The ''Billboard'' Hot 100 is the main song chart of the American music industry and is updated every week by the '' Billboard'' magazine. During the 1980s the chart was based collectively on each single's weekly physical sales figures and

airplay Airplay is how frequently a song is being played through broadcasting on radio stations. A song which is being played several times every day (spins) would have a significant amount of airplay. Music which became very popular on jukeboxes, in n ...

on American radio stations. George Michael was the only artist to achieve two year-end ''Billboard'' Hot 100 number-one singles in the 1980s. He achieved this with his songs "

Faith Faith, derived from Latin ''fides'' and Old French ''feid'', is confidence or trust in a person, thing, or In the context of religion, one can define faith as " belief in God or in the doctrines or teachings of religion". Religious people ofte ...

" and "

Careless Whisper "Careless Whisper" is a song written by George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley. Released on the 1984 Wham! album '' Make It Big'', the single release was credited either to ''Wham! featuring George Michael'' (in North America and several other coun ...

". He is one of two recording acts to achieve more than one year-end ''Billboard'' Hot 100 number-one single in the history of the chart, with the other being

The Beatles The Beatles were an English rock band, formed in Liverpool in 1960, that comprised John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. They are regarded as the most influential band of all time and were integral to the developmen ...

, who also had two year-end number-ones.

Number ones

;Key : – Number-one single of the year Michael Jackson 1984

;Notes :"That's What Friends Are For" was performed by singers Dionne Warwick, Elton John,

Gladys Knight Gladys Maria Knight (born May 28, 1944), known as the "Empress of Soul", is an American singer, actress and businesswoman. A seven-time Grammy Award-winner, Knight recorded hits through the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s with her family group Gladys K ...

and Stevie Wonder, all of whom are also credited individually for the song on the ''Billboard'' charts.

Statistics by decade

Artist by total number-one singles

The following artists achieved four or more number-one hits during the 1980s. *Note: For singer George Michael, if

Wham! Wham! (briefly known in the US as Wham! U.K.) were an English pop duo formed in Bushey in 1981. The duo consisted of George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley. They became one of the most commercially successful pop acts of the 1980s, selling mor ...

is included, this would give George Michael eight number-one songs. *Note: For singer Phil Collins, if

Genesis Genesis may refer to: Bible * Book of Genesis, the first book of the biblical scriptures of both Judaism and Christianity, describing the creation of the Earth and of mankind * Genesis creation narrative, the first several chapters of the Book of ...

is included, this would give Phil Collins eight number-one songs.

Artists by total number of weeks at number one

The following artists were featured in top of the chart for the highest total number of weeks during the 1980s. * George Michael's duet with Aretha Franklin as well as the song "

", where he is credited as a featured artist (internationally, he is credited solo on this record), are counted towards his total number of weeks. His other two number ones with

—"

Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" is a song by the English duo Wham!, first released as a single in the UK on 14 May 1984. It became their first UK and US number one hit. It was written and produced by George Michael. The single was certified pla ...

" and "

Everything She Wants "Everything She Wants" is a song by British pop duo Wham!, originally released as a single in 1984 on Epic Records on a double A-side with "Last Christmas". It was written and produced by George Michael, one half of the duo, becoming their th ...

"—are not counted. *When adding the weeks for all of Phil Collins' number-one singles during the 1980s, it comes out to 15. (This does not include the

song "

Invisible Touch ''Invisible Touch'' is the thirteenth studio album by the English rock band Genesis, released on 6 June 1986 by Atlantic Records in the United States and on 9 June 1986 by Charisma/Virgin Records in the United Kingdom. After taking a break in 19 ...

".) However, "

Another Day in Paradise "Another Day in Paradise" is a song recorded by English drummer and singer-songwriter Phil Collins. Produced by Collins along with Hugh Padgham, it was released as the first single from his number-one album '' ...But Seriously'' (1989). As wi ...

" spent its final two weeks at number one in 1990—January 6 and 13—so those two weeks do not count toward his tally in the 1980s.

Songs by total number of weeks at number one

The following songs were featured in top of the chart for the highest total number of weeks during the 1980s.

References