  3. Van Halen – Jump (February, 5 wks)
  4. Kenny Loggins – Footloose (March, 3 wks)
  5. Phil Collins – Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now) (April, 3 wks)
  6. Lionel Richie – Hello (May, 2 wks)
  7. Deniece Williams – Let’s Hear It for the Boy (May, 2 wks)
  8. Cyndi Lauper – Time After Time (June, 2 wks)
  9. Duran Duran – The Reflex (June, 2 wks)
  10. Prince – When Doves Cry (July, 5 wks)
  11. Ray Parker Jr. – Ghostbusters (August, 3 wks)
  12. Tina Turner – What’s Love Got to Do with It (September, 3 wks)
  13. John Waite – Missing You (September, 1 wk)
  14. Prince & The Revolution – Let’s Go Crazy (September, 2 wks)
  15. Stevie Wonder – I Just Called to Say I Love You (October, 3 wks)
  16. Billy Ocean – Caribbean Queen (No More Love on the Run) (November, 2 wks)
  17. Wham! – Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go (November, 3 wks)
  18. Daryl Hall & John Oates – Out of Touch (December, 2 wks)

Overview of 2002 on the Billboard Pop Charts

The ’00s begin to take shape after 9/11 as Emo and Bling Rap conquer the charts, Avril Lavigne emerges as the “anti-Britney” and Nelly notches two of the year’s top hits. But Eminem goes mainstream with 8 Mile and the decade’s biggest Rock bands, Nickelback and Linkin Park, score their first hits.

#1 Song of the Year   

Eminem – Lose Yourself

Artists of the Year   

  1. Nelly
  2. Ashanti
  3. P!nk

Artist with Most Charting Songs   

  • 16-WAY TIE: Jennifer Lopez • Ashanti • No Doubt • P!nk • Eminem • Fat Joe • Ludacris • Ja Rule • Shakira • George Strait • Toby Keith • Alan Jackson • Tim McGraw • B2K • Brooks & Dunn • System of a Down (3)

Average #1 Artist Age   

  • 26.6 years

#1 Songs   

  1. Usher – U Got It Bad (December ’01, 6 wks)
  2. Nickelback – How You Remind Me (December ’01, 4 wks)
  3. Ja Rule feat. Ashanti – Always on Time (February, 2 wks)
  4. Jennifer Lopez feat. Ja Rule – Ain’t It Funny (March, 6 wks)
  5. Ashanti – Foolish (April, 10 wks)
  6. Nelly – Hot in Herre (June, 7 wks)
  7. Nelly feat. Kelly Rowland – Dilemma (August, 10 wks)
  8. Kelly Clarkson – A Moment like This (October, 2 wks)
  9. Eminem – Lose Yourself (November, 12 wks)

Overview of 1958 on the Billboard Pop Charts

Teens take over the Pop charts in Rock ‘n Roll’s “toddler year” as Billboard unveils the Hot100, silly hits abound and Elvis reports for duty in the Army, but The Kingston Trio brings back Folk, and grownups celebrate the start of the Jet Age with “Volare” and other songs sung in Italian.

#1 Song of the Year   

Tommy Edwards – It’s All in the Game

Artists of the Year   

  1. Elvis Presley
  2. Rick Nelson
  3. The Everly Brothers

Artist with Most Charting Songs   

  • Pat Boone (10)

Average #1 Artist Age   

  • 27.9 years

#1 Songs   

  1. Danny & The Juniors – At the Hop (January, 5 wks)
  2. Elvis Presley with The Jordanaires – Don’t (February, 5 wks)
  3. The Champs – Tequila (March, 4 wks)
  4. Laurie London – He’s Got the Whole World (In His Hands) (April, 3 wks)
  5. Elvis Presley with The Jordanaires – Wear My Ring Around Your Neck (April, 1 wk)
  6. The Music of David Seville – Witch Doctor (April, 3 wks)
  7. The Platters – Twilight Time (April, 2 wks)
  8. The Everly Brothers – All I Have to Do Is Dream (May, 6 wks)
  9. Sheb Wooley – The Purple People Eater (June, 6 wks)
  10. Elvis Presley with The Jordanaires – Hard Headed Woman (July, 1 wk)
  11. Perez Prado & His Orchestra – Patricia (July, 1 wk)
  12. Ricky Nelson – Poor Little Fool (August, 2 wks)
  13. Domenico Modugno – Nel Blu Dipinto di Blu (Volare) (August, 5 wks)
  14. The Elegants – Little Star (August, 1 wk)
  15. Tommy Edwards – It’s All in the Game (September, 6 wks)
  16. Conway Twitty – It’s Only Make Believe (November, 2 wks)
  17. The Kingston Trio – Tom Dooley (November, 1 wk)
  18. The Teddy Bears – To Know Him, Is to Love Him (December, 3 wks)

Overview of 1993 on the Billboard Pop Charts

Music and fandom are deeply fragmented in the second full year of the Soundscan era on the Billboard charts as Gen-X takes charge of pop culture and Bill Clinton is inaugurated President. But genres are flowering in their silos, the music biz is prospering, and CD-single genres, especially Hip-Hop and R&B, are ruling the Hot100.

#1 Song of the Year   

Whitney Houston – I Will Always Love You

Artists of the Year   

  1. SWV
  2. Whitney Houston
  3. Shai

Artist with Most Charting Songs   

  • TIE: Whitney Houston/SWV (4)

Average #1 Artist Age   

  • 28.6 years

#1 Songs   

  1. Whitney Houston – I Will Always Love You (November ’92, 14 wks)
  2. Peabo Bryson & Regina Bell – A Whole New World (March, 1 wk)
  3. Snow – Informer (March, 7 wks)
  4. Silk – Freak Me (May, 2 wks)
  5. Janet Jackson – That’s the Way Love Goes (May, 8 wks)
  6. SWV – Weak (July, 2 wks)
  7. UB40 – Can’t Help Falling in Love (July, 7 wks)
  8. Mariah Carey – Dreamlover (September, 8 wks)
  9. Meat Loaf – I’d Do Anything for Love (But I Won’t Do That) (November, 5 wks)
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The top song according to our Chartcrush ranking of all songs that earned the majority of their chart ranking points in the yearThe top three artists based on all charted songs that spent most of their chart runs in the yearArtist(s) with the most charting songs during the year (song count in parentheses)The average of how old artists who scored #1 hits during the year were when their songs first reached #1List 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 #1The top song according to our Chartcrush ranking of all Hot100 songs that earned the majority of their chart ranking points in the yearThe top three artists based on all charted songs during the calendar yearArtist(s) with the most Hot100 charting songs during the year (song count in parentheses)The average of how old artists who scored #1 Hot100 hits during the year were when their songs first reached #1List 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 #1The top song according to our Chartcrush ranking of all Hot100 songs that earned the majority of their chart ranking points in the yearThe top three artists based on all charted songs during the calendar yearArtist(s) with the most Hot100 charting songs during the year (song count in parentheses)The average of how old artists who scored #1 Hot100 hits during the year were when their songs first reached #1List 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 #1The top song according to our Chartcrush ranking of all songs that earned the majority of their chart ranking points in the yearThe top three artists based on all charted songs that spent most of their chart runs in the yearArtist(s) with the most charting songs during the year (song count in parentheses)The average of how old artists who scored #1 hits during the year were when their songs first reached #1List 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 #1The top song according to our Chartcrush ranking of all Hot100 songs that earned the majority of their chart ranking points in the yearThe top three artists based on all charted songs during the calendar yearArtist(s) with the most Hot100 charting songs during the year (song count in parentheses)The average of how old artists who scored #1 Hot100 hits during the year were when their songs first reached #1List 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 #1The top song according to our Chartcrush ranking of all Hot100 songs that earned the majority of their chart ranking points in the yearThe top three artists based on all charted songs during the calendar yearArtist(s) with the most Hot100 charting songs during the year (song count in parentheses)The average of how old artists who scored #1 Hot100 hits during the year were when their songs first reached #1List 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 #1The top song according to our Chartcrush ranking of all Hot100 songs that earned the majority of their chart ranking points in the yearThe top three artists based on all charted songs during the calendar yearArtist(s) with the most Hot100 charting songs during the year (song count in parentheses)The average of how old artists who scored #1 Hot100 hits during the year were when their songs first reached #1List 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 #1The top song according to our Chartcrush ranking of all songs that earned the majority of their chart ranking points in the yearThe top three artists based on all charted songs during the calendar yearArtist(s) with the most charting songs during the year (song count in parentheses)The average of how old artists who scored #1 hits during the year were when their songs first reached #1List 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 #1The top song according to our Chartcrush ranking of all songs that earned the majority of their chart ranking points in the yearThe top three artists based on all charted songs that spent most of their chart runs in the yearArtist(s) with the most charting songs during the year (song count in parentheses)The average of how old artists who scored #1 hits during the year were when their songs first reached #1List 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 #1The top song according to our Chartcrush ranking of all Hot100 songs that earned the majority of their chart ranking points in the yearThe top three artists based on all charted songs during the calendar yearArtist(s) with the most Hot100 charting songs during the year (song count in parentheses)The average of how old artists who scored #1 Hot100 hits during the year were when their songs first reached #1List 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