Billboard Charts 1926 to 2025 - Most Successful Artists

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1980 Kenny Rogers
Kenny Rogers dominated the charts in 1980. He first charted in 1968, but the biggest chart success of his career to date, the album "The Gambler" had been charting from 1978-1980.
rateyourmusic.com/release/album/kenny-rogers/the-gambler/
And it was in 1980, when Kenny released the biggest single of his career to date, "Lady".


The career success of The Supremes and Diana Ross' solo work hit a new high in 1980. They surpassed Benny Goodman and reached 9th overall. Diana Ross released another number 1, "Upside Down" in 1980, the biggest hit single of her entire career to date, including The Supremes.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=hDHW5wXBvLw
Her album "Diana" released in 1980 was the 5th biggest album of her career to date, including The Supremes.
rateyourmusic.com/release/album/diana-ross/diana/

Barbra Streisand rose to 14th place overall in 1980. Her biggest success of the year was the album "Guilty".
rateyourmusic.com/release/album/barbra-streisand/guilty/
Her biggest hit in 1980 was the number 1 hit "Woman In Love".
www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQLGCX8D-1Y

Herb Alpert returned to 15th place in 1980. His number 1 hit "Rise" charted between 1979 and 1980. It was the biggest hit of his entire career.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=oaiRajbOpxQ

1926 - 1980
1 Bing Crosby
2 The Beatles (& Paul McCartney)
3 Elvis Presley
4 Frank Sinatra
5 Glenn Miller & His Orchestra
6 Guy Lombardo & His Royal Canadians
7 Tommy Dorsey & His Orchestra
8 Perry Como
9 (Diana Ross &) The Supremes
10 Benny Goodman & His Orchestra
11 Johnny Mathis
12 The Rolling Stones (& Mick Jagger)
13 Jimmy Dorsey & His Orchestra
14 Barbra Streisand
15 Herb Alpert (& The Tijuana Brass)

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1981 REO Speedwagon
REO Speedwagon was the most successful artist of 1981. The band started scoring hits in 1974, but in 1981 they hit big with the biggest album of their career to date, the number 1 "Hi Infidelity".
rateyourmusic.com/release/album/reo-speedwagon/hi-infidelity-8/
And with the biggest single of their career to date, the number 1 "Keep On Loving You".



In 1981, Diana Ross had the biggest hit of her career to date with "Endless Love", a duet with Lionel Richie.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Bwwo7ctG10
Her career success as a solo artist and with The Supremes, surpassed Perry Como and reached 8th overall, although the majority of her success was still from her worrk with The Supremes.

The Rolling Stones (& Mick's solo work) rose to become the 10th most successful artist of the period 1926 to 1981. Since 1979 their biggest chart success was the number 1 album "Emotional Rescue" which charted over both 1980 and 1981.
rateyourmusic.com/release/album/the-rolling-stones/emotional-rescue/
"Start Me Up" was their biggest single since 1979 and it was the 2nd biggest hit of their career to date.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=SGyOaCXr8Lw

Barbra Streisand rose to 13th place overall in 1981. In 1981, her hit album "Guilty" from 1980 was still charting strongly.
Her biggest hit of 1981 was "What Kind Of Fool", a duet with Barry Gibb from the Bee Gees.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=hfIR9NCcUKI
But her number 1 single "Woman In Love" from 1980 was still charting in 1981 and by the end of the year it became the biggest hit of her career to date.

1926 - 1981
1 Bing Crosby
2 The Beatles (& Paul McCartney)
3 Elvis Presley
4 Frank Sinatra
5 Glenn Miller & His Orchestra
6 Guy Lombardo & His Royal Canadians
7 Tommy Dorsey & His Orchestra
8 (Diana Ross &) The Supremes
9 Perry Como
10 The Rolling Stones (& Mick Jagger)
11 Benny Goodman & His Orchestra
12 Johnny Mathis
13 Barbra Streisand
14 Jimmy Dorsey & His Orchestra
15 Herb Alpert (& The Tijuana Brass)

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1982 Fleetwood Mac (& Stevie Nicks)
Since 1977, Fleetwood Mac were one of the biggest bands in the world and in 1981 Stevie Nicks started her solo career. In 1982 her body of work with Fleetwood Mac and on her own, beat out John Cougar who had a great year himself, to be the most successful of the year.
Their biggest success in 1982 was the Fleetwood Mac album "Mirage", but Stevie Nicks' first solo album "Belladonna" did almost as well during the year.
rateyourmusic.com/release/album/fleetwood-mac/mirage/
Their biggest hit during the year was "Hold Me" by Fleetwood Mac.



The Top 15 artists were unchanged in 1982.

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1983 Michael Jackson
In 1983, all eyes were on Michael Jackson. He was the most successful artist in any year, since Herb Alpert in 1966, and it was the 2nd time he had topped the charts in any single year.
His career with his brothers and as a solo artist became the 15th most successful of this period, but it was as part of The Jacksons, that Michael scored the greatest cummulative success of his career to date.
Nevertheless in 1983, his monster solo album "Thriller" had already become the biggest chart success of his entire career to date.
rateyourmusic.com/release/album/michael-jackson/thriller/
And his biggest solo single in 1983, "Billie Jean" was the biggest of 3 number 1 hits he had that year, and the biggest hit of his career to date, with or without his brothers.



1926 - 1983
1 Bing Crosby
2 The Beatles (& Paul McCartney)
3 Elvis Presley
4 Frank Sinatra
5 Glenn Miller & His Orchestra
6 Guy Lombardo & His Royal Canadians
7 Tommy Dorsey & His Orchestra
8 (Diana Ross &) The Supremes
9 Perry Como
10 The Rolling Stones (& Mick Jagger)
11 Benny Goodman & His Orchestra
12 Johnny Mathis
13 Barbra Streisand
14 Jimmy Dorsey & His Orchestra
15 The Jacksons (& Michael Jackson)

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1984 Prince
Prince led the charts in 1984. He first charted in 1978 but his biggest chart success in 1984, the number 1 album "Purple Rain (Soundtrack)" was already the 2nd biggest of his career to date in its first year of release.
rateyourmusic.com/release/album/prince-and-the-revolution/purple-rain/
And the number 1 single "When Doves Cry" was already the biggest of his career to date.



Since 1981, The Rolling Stones' biggest chart success was the album "Tattoo You" which went to number 1 in 1981 and kept charting into 1982 and was now the 2nd biggest album of their career to date. The combined career success of The Rolling Stones and Mick Jagger's solo work, rose to 9th place overall.
rateyourmusic.com/release/album/the-rolling-stones/tattoo-you/
Mick Jagger had a bigger hit in this period than The Rolling Stones with "State Of Shock", his solo collaboration with The Jacksons.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=6zCwubK5-6g

In 1984, Barbra Streisand rose to 12th place. Her biggest success of the year was her album "Memories", which charted in each of the three years since 1981.
rateyourmusic.com/release/comp/barbra-streisand/memories/
Her biggest hit of the year was "Comin' In And Out Of Your Life".
www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5wz8_7WM6k

The monster album "Thriller" was still number 1 for 15 weeks during 1984 and charted for all 52 weeks of the year. By the end of 1984, The Jacksons including Michael's solo work had reached 13th place overall.
Their biggest hit of 1984 was "State Of Shock", a collaboration between The Jacksons and Mick Jagger which reached number 3.
But Michael Jackson's other solo collaboration with Paul McCartney, "Say Say Say", which had reached number 1 in 1983, remained at number 1 into 1984. The song became Michael Jackson's biggest hit single of his career to date.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLEhh_XpJ-0

Elton John had been a major artist since he first charted in 1970. His biggest chart successes to date were between 1970 and 1975, but by 1984 he became the 15th most successful artist of this period. His biggest chart success in the period 1976-1986 was his album "Too Low For Zero" which charted between 1983-1984.
rateyourmusic.com/release/album/elton-john/too-low-for-zero/
His biggest single released over the period 1976-1986 was his number 1 hit duet with Kiki Dee from 1976, "Don't Go Breaking My Heart".
www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0qW9P-uYfM

1926 - 1984
1 Bing Crosby
2 The Beatles (& Paul McCartney)
3 Elvis Presley
4 Frank Sinatra
5 Glenn Miller & His Orchestra
6 Guy Lombardo & His Royal Canadians
7 Tommy Dorsey & His Orchestra
8 (Diana Ross &) The Supremes
9 The Rolling Stones (& Mick Jagger)
10 Perry Como
11 Benny Goodman & His Orchestra
12 Barbra Streisand
13 The Jacksons (& Michael Jackson)
14 Johnny Mathis
15 Elton John

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1985 Madonna
Madonna was the most successful artist of 1985. She first charted in 1983 and her album "Like A Virgin" was a huge chart success in 1985 but only her 2nd biggest album over the period 1983-1985.
rateyourmusic.com/release/album/madonna/like-a-virgin/
Likewise her huge hit of the year "Crazy For You", was also the 2nd biggest single of her short career to date.



The Top 15 artists were unchanged in 1985.

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1986 Genesis (& Phil Collins)
Genesis started charting in 1973 but when their drummer Phil Collins started his solo career in 1981, he found huge success both with the band and with his solo work, which during 1986, surpassed Whitney Houston great success of the same year.
In 1986, Genesis had the most success, but the biggest succeess of the year was Phil''s album "No Jacket Required", which went to number 1 in 1985 but charted every week of the year in 1986.
rateyourmusic.com/release/album/phil-collins/no-jacket-required/
Their biggest hit of the year was Genesis' "Invisible Touch", which reached number 3.



Since 1984, Barbara Streisand released "The Broadway Album" which reached number 1 and charted between 1985-1986. By the end of the year she rose to 11th place overall.
rateyourmusic.com/release/album/barbra-streisand/the-broadway-album-7/
Her biggest hit of this period "Somewhere", was a minor hit that also charted between 1985-1986.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=cAu3a7CMA84

1926 - 1986
1 Bing Crosby
2 The Beatles (& Paul McCartney)
3 Elvis Presley
4 Frank Sinatra
5 Glenn Miller & His Orchestra
6 Guy Lombardo & His Royal Canadians
7 Tommy Dorsey & His Orchestra
8 (Diana Ross &) The Supremes
9 The Rolling Stones (& Mick Jagger)
10 Perry Como
11 Barbra Streisand
12 Benny Goodman & His Orchestra
13 The Jacksons (& Michael Jackson)
14 Johnny Mathis
15 Elton John

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1987 U2
U2 were the most successful artist of 1987. Their chart successes that year were the biggest of their career to date, that started in 1981. Their number 1 album "The Joshua Tree" was their biggest success for the year.
rateyourmusic.com/release/album/u2/the-joshua-tree/
And their number 1 single "With or Without You" was the biggest of their 2 number 1 hits that year, both of which, were the biggest hits of their career to date.



By the end of 1987, Michael Jackson's solo success surpassed anything he achieved with his brothers, and his entire body of work became the 11th most successful of this period. It was also in 1987 that Michael released his smash number 1 album "Bad". After 14 weeks on the charts it was already his 4th most successful album of his career to date.
rateyourmusic.com/release/album/michael-jackson/bad/
His biggest hit for the year was "I Just Can't Stop Loving You", his collaboration with Siedah Garrett, which reached number 1.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ADiz6lUHko

1926 - 1987
1 Bing Crosby
2 The Beatles (& Paul McCartney)
3 Elvis Presley
4 Frank Sinatra
5 Glenn Miller & His Orchestra
6 Guy Lombardo & His Royal Canadians
7 Tommy Dorsey & His Orchestra
8 (Diana Ross &) The Supremes
9 The Rolling Stones (& Mick Jagger)
10 Perry Como
11 Michael Jackson
12 Barbra Streisand
13 Benny Goodman & His Orchestra
14 Johnny Mathis
15 Elton John

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1988 George Michael
George Michael had a great year during 1988, and was more successful in a single year than any artist since Prince in 1984. George started his solo chart success in 1984, but his biggest success was his album "Faith" released in 1987. It appeared in each of the 53 chart weeks in 1988 and was number 1 for 12 of those.
rateyourmusic.com/release/album/george-michael/faith/
His biggest single of 1988, the number 1 hit "One More Try". It was one of 4 number 1 hits he had that year, but only the 3rd biggest of his solo career to date.



In 1988, Michael Jackson's biggest success was still his album "Bad" which reached number 2 during the year and appeared on all 53 weekly charts for the year.
He also had another 3 number 1 hits during the year, the biggest of which was "Man In The Mirror". By the end of 1988, Michael Jackson rose to become the 10th most successful artist of this period.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=PivWY9wn5ps

Elton John surpassed Benny Goodman by the end of 1988 to take 13th place for this period.
His biggest success since 1984 was his number 1 collaboration with Dionne Warwick, Gladys Knight & Stevie Wonder. "That's What Friends Are For" charted during 1985-1986 and
became the biggest hit of Elton John's career to date.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=HyTpu6BmE88

1926 - 1988
1 Bing Crosby
2 The Beatles (& Paul McCartney)
3 Elvis Presley
4 Frank Sinatra
5 Glenn Miller & His Orchestra
6 Guy Lombardo & His Royal Canadians
7 Tommy Dorsey & His Orchestra
8 (Diana Ross &) The Supremes
9 The Rolling Stones (& Mick Jagger)
10 Michael Jackson
11 Perry Como
12 Barbra Streisand
13 Elton John
14 Benny Goodman & His Orchestra
15 Johnny Mathis

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1989 New Kids On The Block
In 1989, New Kids On The Block were the most successful artist of any year since Michael Jackson in 1983. Since debuting on the charts in 1988, they scored their biggest chart success with the number 1 album "Hangin' Tough".
rateyourmusic.com/release/album/new-kids-on-the-block/hangin-tough-2/
And their single "I'll Be Loving You (Forever)" went to number 1 in 1989 and was the biggest of their short career to date.



Elton John's biggest success of 1989 was "Healing Hands" which only reached number 13 on the charts.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ImP5gvqFrnA
But it was enough for him to surpass Barbra Streisand and take 12th place overall.

1926 - 1989
1 Bing Crosby
2 The Beatles (& Paul McCartney)
3 Elvis Presley
4 Frank Sinatra
5 Glenn Miller & His Orchestra
6 Guy Lombardo & His Royal Canadians
7 Tommy Dorsey & His Orchestra
8 (Diana Ross &) The Supremes
9 The Rolling Stones (& Mick Jagger)
10 Michael Jackson
11 Perry Como
12 Elton John
13 Barbra Streisand
14 Benny Goodman & His Orchestra
15 Johnny Mathis

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1990 M.C. Hammer
In 1990, M.C. Hammer's album "Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em" was number 1 for 21 weeks and easily his biggest success of the year, and he was the biggest artist of the year.
rateyourmusic.com/release/album/m_c-hammer/please-hammer-dont-hurt-em/
His biggest hit of the year was "Have You Seen Her".



Elton John rose to 11 place by the end of 1990. His biggest success of the year was the album "Sleeping With The Past", which first charted in 1989 but was still a moderate hit in 1990.
rateyourmusic.com/release/album/elton-john/sleeping-with-the-past/
His biggest single of the year, "Sacrifice", only reached the Top 20.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=NrLkTZrPZA4

1926 - 1990
1 Bing Crosby
2 The Beatles (& Paul McCartney)
3 Elvis Presley
4 Frank Sinatra
5 Glenn Miller & His Orchestra
6 Guy Lombardo & His Royal Canadians
7 Tommy Dorsey & His Orchestra
8 (Diana Ross &) The Supremes
9 The Rolling Stones (& Mick Jagger)
10 Michael Jackson
11 Elton John
12 Perry Como
13 Barbra Streisand
14 Benny Goodman & His Orchestra
15 Johnny Mathis

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1991 Mariah Carey
Mariah Carey started her charting career in 1990 and by the end of 1991 she already had 5 number 1 hit singles. She was the biggest artist of 1991.
Her biggest success of the year was her self-titled album which was number 1 for 11 weeks that year.
rateyourmusic.com/release/album/mariah-carey/mariah-carey/
Her biggest hit of the year was "Emotions", which of course was a number 1 hit.





The Top 15 artists were unchanged in 1991.

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1992 Garth Brooks
In 1992, Garth Brooks was the most successful artist of any year since Michael Jackson in 1983. Garth started his chart career in 1990 and achieved all his success to date with album releases only. The biggest of which was his album "Ropin' The Wind" that went to number 1 in 1991 and also in 1992.
rateyourmusic.com/release/album/garth-brooks/ropin-the-wind/

Since 1988, Michael Jackson biggest chart success was the album "Dangerous" that charted, and went to number 1, in both 1991 and 1992.
rateyourmusic.com/release/album/michael-jackson/dangerous/
Likewise his biggest single "Black Or White" since 1988, also charted and went to number 1, in both 1991 and 1992.


By the end of 1992, Michael replaced Diana Ross body of work, as a solo artist and with The Supremes, at 8th place overall.

1926 - 1992
1 Bing Crosby
2 The Beatles (& Paul McCartney)
3 Elvis Presley
4 Frank Sinatra
5 Glenn Miller & His Orchestra
6 Guy Lombardo & His Royal Canadians
7 Tommy Dorsey & His Orchestra
8 Michael Jackson
9 (Diana Ross &) The Supremes
10 The Rolling Stones (& Mick Jagger)
11 Elton John
12 Perry Como
13 Barbra Streisand
14 Benny Goodman & His Orchestra
15 Johnny Mathis

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1993 Whitney Houston
Whitney was far more successful in 1993 than she was in 1986, and finally in 1993, she topped the charts for the year. Her biggest chart success of the year was the album "The Bodyguard". Number 1 for 17 weeks that year but only the 2nd biggest album of her career to date.
rateyourmusic.com/release/album/various-artists/the-bodyguard/
But her biggest single of 1993 "I Will Always Love You", was the biggest of her career to date.




The Top 15 artists were unchanged in 1993.

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1994 Ace Of Base
Ace Of Base were more successful in 1994 than any artist since Michael Jackson in 1983. Their biggest success of the year was their song "The Sign" which topped the charts for 6 weeks in 1994.




Phil Collins' solo success exceeded anything achieved by his former band Genesis, and in 1994, his body of work became the 15th most successful of this period.
Since 1986, his biggest success was his solo album "...But Seriously" which reached number 1 and charted between 1989-1991. It was the 2nd biggest album of his career to date.
rateyourmusic.com/release/album/phil-collins/_but-seriously/
And his biggest hit since 1986 was "Another Day In Paradise" a number 1 which charted between 1989-1990. It was the 2nd biggest single of his career to date.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qt2mbGP6vFI

1926 - 1993
1 Bing Crosby
2 The Beatles (& Paul McCartney)
3 Elvis Presley
4 Frank Sinatra
5 Glenn Miller & His Orchestra
6 Guy Lombardo & His Royal Canadians
7 Tommy Dorsey & His Orchestra
8 Michael Jackson
9 (Diana Ross &) The Supremes
10 The Rolling Stones (& Mick Jagger)
11 Elton John
12 Perry Como
13 Barbra Streisand
14 Benny Goodman & His Orchestra
15 Phil Collins

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1995 Hootie & The Blowfish
Hootie & The Blowfish led the charts in 1995.
Their album "Cracked Rear View" was number 1 for 8 weeks during the year.
rateyourmusic.com/release/album/hootie-and-the-blowfish/cracked-rear-view/
Their biggest hit of the year was "Hold My Hand" which reached number 10 on the charts.



Since 1992, Michael Jackson continued to have most success with his "Dangerous" album which remained in the Top 10 into 1993. Michael Jackson rose to replace Tommy Dorsey at 7th place overall by the end of 1995.
His biggest hit since 1992 was "You Are Not Alone" which went number 1 in 1995.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7EoTFO3U0Y

Since 1990, Elton John biggest success was "Can You Feel The Love Tonight (From 'The Lion King')" which stayed in the charts for 26 weeks during 1994. It was the biggest hit of his career to date and by the end of 1996, Elton had risen to 9th place overall.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=KjgWWjkNbhU

Since 1984, The Rolling Stones' biggest chart success was the album "Steel Wheels" which charted between 1989-1990.
rateyourmusic.com/release/album/rolling-stones/steel-wheels/
And their biggest single was "Harlem Shuffle" from 1986.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=nAkMTu6q2pY
Mick Jagger charted with some moderate album and singles success as well over those 11 years, like his solo album "She's The Boss" from 1985. By the end of 1995, The Rolling Stones including Mick Jagger's solo work had surpassed Diana Ross to retain 10th place overall.

1926 - 1995
1 Bing Crosby
2 The Beatles (& Paul McCartney)
3 Elvis Presley
4 Frank Sinatra
5 Glenn Miller & His Orchestra
6 Guy Lombardo & His Royal Canadians
7 Michael Jackson
8 Tommy Dorsey & His Orchestra
9 Elton John
10 The Rolling Stones (& Mick Jagger)
11 (Diana Ross &) The Supremes
12 Perry Como
13 Barbra Streisand
14 Benny Goodman & His Orchestra
15 Phil Collins

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1996 Celine Dion
Celine Dion led the charts in 1996. Her biggest success was her number 1 album "Falling Into You".
rateyourmusic.com/release/album/celine-dion/falling-into-you/
Her biggest hit of the year was her number 1 "Because You Loved Me (From 'Up Close & Personal')".



The Top 15 artists were unchanged in 1996.

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1997 Spice Girls
In 1997 Spice Girls were the most successful artist of the year. Their album "Spice" was a number 1 hit and their biggest success of the year.
rateyourmusic.com/release/album/spice-girls/spice/
Their number 1 smash "Wannabe" was their biggest hit of the year.



Since 1986, Barbra Streisand's biggest success was her number 1 album "Back To Broadway", which charted between 1993-1994. By the end of 1997, she rose to 12th place overall.
rateyourmusic.com/release/album/barbra-streisand/back-to-broadway/

Since 1994, Phil Collins' biggest success was a minor hit in 1997 called "Dance Into The Light", but it was enough for him to take 14th place overall.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZnD6HqCKZI

1926 - 1997
1 Bing Crosby
2 The Beatles (& Paul McCartney)
3 Elvis Presley
4 Frank Sinatra
5 Glenn Miller & His Orchestra
6 Guy Lombardo & His Royal Canadians
7 Michael Jackson
8 Tommy Dorsey & His Orchestra
9 Elton John
10 The Rolling Stones (& Mick Jagger)
11 (Diana Ross &) The Supremes
12 Barbra Streisand
13 Perry Como
14 Phil Collins
15 Benny Goodman & His Orchestra

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1998 Usher
Usher led the charts in 1998. His biggest chart success of the year was his number 2 single "My Way".



Elton John surpassed Tommy Dorsey during 1998 to take 8th place overall.
"Candle In The Wind 1997 / Something About The Way You Look Tonight" was released in 1997. It was number 1 for 12 weeks that year and stayed at number 1 for another 2 weeks in 1998. It became the biggest hit of Elton John's career to date.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxb0GeS4gL8
www.youtube.com/watch?v=B93Tir6l5FA

Since her successful year in 1985, Madonna remained close to the top of the charts for the subsequent 13 years. Over that time she had her biggest success with her compilation album "The Immaculate Collection" which only reached number 2 but which charted from 1990 to 1993 and was her 3rd biggest album of her career to date.
rateyourmusic.com/release/comp/madonna/the-immaculate-collection/
Her biggest single over those 13 years was "Take A Bow", a number 1 for 7 weeks, which charted in 1994 and 1995, and which was the biggest hit of her career to date. By the end of 1998 Madonna became the 14th most successful artist and 3rd most successful female overall.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=XDeiovnCv1o

1926 - 1998
1 Bing Crosby
2 The Beatles (& Paul McCartney)
3 Elvis Presley
4 Frank Sinatra
5 Glenn Miller & His Orchestra
6 Guy Lombardo & His Royal Canadians
7 Michael Jackson
8 Elton John
9 Tommy Dorsey & His Orchestra
10 The Rolling Stones (& Mick Jagger)
11 (Diana Ross &) The Supremes
12 Perry Como
13 Barbra Streisand
14 Madonna
15 Phil Collins

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1999 Backstreet Boys
Backstreet Boys were more successful in 1999 than any artist since Hootie & The Blowfish in 1995. Backstreet Boys first charted in 1995 but 2000 was a breakthrough year. Their biggest chart success of the year was their number 1 album "Millennium".
rateyourmusic.com/release/album/backstreet-boys/millennium/
And their biggest single of the year was "I Want It That Way".



The Top 15 artists were unchanged in 1999.

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2000 Destiny's Child
Destiny's Child dominated the charts in 2000, thanks to releases like their biggest success, the huge number 1 hit "Say My Name". The biggest hit of their career to date, since they started charting in 1997.



The Top 15 artists were unchanged in 2000.

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2001 Destiny's Child
Destiny's Child topped the charts for a second year in 2001 and set a new record for female artists of 2 years at the top. Their biggest chart success of the year was the number 1 album "Survivor".
rateyourmusic.com/release/album/destinys-child/survivor/
And their biggest single of the year was the title track from the album which went to number 2.



Since 1995, Michael Jackson's biggest success was the moderate hit "You Rock My World" during 2001, but by the end of the year, Michael Jackson rose to 6th place overall.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=g4tpuu-Up90

Madonna had significant chart successes since 1998, like the number 1 hit "Music", which was the 2nd biggest hit of her career to date. In 2001, Madonna surpassed Barbra Streisand. She rose to 12th place overall and become the 2nd most successful female artist of this period.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sdz2oW0NMFk

1926 - 2001
1 Bing Crosby
2 The Beatles (& Paul McCartney)
3 Elvis Presley
4 Frank Sinatra
5 Glenn Miller & His Orchestra
6 Michael Jackson
7 Guy Lombardo & His Royal Canadians
8 Elton John
9 Tommy Dorsey & His Orchestra
10 The Rolling Stones (& Mick Jagger)
11 (Diana Ross &) The Supremes
12 Madonna
13 Barbra Streisand
14 Perry Como
15 Phil Collins

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2002 Ashanti
Ashanti in 2002, was the most successful artist of any year since Michael Jackson in 1983.
Her biggest chart release of the year, the song "Foolish", was number 1 for 10 weeks during the year.



The Top 15 artists were unchanged in 2002.

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2003 50 Cent
50 Cent in 2003, was the most successful artist of any year since Michael Jackson in 1983.
50 Cent's biggest success of the year was "Get Rich Or Die Tryin'", which stayed at number 1 for 6 weeks.
rateyourmusic.com/release/album/50-cent/get-rich-or-die-tryin/
His biggest hit of the year was "In Da Club", which stayed at number 1 for 9 weeks.



The Top 15 artists were unchanged in 2003.

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2004 Usher
Usher scored his 2nd year on top of the charts in 2004 but was far more successful than he was back in 1998. He was the most successful artist in a single year since Michael Jackson was in 1983.
Usher's biggest success of 2004, was "Yeah!" which topped the charts for 12 weeks and was easily the biggest hit of his career to date.



The Top 15 artists were unchanged in 2004.

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2005 50 Cent
50 Cent scored his 2nd year on top in 2005, but he wasn't as successful as he was in 2003.
His biggest success of 2005 was "The Massacre", a number 1 album, and the 2nd biggest of his career to date.
rateyourmusic.com/release/album/50-cent/the-massacre/
His biggest hit of the year was "Disco Inferno", which only reached number 3 but was the 2nd biggest hit of his career to date.



Mariah Carey continued her hugely successful career since she topped the charts in 1991. Her career started in 1990, and her biggest success to date was still her self-titled debut album.
rateyourmusic.com/release/album/mariah-carey/mariah-carey/
But in 2005, she had the biggest hit of her career to date with "We Belong Together" which stayed at number 1 for 14 weeks, and by the end of the year, she was the 15th most successful artist of this period, and the 4th most successful female artist.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=0habxsuXW4g

1926 - 2005
1 Bing Crosby
2 The Beatles (& Paul McCartney)
3 Elvis Presley
4 Frank Sinatra
5 Glenn Miller & His Orchestra
6 Michael Jackson
7 Guy Lombardo & His Royal Canadians
8 Elton John
9 Tommy Dorsey & His Orchestra
10 The Rolling Stones (& Mick Jagger)
11 (Diana Ross &) The Supremes
12 Madonna
13 Barbra Streisand
14 Perry Como
15 Mariah Carey

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2006 Rascal Flatts
Rascal Flatts led the charts in 2006 by a small margin. Their biggest chart success of the year was their top 10 hit "What Hurts The Most".



Mariah Carey's biggest success of 2006 and was her Top 10 album "The Emancipation Of Mimi".
rateyourmusic.com/release/album/mariah-carey/the-emancipation-of-mimi/
Her biggest hit of the year was the number 1 "Don't Forget About Us", and with that she rose to 14th place overall.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=8tZkzL4j3BU

1926 - 2006
1 Bing Crosby
2 The Beatles (& Paul McCartney)
3 Elvis Presley
4 Frank Sinatra
5 Glenn Miller & His Orchestra
6 Michael Jackson
7 Guy Lombardo & His Royal Canadians
8 Elton John
9 Tommy Dorsey & His Orchestra
10 The Rolling Stones (& Mick Jagger)
11 (Diana Ross &) The Supremes
12 Madonna
13 Barbra Streisand
14 Mariah Carey
15 Perry Como

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2007 Akon
Akon in 2007 was almost as successful as Usher was back in 2004.
His biggest hit of the year was "The Sweet Escape", a collaboration with Gwen Stefani.



The Top 15 artists were unchanged in 2007.

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2008 Lil Wayne
Lil Wayne had a great year in 2008 when he led the charts.
His biggest success of the year was his album "Tha Carter III" was went to number 1 for 3 weeks.
rateyourmusic.com/release/album/lil-wayne/tha-carter-iii/
And his biggest hit of the year was "Got Money", which reached the top 10.



Mariah Carey rose to 13th place overall in 2008, when she replaced Barbra Streisand to become the 3rd most successful female artist.
Since 2006, her biggest success was the single "Touch My Body" which went to number 1 during 2008.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=9b8erWuBA44

1926 - 2008
1 Bing Crosby
2 The Beatles (& Paul McCartney)
3 Elvis Presley
4 Frank Sinatra
5 Glenn Miller & His Orchestra
6 Michael Jackson
7 Guy Lombardo & His Royal Canadians
8 Elton John
9 Tommy Dorsey & His Orchestra
10 The Rolling Stones (& Mick Jagger)
11 (Diana Ross &) The Supremes
12 Madonna
13 Mariah Carey
14 Barbra Streisand
15 Perry Como

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2009 Taylor Swift
Taylor Swift's charting career started in 2006 and by 2009 she led the charts for the year.
Her album "Fearless" was number 1 for 9 weeks during the year and was the 2nd biggest album of her career to date.
rateyourmusic.com/release/album/taylor-swift/fearless/
Her biggest hit was "You Belong With Me" which reached number 2 in 2009 and was the 2nd biggest hit of her career to date.



The Top 15 artists were unchanged in 2009.