Number One Hits

1998 Billboard Number One Hits1998’s Billboard number one hits reflected the late-1990s pop radio handoff. Big movie ballads were still huge, R&B was dominating the Hot 100, adult contemporary was strong, and playful pop-rap was crossing over in a major way. The year felt polished, romantic, dramatic, and very radio-friendly.The year began with Elton John’s […]

1997 Billboard Number One Hits 1997’s Billboard number one hits captured a dramatic late-1990s shift. Big emotional ballads were still powerful, hip-hop and R&B were moving deeper into the center of pop radio, and global pop groups were starting to reshape the mainstream. The year had grief, glamour, movie tie-ins, teen-pop sparks, and enough shiny-suit

1996 Billboard Number One Hits 1996’s Billboard number one hits were dominated by huge ballads, R&B, hip-hop crossover, and one inescapable dance craze. The year opened with Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men still on top with One Sweet Day, one of the biggest chart records of the decade, and later moved through Céline Dion,

1995 Billboard Number One Hits 1995’s Billboard number one hits captured a year when R&B, hip-hop crossover, movie soundtracks, adult pop, and danceable radio hits all shared the spotlight. The year still had big 1990s ballads, but the center of pop music was clearly shifting toward smoother grooves, stronger R&B production, and songs that could

1994 Billboard Number One Hits1994’s Billboard number one hits were smooth, romantic, emotional, and extremely ballad-friendly. Adult pop, R&B, soft rock, and soundtrack songs had major chart power, while dance-pop and reggae-pop added lighter moments to a year that otherwise seemed very committed to slow dancing.The year opened with Mariah Carey’s Hero carrying over from

1993 Billboard Number One Hits 1993’s Billboard number one hits were dominated by movie ballads, R&B, reggae-pop, dancehall crossover, adult pop, and a few unforgettable songs that seemed to be everywhere at once. The year began with Whitney Houston’s I Will Always Love You still on top after its massive 1992 run, and it stayed

1992 Billboard Number One Hits1992’s Billboard number one hits showed pop music stretching in several directions at once. Michael Jackson opened the year with the worldwide pop-rock force of Black or White, Color Me Badd and Boyz II Men kept vocal-group R&B near the center of the chart, Kris Kross brought youthful hip-hop energy to

1991 Billboard Number One Hits: Every Hot 100 Chart-TopperThe 1991 Billboard Number One Hits list captured a fascinating transition year: dance-pop, adult-contemporary ballads, new jack swing, R&B, pop-rock, movie soundtrack power, and early-1990s hip-hop all shared time at the top. Madonna opened the year, Mariah Carey scored three No. 1 hits, Bryan Adams ruled the

1990 Billboard Number One Hits: Every Hot 100 Chart-TopperThe 1990 Billboard Number One Hits list captured the handoff from the polished late 1980s into the more varied sound of the early 1990s. Phil Collins carried over from 1989, Janet Jackson and Madonna kept superstar pop in motion, Mariah Carey arrived with her first two No.

1989 Billboard Number One Hits: Every Hot 100 Chart-TopperThe 1989 Billboard Number One Hits list closed the 1980s with hair metal, adult-contemporary ballads, teen pop, dance-pop, pop-rock, movie songs, and the first signs of the slick early-1990s sound. Poison opened the year, Paula Abdul and Milli Vanilli each scored three No. 1 hits, Janet Jackson

1988 Billboard Number One Hits: Every Hot 100 Chart-TopperThe 1988 Billboard Number One Hits list captured late-1980s pop at full power: superstar albums, teen pop, adult-contemporary ballads, hard rock, dance-pop, movie soundtrack hits, and a few gloriously strange one-week wonders. George Michael owned the year, Michael Jackson kept the Bad era rolling, Whitney Houston made

1987 Billboard Number One Hits: Every Hot 100 Chart-TopperThe 1987 Billboard Number One Hits list captured late-1980s pop at full volume: arena rock, dance-pop, adult-contemporary ballads, movie soundtrack hits, R&B, teen pop, and the rise of several artists who would remain major names into the 1990s. The Bangles opened the year with Walk Like an

1986 Billboard Number One Hits: Every Hot 100 Chart-TopperThe 1986 Billboard Number One Hits list captured a fast-moving pop year filled with charity singles, movie ballads, dance-pop, synth-pop, arena rock, adult-contemporary hits, and early superstar runs from Whitney Houston, Madonna, Janet Jackson, and Bon Jovi. Lionel Richie carried over from 1985, Dionne & Friends delivered

1985 Billboard Number One Hits: Every Hot 100 Chart-TopperThe 1985 Billboard Number One Hits list was packed with superstar pop, charity singles, movie themes, British imports, arena rock, synth-pop, and adult-contemporary ballads. Madonna opened the year with Like a Virgin, Wham! and George Michael owned the year-end chart with Careless Whisper, USA for Africa turned

1984 Billboard Number One Hits: Every Hot 100 Chart-Topper The 1984 Billboard Number One Hits list captured one of pop music’s most famous years: MTV power, movie soundtracks, superstar albums, British new wave, rock crossovers, R&B, and the full arrival of Prince and Madonna as era-defining forces. Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson opened the year

1983 Billboard Number One Hits: Every Hot 100 Chart-Topper The 1983 Billboard Number One Hits list captured one of the most important pop years of the MTV era. Michael Jackson dominated with Billie Jean and Beat It, The Police ruled the summer with Every Breath You Take, Irene Cara brought Flashdance to the top, and

1982 Billboard Number One Hits: Every Hot 100 Chart-Topper The 1982 Billboard Number One Hits list captured the early MTV era beginning to take shape, with pop-rock, new wave, movie themes, classic rock crossovers, R&B duets, and one very physical carryover from 1981. Olivia Newton-John opened the year with Physical, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts

1981 Billboard Number One Hits: Every Hot 100 Chart-TopperThe 1981 Billboard Number One Hits list sat right at the edge of the MTV era, with soft rock, R&B, country crossover, movie themes, new wave, yacht rock, and pop-rock all sharing the Hot 100 summit. John Lennon opened the year with (Just Like) Starting Over, Kim

1980 Billboard Number One Hits: Every Hot 100 Chart-Topper The 1980 Billboard Number One Hits list opened a new decade with a strange and fascinating mix: leftover disco, soft rock, pop-soul, movie songs, arena rock, country-pop, funk, and the first signs of the cleaner 1980s radio sound. KC and the Sunshine Band opened the chart

1979 Billboard Number One Hits: Every Hot 100 Chart-TopperThe 1979 Billboard Number One Hits list captured the dramatic final peak of disco, the rise of new wave, the staying power of soft rock, and a few early hints of the 1980s just around the corner. Chic opened the year with Le Freak, Donna Summer became

1978 Billboard Number One Hits: Every Hot 100 Chart-TopperThe 1978 Billboard Number One Hits list was dominated by disco, movie soundtracks, soft rock, pop ballads, and one famous family’s astonishing chart power. The Bee Gees opened the year with How Deep Is Your Love, ruled the spring with Stayin’ Alive and Night Fever, helped fuel

1977 Billboard Number One Hits: Every Hot 100 Chart-TopperThe 1977 Billboard Number One Hits list captured pop music in a major transition year. Soft rock, soul, disco, movie themes, country-pop, arena rock, and early signs of the late-1970s soundtrack boom all shared the top spot. Rod Stewart opened the year with Tonight’s the Night (Gonna

1976 Billboard Number One Hits: Every Hot 100 Chart-Topper The 1976 Billboard Number One Hits list captured a wildly mixed pop year: disco, novelty songs, TV themes, country crossover, soul, soft rock, funk, and adult-contemporary ballads all took turns at No. 1. Bay City Rollers opened the year with Saturday Night, Wings delivered Billboard’s year-end

1975 Billboard Number One Hits: Every Hot 100 Chart-TopperThe 1975 Billboard Number One Hits list captured a year where pop, soul, soft rock, country crossover, early disco, funk, and singer-songwriter ballads all shared the top spot. Helen Reddy opened the year with Angie Baby, Captain & Tennille ruled the summer with Love Will Keep Us

1974 Billboard Number One Hits: Every Hot 100 Chart-TopperThe 1974 Billboard Number One Hits list was one of the busiest Hot 100 years of the decade, with soft rock, soul, funk, country crossover, novelty songs, film themes, early disco, singer-songwriter ballads, and classic rock all reaching No. 1. Jim Croce opened the year with Time

>1973 Billboard Number One Hits: Every Hot 100 Chart-TopperThe 1973 Billboard Number One Hits list captured a busy pop year where soul, soft rock, funk, country crossover, early glam, singer-songwriter ballads, and story songs all took turns at No. 1. Billy Paul opened the year with Me and Mrs. Jones, Dawn featuring Tony Orlando delivered

1972 Billboard Number One Hits: Every Hot 100 Chart-TopperThe 1972 Billboard Number One Hits list captured a year of singer-songwriters, soul classics, country-pop, soft rock, early solo breakthroughs, and a few songs that became much bigger than their chart dates. Melanie opened the year with Brand New Key, Roberta Flack ruled the year-end chart with

1971 Billboard Number One Hits: Every Hot 100 Chart-TopperThe 1971 Billboard Number One Hits list caught pop music in a wide-open early-1970s moment. Soul, rock, singer-songwriter pop, bubblegum, country-flavored ballads, post-Beatles solo hits, and movie themes all reached No. 1. George Harrison opened the year with My Sweet Lord, Three Dog Night ruled Billboard’s year-end