Radio & Records/Mediabase: Songs of the Year 1973-2023

Radio & Records/ Mediabase: Songs of the Year 1973-2023

Radio & Records was an independent trade publication which published a weekly pop songs chart as a competitor to Billboard magazine. It ran from October 3, 1973 to August 4, 2006, when it was taken over by Mediabase, who has continued the chart to present day. All songs to hit #1 during that period have been sorted by most weeks atop the chart. Ties were broken based on songs’ overall points in Dave’s Music Database. Here then are the top songs each year from 1973 to present according to Radio & Records/Mediabase. You can also see a list of the chart’s all-time songs here. Note: the year reflects when the song was first released, not necessarily the year it hit #1. Check out other “songs of the year” lists here. 2023: Miley Cyrus “Flowers” (10 wks) 2022: Harry Styles “As It Was” (6 wks) 2021: The Kid Laroi with Justin Bieber “Stay” (10 wks) 2020: 24K Goldn with Iann Dior “Mood” (8 wks) 2019: Taylor Swift “Cruel Summer” (8 wks) 2018: Panic! At the Disco “High Hopes” (6 wks) 2017: Ed Sheeran “Shape of You” (9 wks) 2016: The Chainsmokers with Halsey “Closer” (10 wks) 2015: Adele “Hello” (4 wks) 2014: Mark Ronson with Bruno Mars “Uptown Funk!” (6 wks) 2013: Robin Thicke with T.I. & Pharrell Williams “Blurred Lines” (10 wks) 2012: Maroon 5 “One More Night” (8 wks) 2011: Rihanna with Calvin Harris “We Found Love” (7 wks) 2010: Katy Perry & Snoop Dogg “California Gurls” (7 wks) 2009: Ke$ha “Tik Tok” (7 wks) 2008: Black Eyed Peas “Boom Boom Pow” (6 wks) 2007: Leona Lewis “Bleeding Love” (10 wks) 2006: Beyoncé “Irreplaceable” (10 wks) 2005: Mariah Carey “We Belong Together” (11 wks) 2004: Nelly & Tim McGraw “Over And Over” (8 wks) 2003: Hoobastank “The Reason” (8 wks) 2002: Avril Lavigne “Complicated” (8 wks) 2001: Christina Aguilera, Pink, Lil’ Kim & Mya “Lady Marmalade” (9 wks) 2000: N Sync “Bye Bye Bye” (10 wks) 1999: Santana with Rob Thomas “Smooth” (7 wks) 1998: Aerosmith “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing” (8 wks) 1997: Natalie Imbruglia “Torn” (11 wks) 1996: Donna Lewis “I Love You Always Forever” (12 wks) 1995: No Doubt “Don’t Speak” (9 wks) 1994: Seal “Kiss from a Rose” (8 wks) 1993: Ace of Base “The Sign” (9 wks) 1992: Whitney Houston “I Will Always Love You” (7 wks) 1991: Bryan Adams “(Everything I Do) I Do It for You” (6 wks) 1990: Madonna “Vogue” (4 wks) 1989: Phil Collins “Another Day in Paradise” (5 wks) 1988: Steve Winwood “Roll with It” (3 wks) 1987: George Michael “One More Try” (4 wks) 1986: Bon Jovi “Livin’ on a Prayer” (3 wks) 1985: Lionel Richie “Say You Say Me” (4 wks) 1984: Prince “When Doves Cry” (4 wks) 1983: The Police “Every Breath You Take” (8 wks) 1982: Survivor “Eye of the Tiger” (5 wks) 1981: Journey “Open Arms” (7 wks) 1980: Blondie “Call Me” (6 wks) 1979: Peaches & Herbe “Reunited” (4 wks) 1978: Commodores “Three Times a Lady” (6 wks) 1977: Bee Gees “Stayin’ Alive” (6 wks) 1976: Elton John & Kiki Dee “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart” (7 wks) 1975: Captain & Tennille “Love Will Keep Us Together” (6 wks) 1974: Terry Jacks “Seasons in the Sun” (6 wks) 1973: The Rolling Stones “Angie” (4 wks) Resources/Related Links: Mediabase.com Pollstar.com “Top 40 Mediabase Airplay Charts” Dave’s Music Database: “Radio & Records/Mediabase: Top 100+ Songs” Dave’s Music Database: “‘Songs of the Year’ lists” Dave’s Music Database: “Lists Based on Charts, Sales, and Airplay” First posted 3/27/2020; last updated 2/1/2024.