The top artists are determined by chart position and number of weeks on the Billboard charts.
| Rank | Artist |
| 1 | Michael Jackson |
| 2 | Madonna |
| 3 | Daryl Hall & John Oates |
| 4 | Prince |
| 5 | George Michael/Wham! |
| 6 | Lionel Richie |
| 7 | Billy Joel |
| 8 | Elton John |
| 9 | Phil Collins |
| 10 | John Cougar Mellencamp |
| 11 | Huey Lewis & The News |
| 12 | Kool & The Gang |
| 13 | Duran Duran |
| 14 | Kenny Rogers |
| 15 | Whitney Houston |
| 16 | Stevie Wonder |
| 17 | Rick Springfield |
| 18 | Journey |
| 19 | Diana Ross |
| 20 | Bruce Springsteen |
| 21 | Paul McCartney |
| 22 | Olivia Newton-John |
| 23 | Air Supply |
| 24 | Billy Ocean |
| 25 | Chicago |
| Rank | Peak Year | Total Weeks | Weeks in Top 10 | Weeks in Top 40 | Weeks at #1 | Title | Artist |
| 1 | 1981 | 26 | 21 | 15 | 10 | Physical | Olivia Newton-John |
| 2 | 1981 | 26 | 20 | 14 | 9 | Bette Davis Eyes | Kim Carnes |
| 3 | 1981 | 27 | 19 | 13 | 9 | Endless Love | Diana Ross & Lionel Richie |
| 4 | 1983 | 22 | 20 | 13 | 8 | Every Breath You Take | The Police |
| 5 | 1982 | 20 | 16 | 12 | 7 | I Love Rock 'N Roll | Joan Jett & The Blackhearts |
| 6 | 1982 | 19 | 15 | 12 | 7 | Ebony & Ivory | Paul McCartney with Stevie Wonder |
| 7 | 1983 | 24 | 17 | 11 | 7 | Billie Jean | Michael Jackson |
| 8 | 1982 | 25 | 18 | 15 | 6 | Eye Of The Tiger | Survivor |
| 9 | 1983 | 25 | 20 | 14 | 6 | Flashdance...What A Feeling | Irene Cara |
| 10 | 1980 | 25 | 19 | 13 | 6 | Lady | Kenny Rogers |
| 11 | 1983 | 22 | 18 | 13 | 6 | Say Say Say | Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson |
| 12 | 1982 | 25 | 20 | 12 | 6 | Centerfold | The J. Geils Band |
| 13 | 1980 | 25 | 19 | 12 | 6 | Call Me | Blondie |
| 14 | 1984 | 19 | 14 | 9 | 6 | Like A Virgin | Madonna |
| 15 | 1980 | 22 | 19 | 14 | 5 | (Just Like) Starting Over | John Lennon |
| 16 | 1984 | 21 | 16 | 11 | 5 | When Doves Cry | Prince |
| 17 | 1984 | 21 | 15 | 10 | 5 | Jump | Van Halen |
| 18 | 1980 | 29 | 17 | 14 | 4 | Upside Down | Diana Ross |
| 19 | 1983 | 24 | 17 | 13 | 4 | All Night Long (All Night) | Lionel Richie |
| 20 | 1982 | 23 | 17 | 13 | 4 | Maneater | Daryl Hall & John Oates |
| 21 | 1980 | 25 | 19 | 12 | 4 | Another Brick In The Wall (Part II) | Pink Floyd |
| 22 | 1980 | 22 | 17 | 12 | 4 | Crazy Little Thing Called Love | Queen |
| 23 | 1983 | 29 | 18 | 11 | 4 | Total Eclipse Of The Heart | Bonnie Tyler |
| 24 | 1983 | 25 | 19 | 10 | 4 | Down Under | Men At Work |
| 25 | 1986 | 23 | 17 | 10 | 4 | That's What Friends Are For | Dionne & Friends |
Songs are listed chronologically by the first week the song held the #1 position.
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Note: Songs which held the #1 position, dropped down and then returned to the #1
spot are indicated by arrows (q). | Date | Weeks at #1 | Title | Artist |
| 1/05 | 1 | Please Don't Go | K.C. & The Sunshine Band |
| 1/19 | 4 | Rock With You | Michael Jackson |
| 2/16 | 1 | Do That To Me One More Time | The Captain & Tennille |
| 2/23 | 4 | Crazy Little Thing Called Love | Queen |
| 3/22 | 4 | Another Brick In The Wall (Part II) | Pink Floyd |
| 4/19 | 6 | Call Me | Blondie |
| 5/31 | 4 | Funkytown | Lipps, Inc. |
| 6/28 | 3 | Coming Up (Living at Glasgow) | Paul McCartney & Wings |
| 7/19 | 2 | It's Still Rock And Roll To Me | Billy Joel |
| 8/02 | 4 | Magic | Olivia Newton-John |
| 8/30 | 1 | Sailing | Christopher Cross |
| 9/06 | 4 | Upside Down | Diana Ross |
| 10/4 | 3 | Another One Bites The Dust | Queen |
| 10/25 | 3 | Woman In Love | Barbra Streisand |
| 11/15 | 6 | Lady | Kenny Rogers |
| 12/27 | 5 | (Just Like) Starting Over | John Lennon |
| Date | Weeks at #1 | Title | Artist |
| 1/31 | 1 | The Tide Is High | Blondie |
| 2/07 | 2 | Celebration | Kool & The Gang |
| 2/21 | 2 | 9 To 5 | Dolly Parton |
| 2/28 | 2 | I Love A Rainy Night | Eddie Rabbitt |
| 3/21 | 1 | Keep On Loving You | REO Speedwagon |
| 3/28 | 2 | Rapture | Blondie |
| 4/11 | 3 | Kiss On My List | Daryl Hall & John Oates |
| 5/02 | 2 | Morning Train (Nine To Five) | Sheena Easton |
| 5/16 | 9 q | Bette Davis Eyes | Kim Carnes |
| 6/20 | 1 | Medley: Intro "Venus" | Stars on 45 |
| 7/25 | 1 | The One That You Love | Air Supply |
| 8/01 | 2 | Jessie's Girl | Rick Springfield |
| 8/15 | 9 | Endless Love | Diana Ross & Lionel Richie |
| 10/17 | 3 | Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do) | Christopher Cross |
| 11/07 | 2 | Private Eyes | Daryl Hall & John Oates |
| 11/21 | 10 | Physical | Olivia Newton-John |
| Date | Weeks at #1 | Title | Artist |
| 1/30 | 1 | I Can't Go For That (No Can Do) | Daryl Hall & John Oates |
| 2/06 | 6 | Centerfold | The J. Geils Band |
| 3/20 | 7 | I Love Rock 'N Roll | Joan Jett & The Blackhearts |
| 5/08 | 1 | Chariots Of Fire - Title Theme | Vangelis |
| 5/15 | 7 | Ebony And Ivory | Paul McCartney with Stevie Wonder |
| 7/03 | 3 | Don't You Want Me | The Human League |
| 7/24 | 6 | Eye Of The Tiger | Survivor |
| 9/04 | 2 q | Abracadabra | The Steve Miller Band |
| 9/11 | 2 | Hard To Say I'm Sorry | Chicago |
| 10/02 | 4 | Jack & Diane | John Cougar |
| 10/30 | 1 | Who Can It Be Now? | Men At Work |
| 11/06 | 3 | Up Where We Belong | Joe Cocker & Jennifer Warnes |
| 11/27 | 2 | Truly | Lionel Richie |
| 12/11 | 1 | Mickey | Toni Basil |
| 12/18 | 4 | Maneater | Daryl Hall & John Oates |
| Date | Weeks at #1 | Title | Artist |
| 1/15 | 4 q | Down Under | Men At Work |
| 2/05 | 1 | Africa | Toto |
| 2/19 | 2 | Baby, Come To Me | Patti Austin with James Ingram |
| 3/05 | 7 | Billie Jean | Michael Jackson |
| 4/23 | 1 | Come On Eileen | Dexys Midnight Runners |
| 4/30 | 3 | Beat It | Michael Jackson |
| 5/21 | 1 | Let's Dance | David Bowie |
| 5/28 | 6 | Flashdance...What A Feeling | Irena Cara |
| 7/09 | 8 | Every Breath You Take | ThrePolice |
| 9/03 | 1 | Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This) | Eurythmics |
| 9/10 | 2 | Maniac | Michael Sembello |
| 9/24 | 1 | Tell Her About It | Billy Joel |
| 10/01 | 4 | Total Eclipse Of The Heart | Bonnie Tyler |
| 10/29 | 2 | Islands In The Stream | Kenny Rogers with Dolly Parton |
| 11/12 | 4 | All Night Long (All Night) | Lionel Richie |
| 12/10 | 6 | Say Say Say | Paul McCartney & Michael Jackson |
| Date | Weeks at #1 | Title | Artist |
| 1/21 | 2 | Owner Of A Lonely Heart | Yes |
| 2/04 | 3 | Karma Chameleon | Culture Club |
| 2/25 | 5 | Jump | Van Halen |
| 3/31 | 3 | Footloose | Kenny Loggins |
| 4/21 | 3 | Against All Odds (Take A Look At Me Now) | Phil Collins |
| 5/12 | 2 | Hello | Lionel Richie |
| 5/26 | 2 | Let's Hear It For The Boy | Deniece Williams |
| 6/09 | 2 | Time After Time | Cyndi Lauper |
| 6/23 | 2 | The Reflex | Duran Duran |
| 7/07 | 5 | When Doves Cry | Prince |
| 8/11 | 3 | Ghostbusters | Ray Parker Jr. |
| 9/01 | 3 | What's Love Got To Do With It | Tina Turner |
| 9/22 | 1 | Missing You | John Waite |
| 9/29 | 2 | Let's Go Crazy | Prince & The Revolution |
| 10/13 | 3 | I Just Called To Say I Love You | Stevie Wonder |
| 11/03 | 2 | Caribbean Queen (No More Love On The Run) | Billy Ocean |
| 11/17 | 3 | Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go | Wham! |
| 12/08 | 2 | Out Of Touch | Daryl Hall & John Oates |
| 12/22 | 6 | Like A Virgin | Madonna |
| Date | Weeks at #1 | Title | Artist |
| 2/02 | 2 | I Want To Know What Love Is | Foreigner |
| 2/16 | 3 | Careless Whisper | Wham! Featuring George Michael |
| 3/09 | 3 | Can't Fight This Feeling | REO Speedwagon |
| 3/30 | 2 | One More Night | Phil Collins |
| 4/13 | 4 | We Are The World | USA For Africa |
| 5/11 | 1 | Crazy For You | Madonna |
| 5/18 | 1 | Don't You (Forget About Me) | Simple Minds |
| 5/25 | 2 | Everything She Wants | Wham! |
| 6/08 | 2 | Everybody Wants To Rule The World | Tears For Fears |
| 6/22 | 2 | Heaven | Bryan Adams |
| 7/06 | 1 | Sussudio | Phil Collins |
| 7/13 | 2 | A View To A Kill | Duran Duran |
| 7/27 | 1 | Everytime You Go Away | Paul Young |
| 8/03 | 3 | Shout | Tears For Fears |
| 8/24 | 2 | The Power Of Love | Huey Lewis & The News |
| 9/07 | 2 | St. Elmo's Fire (Man In Motion) | John Parr |
| 9/21 | 3 | Money For Nothing | Dire Straits |
| 10/12 | 1 | Oh Sheila | Ready For The World |
| 10/19 | 1 | Take On Me | a-ha |
| 10/26 | 1 | Saving All My Love For You | Whitney Houston |
| 11/02 | 1 | Part-Time Lover | Stevie Wonder |
| 11/09 | 1 | Miami Vice Theme | Jan Hammer |
| 11/16 | 2 | We Built This City | Starship |
| 11/30 | 1 | Separate Lives | Phil Collins & Marilyn Martin |
| 12/07 | 2 | Broken Wings | Mr. Mister |
| 12/21 | 4 | Say You, Say Me | Lionel Richie |
| Date | Weeks at #1 | Title | Artist |
| 1/18 | 4 | That's What Friends Are For | Dionne & Friends |
| 2/15 | 2 | How Will I Know | Whitney Houston |
| 3/01 | 2 | Kyrie | Mr. Mister |
| 3/15 | 1 | Sara | Starship |
| 3/22 | 1 | These Dreams | Heart |
| 3/29 | 3 | Rock Me Amadeus | Falco |
| 4/19 | 2 | Kiss | Prince & The Revolution |
| 5/03 | 1 | Addicted To Love | Robert Palmer |
| 5/10 | 1 | West End Girls | Pet Shop Boys |
| 5/17 | 3 | Greatest Love Of All | Whitney Houston |
| 6/07 | 1 | Live To Tell | Madonna |
| 6/14 | 3 | On My Own | Patti LaBelle & Michael McDonald |
| 7/05 | 1 | There'll Be Sad Songs (To Make You Cry) | Billy Ocean |
| 7/12 | 1 | Holding Back The Years | Simply Red |
| 7/19 | 1 | Invisible Touch | Genesis |
| 7/26 | 1 | Sledgehammer | Peter Gabriel |
| 8/02 | 2 | Glory Of Love | Peter Cetera |
| 8/16 | 2 | Papa Don't Preach | Madonna |
| 8/30 | 1 | Higher Love | Steve Winwood |
| 9/06 | 1 | Venus | Bananarama |
| 9/13 | 1 | Take My Breath Away | Berlin |
| 9/20 | 3 | Stuck With You | Huey Lewis & The News |
| 10/11 | 2 | When I Think Of You | Janet Jackson |
| 10/25 | 2 | True Colors | Cyndi Lauper |
| 11/08 | 2 | Amanda | Boston |
| 11/22 | 1 | Human | Human League |
| 11/29 | 1 | You Give Love A Bad Name | Bon Jovi |
| 12/06 | 1 | The Next Time I Fall | Peter Cetera with Amy Grant |
| 12/13 | 1 | The Way It Is | Bruce Hornsby & The Range |
| 12/20 | 4 | Walk Like An Egyptian | Bangles |
| Date | Weeks at #1 | Title | Artist |
| 1/17 | 1 | Shake You Down | Gregory Abbott |
| 1/24 | 2 | At This Moment | Billy Vera & The Beaters |
| 2/07 | 1 | Open Your Heart | Madonna |
| 2/14 | 4 | Livin' On A Prayer | Bon Jovi |
| 3/14 | 1 | Jacob's Ladder | Huey Lewis & The News |
| 3/21 | 2 | Lean On Me | Club Nouveau |
| 4/04 | 2 | Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now | Starship |
| 4/18 | 2 | I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me) | Aretha Franklin & George Michael |
| 5/02 | 2 | (I Just) Died In Your Arms | Cutting Crew |
| 5/16 | 3 | With Or Without You | U2 |
| 6/06 | 1 | You Keep Me Hangin' On | Kim Wilde |
| 6/13 | 1 | Always | Atlantic Starr |
| 6/20 | 1 | Head To Toe | Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam |
| 6/27 | 2 | I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me) | Whitney Houston |
| 7/11 | 3 | Alone | Heart |
| 8/01 | 1 | Shakedown | Bob Seger |
| 8/08 | 2 | I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For | U2 |
| 8/22 | 1 | Who's That Girl | Madonna |
| 8/29 | 3 | La Bamba | Los Lobos |
| 9/19 | 1 | I Just Can't Stop Loving You | Michael Jackson |
| 9/26 | 2 | Didn't We Almost Have It All | Whitney Houston |
| 10/10 | 1 | Here I Go Again | Whitesnake |
| 10/17 | 1 | Lost In Emotion | Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam |
| 10/24 | 2 | Bad | Michael Jackson |
| 11/07 | 2 | I Think We're Alone Now | Tiffany |
| 11/21 | 1 | Mony Mony "Live" | Billy Idol |
| 11/28 | 1 | (I've Had) The Time Of My Life | Bill Medley & Jennifer Warnes |
| 12/05 | 1 | Heaven Is A Place On Earth | Belinda Carlisle |
| 12/12 | 4 | Faith | George Michael |
| Date | Weeks at #1 | Title | Artist |
| 1/09 | 1 | So Emotional | Whitney Houston |
| 1/16 | 1 | Got My Mind Set On You | George Harrison |
| 1/23 | 1 | The Way You Make Me Feel | Michael Jackson |
| 1/30 | 1 | Need You Tonight | INXS |
| 2/06 | 2 | Could've Been | Tiffany |
| 2/20 | 1 | Seasons Change | Expose |
| 2/27 | 2 | Father Figure | George Michael |
| 3/12 | 2 | Never Gonna Give You Up | Rick Astley |
| 3/26 | 2 | Man In The Mirror | Michael Jackson |
| 4/09 | 2 | Get Outta My Dreams, Get Into My Car | Billy Ocean |
| 4/23 | 2 | Where Do Broken Hearts Go | Heart |
| 5/07 | 1 | Wishing Well | Terence Trent D'Arby |
| 5/14 | 2 | Anything For You | Gloria Estefan & The Miami Sound Machine |
| 5/28 | 3 | One More Try | George Michael |
| 6/18 | 1 | Together Forever | Rick Astley |
| 6/25 | 1 | Foolish Beat | Debbie Gibson |
| 7/02 | 1 | Dirty Diana | Michael Jackson |
| 7/09 | 2 | The Flame | Cheap Trick |
| 7/23 | 1 | Hold On To The Nights | Richard Marx |
| 7/30 | 4 | Roll With It | Steve Winwood |
| 8/27 | 2 | Monkey | George Michael |
| 9/10 | 2 | Sweet Child O' Mine | Guns N' Roses |
| 9/24 | 2 | Don't Worry Be Happy | Bobby McFerrin |
| 10/08 | 1 | Love Bites | Def Leppard |
| 10/15 | 1 | Red Red Wine | UB40 |
| 10/22 | 2 | Groovy Kind Of Love | Phil Collins |
| 11/05 | 1 | Kokomo | The Beach Boys |
| 11/12 | 1 | Wild, Wild West | The Escape Club |
| 11/19 | 2 | Bad Medicine | Bon Jovi |
| 12/03 | 1 | Baby, I Love Your Way/ Freebird Medley (Free Baby) | Will To Power |
| 12/10 | 2 | Look Away | Chicago |
| 12/24 | 3 | Every Rose Has Its Thorn | Poison |
| Date | Weeks at #1 | Title | Artist |
| 1/14 | 1 | My Perogative | Bobby Brown |
| 1/21 | 2 | Two Hearts | Phil Collins |
| 2/04 | 1 | When I'm With You | Sheriff |
| 2/11 | 3 | Straight Up | Paula Abdul |
| 3/04 | 3 | Lost In Your Eyes | Debbie Gibson |
| 3/25 | 1 | The Living Years | Mike & The Mechanics |
| 4/01 | 1 | Eternal Flame | Bangles |
| 4/08 | 1 | The Look | Roxette |
| 4/15 | 1 | She Drives Me Crazy | Fine Young Cannibals |
| 4/22 | 3 | Like A Prayer | Madonna |
| 5/13 | 1 | I'll Be There For You | Bon Jovi |
| 5/20 | 2 | Forever Your Girl | Paula Abdul |
| 6/03 | 1 | Rock On | Michael Damian |
| 6/10 | 1 | Wind Beneath My Wings | Bette Midler |
| 6/17 | 1 | I'll Be Loving You (Forever) | New Kids On The Block |
| 6/24 | 1 | Satisfied | Richard Marx |
| 7/01 | 1 | Baby Don't Forget My Number | Milli Vanilli |
| 7/08 | 1 | Good Thing | Fine Young Cannibals |
| 7/15 | 1 | If You Don't Know Me By Now | Simply Red |
| 7/22 | 2 | Toy Soldiers | Martika |
| 8/05 | 1 | Batdance | Prince |
| 8/12 | 3 | Right Here Waiting | Richard Marx |
| 9/02 | 1 | Cold Hearted | Paula Abdul |
| 9/09 | 1 | Hangin' Tough | New Kids On The Block |
| 9/16 | 1 | Don't Wanna Lose You | Gloria Estefan |
| 9/23 | 2 | Girl I'm Gonna Miss You | Milli Vanilli |
| 10/07 | 4 | Miss You Much | Janet Jackson |
| 11/04 | 1 | Listen To Your Heart | Roxette |
| 11/11 | 2 | When I See You Smile | Bad English |
| 11/25 | 2 | Blame It On The Rain | Milli Vanilli |
| 12/09 | 2 | We Didn't Start The Fire | Billy Joel |
| 12/23 | 4 | Another Day In Paradise | Phil Collins |
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