Each year Billboard freezes their weekly charts at the very end of the year/beginning of the new year (including in the 1980s) so there isn’t a lot of “music news” from the 80s to report at the end of the year/very beginning of the year as far as songs/albums going to #1, etc. Today, some 80s decade-end facts and figures:
Artists with the most #1 songs in the 1980s decade:
| Artist | Number ones |
|---|---|
| Michael Jackson | 9 |
| Madonna | 7 |
| Whitney Houston | 7 |
| Phil Collins | 7 |
| George Michael | 5 |
| Lionel Richie | 5 |
| Daryl Hall & John Oates | 5 |
| Stevie Wonder | 4 |
| Bon Jovi | 4 |
| Prince | 4 |
The following artists were featured in top of the chart for the highest total number of weeks during the 1980s:
| Artist | Weeks at #1 |
|---|---|
| Michael Jackson | 27 |
| Lionel Richie | 21 |
| Paul McCartney | 16 |
| George Michael | 16 |
| Stevie Wonder | 15 |
| Madonna | 15 |
| Olivia Newton-John | 14 |
| Diana Ross | 13 |
| Whitney Houston | 13 |
| Phil Collins | 13 |
| Daryl Hall & John Oates | 12 |
The following songs were featured on top of the chart for the highest total number of weeks during the 1980s:
“Physical” by Olivia Newton John (10 weeks at #1)
“Bette Davis Eyes” by Kim Carnes (9 weeks at #1)
“Endless Love” by Diana Ross & Lionel Richie (9 weeks at #1)
“Every Breath You Take” by The Police (8 weeks at #1)
“I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll” by Joan Jett & The Blackhearts (7 weeks at #1)
“Ebony & Ivory” by Paul McCartney & Stevie Wonder (7 weeks at #1)
“Billie Jean” by Michael Jackson (7 weeks at #1)
“Call Me” by Blondie (6 weeks at #1)
“Lady” by Kenny Rogers (6 weeks at #1)
“Centerfold” by The J. Geils Band (6 weeks at #1)
“Eye of the Tiger” by Survivor (6 weeks at #1)
“Flashdance…What A Feeling” by Irene Cara (6 weeks at #1)
“Say Say Say” by Paul McCartney & Michael Jackson (6 weeks at #1)
“Like A Virgin” by Madonna (6 weeks at #1)
