Billboard has been publishing weekly rankings in one form or another for over a century.
Early in the 1900s, Billboard presented charts detailing the popularity of sheet music in the U.S. In July 1940, Billboard unveiled its first chart ranking the sales of recorded songs, the 10-position “National List of Best Selling Retail Records,” with Bing Crosby, Jimmy Dorsey and Glenn Miller among its ranks.
Billboard expanded its number of weekly charts over the next few years, starting recaps for R&B in 1942 and country in 1944. In March 1956, the weekly Billboard 200 albums chart premiered (at just 10 positions deep). Two years later, in August 1958, the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart began.
At the end of 1958, Billboard printed a recap of the year’s biggest songs for the first time (that year also encompassing songs’ performance on pre-Hot 100 charts leading up to its launch that August). Domenico Modugno’s “Volare (Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blu)” finished as Billboard‘s first year-end No. 1 Hot 100 song. The track, which spent five weeks at No. 1, became the second song to top the weekly Hot 100, after Ricky Nelson’s “Poor Little Fool.”
Also in the 1958 year-end issue, Billboard continued its tradition of surveying the music industry via “The Billboard Eleventh Annual Disc Jockey Poll,” which “Volare” also crowned. “[The song] was really a left-field hit … one of the few disks in recent years with a non-English lyric to reach the top,” Billboard wrote at the time. In the 2020s, such hits are plentiful, largely via the growth of K-pop and Latin music. Thus, this line from that 1958 issue proved prophetic, given the sonic, and geographic scope of that year’s biggest titles: “The preference in tunes indicates that no one type of song or artist reigns supreme among jockeys. The list also includes several types of songs with many extremes, ranging from an old folk song to European, Latin American and tunes by American cleffers.”
Today, Billboard not only has the year-end Hot 100 Songs ranking, but also annual recaps for all 200-plus weekly charts, reflecting chart performance of songs, albums and artists over a 12-month tracking period.
From “Volare” to this year, here’s a look at every year-end No. 1 Hot 100 single since 1958, as published in every year-end issue.
Additional research by Gary Trust, Paul Grein and Alex Vitoulis
2024
Teddy Swims, “Lose Control”Hot 100 debut date: Aug. 26, 2023Hot 100 peak date: March 30, 2024Hot 100 peak position: No. 1 (for one week)Weeks Spent on Hot 100: 71, through the chart dated Dec. 28, 2024
2023
Morgan Wallen, “Last Night”Hot 100 debut date: Feb. 11, 2023Hot 100 peak date: March 18, 2023Hot 100 peak position: No. 1 (for 16 weeks)Weeks Spent on Hot 100: 60
2022
Glass Animals, “Heat Waves”Hot 100 debut date: Jan. 16, 2021Hot 100 peak date: March 12, 2022Hot 100 peak position: No. 1 (for 5 weeks)Weeks Spent on Hot 100: 91
2021
Dua Lipa, “Levitating”Hot 100 debut date: Oct. 17, 2020Hot 100 peak date: May 22, 2021Hot 100 peak position: No. 2Weeks Spent on Hot 100: 77
2020
The Weeknd, “Blinding Lights”Hot 100 debut date: Dec. 14, 2019Hot 100 peak date: April 4, 2020Hot 100 peak position: No. 1 (for 4 weeks)Weeks Spent on Hot 100: 90
2019
Lil Nas X feat. Billy Ray Cyrus, “Old Town Road”Hot 100 debut date: March 16, 2019Hot 100 peak date: April 13, 2019Hot 100 peak position: No. 1 (for a record 19 weeks)Weeks Spent on Hot 100: 45
2018
Drake, “God’s Plan”Hot 100 debut date: Feb. 3, 2018Hot 100 peak date: Feb. 3, 2018Hot 100 peak position: No. 1 (for 11 weeks)Weeks Spent on Hot 100: 36
2017
Ed Sheeran, “Shape of You”Hot 100 debut date: Jan. 28, 2017Hot 100 peak date: Jan. 28, 2017Hot 100 peak position: No. 1 (for 12 weeks)Weeks Spent on Hot 100: 59
2016
Justin Bieber, “Love Yourself”Hot 100 debut date: Dec. 5, 2015Hot 100 peak date: Feb. 13, 2016Hot 100 peak position: No. 1 (for 2 weeks)Weeks Spent on Hot 100: 41Notes: Bieber also had the No. 2 song of 2016, with “Sorry.”
2015
Mark Ronson feat. Bruno Mars, “Uptown Funk!”Hot 100 debut date: Nov. 29, 2014Hot 100 peak date: Jan. 17, 2015Hot 100 peak position: No. 1 (for 14 weeks)Weeks Spent on Hot 100: 56
2014
Pharrell Williams, “Happy”Hot 100 debut date: Jan. 18, 2014Hot 100 peak date: March 8, 2014Hot 100 peak position: No. 1 (for 10 weeks)Weeks Spent on Hot 100: 47
2013
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis feat. Wanz, “Thrift Shop”Hot 100 debut date: Sept. 15, 2012Hot 100 peak date: Feb. 2, 2013Hot 100 peak position: No. 1 (for 6 weeks)Weeks Spent on Hot 100: 49
2012
Gotye feat. Kimbra, “Somebody That I Used to Know”Hot 100 debut date: Jan. 21, 2012Hot 100 peak date: April 28, 2012Hot 100 peak position: No. 1 (for 8 weeks)Weeks Spent on Hot 100: 59
2011
Adele, “Rolling in the Deep”Hot 100 debut date: Dec. 25, 2010Hot 100 peak date: May 21, 2011Hot 100 peak position: No. 1 (for 7 weeks)Weeks Spent on Hot 100: 65
2010
Kesha, “Tik Tok”Hot 100 debut date: Oct. 24, 2009Hot 100 peak date: Jan. 2, 2010Hot 100 peak position: No. 1 (for 9 weeks)Weeks Spent on Hot 100: 38
2009
The Black Eyed Peas, “Boom Boom Pow”Hot 100 debut date: March 28, 2009Hot 100 peak date: April 18, 2009Hot 100 peak position: No. 1 (for 12 weeks)Weeks Spent on Hot 100: 33
2008
Flo Rida feat. T-Pain, “Low”Hot 100 debut date: Nov. 10, 2007Hot 100 peak date: Jan. 5, 2008Hot 100 peak position: No. 1 (for 10 weeks)Weeks Spent on Hot 100: 40
2007
Beyoncé, “Irreplaceable”Hot 100 debut date: Nov. 4, 2006Hot 100 peak date: Dec. 16, 2006Hot 100 peak position: No. 1 (for 10 weeks)Weeks Spent on Hot 100: 30
2006
Daniel Powter, “Bad Day”Hot 100 debut date: Feb. 25, 2006Hot 100 peak date: April 8, 2006Hot 100 peak position: No. 1 (for 5 weeks)Weeks Spent on Hot 100: 32
2005
Mariah Carey, “We Belong Together”Hot 100 debut date: April 16, 2005Hot 100 peak date: June 4, 2005Hot 100 peak position: No. 1 (for 14 weeks)Weeks Spent on Hot 100: 43
2004
Usher feat. Lil Jon & Ludacris, “Yeah!”Hot 100 debut date: Jan. 10, 2004Hot 100 peak date: Feb. 28, 2004Hot 100 peak position: No. 1 (for 12 weeks)Weeks Spent on Hot 100: 45
2003
50 Cent, “In Da Club”Hot 100 debut date: Jan. 11, 2003Hot 100 peak date: March 8, 2003Hot 100 peak position: No. 1 (for 9 weeks)Weeks Spent on Hot 100: 30
2002
Nickelback, “How You Remind Me”Hot 100 debut date: Sept. 8, 2001Hot 100 peak date: Dec. 22, 2001Hot 100 peak position: No. 1 (for 4 weeks)Weeks Spent on Hot 100: 49
2001
Lifehouse, “Hanging by a Moment”Hot 100 debut date: Feb. 10, 2001Hot 100 peak date: June 16, 2001Hot 100 peak position: No. 2Weeks Spent on Hot 100: 54
2000
Faith Hill, “Breathe”Hot 100 debut date: Nov. 6, 1999Hot 100 peak date: April 22, 2000Hot 100 peak position: No. 2Weeks Spent on Hot 100: 53
1999
Cher, “Believe”Hot 100 debut date: Dec. 19, 1998Hot 100 peak date: March 13, 1999Hot 100 peak position: No. 1 (for 4 weeks)Weeks Spent on Hot 100: 31
1998
Next, “Too Close”Hot 100 debut date: Feb. 14, 1998Hot 100 peak date: April 25, 1998Hot 100 peak position: No. 1 (for 5 weeks)Weeks Spent on Hot 100: 53
1997
Elton John, “Candle in the Wind 1997″ / “Something About the Way You Look Tonight”Hot 100 debut date: Oct. 11, 1997Hot 100 peak date: Oct. 11, 1997Hot 100 peak position: No. 1 (for 14 weeks)Weeks Spent on Hot 100: 42
1996
Los Del Río, “Macarena (Bayside Boys Mix)”Hot 100 debut date: Sept. 2, 1995Hot 100 peak date: Aug. 3, 1996Hot 100 peak position: No. 1 (for 14 weeks)Weeks Spent on Hot 100: 60
1995
Coolio feat. L.V., “Gangsta’s Paradise”Hot 100 debut date: Aug. 19, 1995Hot 100 peak date: Sept. 9, 1995Hot 100 peak position: No. 1 (for 3 weeks)Weeks Spent on Hot 100: 38
1994
Ace of Base, “The Sign”Hot 100 debut date: Jan. 1, 1994Hot 100 peak date: March 12, 1994Hot 100 peak position: No. 1 (for 6 weeks)Weeks Spent on Hot 100: 41
1993
Whitney Houston, “I Will Always Love You”Hot 100 debut date: Nov. 14, 1992Hot 100 peak date: Nov. 28, 1992Hot 100 peak position: No. 1 (for 14 weeks)Weeks Spent on Hot 100: 29
1992
Boyz II Men, “End of the Road”Hot 100 debut date: July 18, 1992Hot 100 peak date: Aug. 15, 1992Hot 100 peak position: No. 1 (for 13 weeks)Weeks Spent on Hot 100: 32
1991
Bryan Adams, “(Everything I Do) I Do It for You”Hot 100 debut date: June 29, 1991Hot 100 peak date: July 27, 1991Hot 100 peak position: No. 1 (for 7 weeks)Weeks Spent on Hot 100: 22
1990
Wilson Phillips, “Hold On”Hot 100 debut date: March 17, 1990Hot 100 peak date: June 9, 1990Hot 100 peak position: No. 1 (for 1 week)Weeks Spent on Hot 100: 25
1989
Chicago, “Look Away”Hot 100 debut date: Sept. 24, 1988Hot 100 peak date: Dec. 10, 1988Hot 100 peak position: No. 1 (for 2 weeks)Weeks Spent on Hot 100: 24
1988
George Michael, “Faith”Hot 100 debut date: Oct. 24, 1987Hot 100 peak date: Dec. 12, 1987Hot 100 peak position: No. 1 (for 4 weeks)Weeks Spent on Hot 100: 21
1987
The Bangles, “Walk Like an Egyptian”Hot 100 debut date: Sept. 27, 1986Hot 100 peak date: Dec. 20, 1986Hot 100 peak position: No. 1 (for 4 weeks)Weeks Spent on Hot 100: 23
1986
Dionne & Friends (Dionne Warwick, Gladys Knight, Elton John & Stevie Wonder), “That’s What Friends Are For”Hot 100 debut date: Nov. 9, 1985Hot 100 peak date: Jan. 18, 1986Hot 100 peak position: No. 1 (for 4 weeks)Weeks Spent on Hot 100: 23
1985
Wham!, “Careless Whisper”Hot 100 debut date: Dec. 22, 1984Hot 100 peak date: Feb. 16, 1985Hot 100 peak position: No. 1 (for 3 weeks)Weeks Spent on Hot 100: 22
1984
Prince, “When Doves Cry”Hot 100 debut date: June 2, 1984Hot 100 peak date: July 7, 1984Hot 100 peak position: No. 1 (for 5 weeks)Weeks Spent on Hot 100: 23
1983
The Police, “Every Breath You Take”Hot 100 debut date: June 4, 1983Hot 100 peak date: July 9, 1983Hot 100 peak position: No. 1 (for 8 weeks)Weeks Spent on Hot 100: 22
1982
Olivia Newton-John, “Physical”Hot 100 debut date: Oct. 3, 1981Hot 100 peak date: Nov. 21, 1981Hot 100 peak position: No. 1 (for 10 weeks)Weeks Spent on Hot 100: 26
1981
Kim Carnes, “Bette Davis Eyes”Hot 100 debut date: March 28, 1981Hot 100 peak date: May 16, 1981Hot 100 peak position: No. 1 (for 9 weeks)Weeks Spent on Hot 100: 26
1980
Blondie, “Call Me”Hot 100 debut date: Feb. 16, 1980Hot 100 peak date: April 19, 1980Hot 100 peak position: No. 1 (for 6 weeks)Weeks Spent on Hot 100: 25
1979
The Knack, “My Sharona”Hot 100 debut date: June 23, 1979Hot 100 peak date: Aug. 25, 1979Hot 100 peak position: No. 1 (for 6 weeks)Weeks Spent on Hot 100: 22
1978
Andy Gibb, “Shadow Dancing”Hot 100 debut date: April 15, 1978Hot 100 peak date: June 17, 1978Hot 100 peak position: No. 1 (for 7 weeks)Weeks Spent on Hot 100: 25
1977
Rod Stewart, “Tonight’s the Night (Gonna Be Alright)”Hot 100 debut date: Oct. 2, 1976Hot 100 peak date: Nov. 13, 1976Hot 100 peak position: No. 1 (for 8 weeks)Weeks Spent on Hot 100: 23
1976
Wings, “Silly Love Songs”Hot 100 debut date: April 10, 1976Hot 100 peak date: May 22, 1976Hot 100 peak position: No. 1 (for 5 weeks)Weeks Spent on Hot 100: 19
1975
Captain & Tennille, “Love Will Keep Us Together”Hot 100 debut date: April 19, 1975Hot 100 peak date: June 21, 1975Hot 100 peak position: No. 1 (for 4 weeks)Weeks Spent on Hot 100: 23
1974
Barbra Streisand, “The Way We Were”Hot 100 debut date: Nov. 24, 1973Hot 100 peak date: Feb. 2, 1974Hot 100 peak position: No. 1 (for 3 weeks)Weeks Spent on Hot 100: 23
1973
Dawn feat. Tony Orlando, “Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree”Hot 100 debut date: Feb. 17, 1973Hot 100 peak date: April 21, 1973Hot 100 peak position: No. 1 (for 4 weeks)Weeks Spent on Hot 100: 23
1972
Roberta Flack, “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face”Hot 100 debut date: March 4, 1972Hot 100 peak date: April 15, 1972Hot 100 peak position: No. 1 (for 6 weeks)Weeks Spent on Hot 100: 18
1971
Three Dog Night, “Joy to the World”Hot 100 debut date: March 13, 1971Hot 100 peak date: April 17, 1971Hot 100 peak position: No. 1 (for 6 weeks)Weeks Spent on Hot 100: 17
1970
Simon & Garfunkel, “Bridge Over Troubled Water”Hot 100 debut date: Feb. 7, 1970Hot 100 peak date: Feb. 28, 1970Hot 100 peak position: No. 1 (for 6 weeks)Weeks Spent on Hot 100: 14
1969
The Archies, “Sugar, Sugar”Hot 100 debut date: July 26, 1969Hot 100 peak date: Sept. 20, 1969Hot 100 peak position: No. 1 (for 4 weeks)Weeks Spent on Hot 100: 22
1968
The Beatles, “Hey Jude”Hot 100 debut date: Sept. 14, 1968Hot 100 peak date: Sept. 28, 1968Hot 100 peak position: No. 1 (for 9 weeks)Weeks Spent on Hot 100: 19
1967
Lulu, “To Sir With Love”Hot 100 debut date: Sept. 9, 1967Hot 100 peak date: Oct. 21, 1967Hot 100 peak position: No. 1 (for 5 weeks)Weeks Spent on Hot 100: 17
1966
The Mamas & The Papas, “California Dreamin’”Hot 100 debut date: Jan. 8, 1966Hot 100 peak date: March 12, 1966Hot 100 peak position: No. 4Weeks Spent on Hot 100: 17
1965
Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs, “Wooly Bully”Hot 100 debut date: April 3, 1965Hot 100 peak date: June 5, 1965Hot 100 peak position: No. 2Weeks Spent on Hot 100: 18
1964
The Beatles, “I Want to Hold Your Hand”Hot 100 debut date: Jan. 18, 1864Hot 100 peak date: Feb. 1, 1964Hot 100 peak position: No. 1 (for 7 weeks)Weeks Spent on Hot 100: 15Notes: The group also finished with the No. 2 song of 1964, with “She Loves You.”
1963
The Beach Boys, “Surfin’ U.S.A.”Hot 100 debut date: March 23, 1963Hot 100 peak date: May 25, 1963Hot 100 peak position: No. 3Weeks Spent on Hot 100: 25
1962
Mr. Acker Bilk, “Stranger on the Shore”Hot 100 debut date: March 17, 1962Hot 100 peak date: May 26, 1962Hot 100 peak position: No. 1 (for 1 week)Weeks Spent on Hot 100: 21
1961
Bobby Lewis, “Tossin’ & Turnin’”Hot 100 debut date: April 24, 1961Hot 100 peak date: July 10, 1961Hot 100 peak position: No. 1 (for 7 weeks)Weeks Spent on Hot 100: 23
1960
Percy Faith And His Orchestra, “Theme From A Summer Place”Hot 100 debut date: Jan. 11, 1960Hot 100 peak date: Feb. 22, 1960Hot 100 peak position: No. 1 (for 9 weeks)Weeks Spent on Hot 100: 21
1959
Johnny Horton, “The Battle of New Orleans”Hot 100 debut date: April 27, 1959Hot 100 peak date: June 1, 1959Hot 100 peak position: No. 1 (for 6 weeks)Weeks Spent on Hot 100: 21
1958
Domenico Modugno, “Volare (Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blu)”Hot 100 debut date: Aug. 4, 1958Hot 100 peak date: Aug. 18, 1958Hot 100 peak position: No. 1 (for 5 weeks)Weeks Spent on Hot 100: 16
