List of Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles of the 1990s


This article is about the American Billboard Hot 100 chart held during the 1990s.

The Billboard Hot 100 chart is the main song chart of the American music industry and is updated every week by the Billboard magazine. During the 1990s the chart was based collectively on each single's weekly physical sales figures and airplay on American radio stations.

The methodology for determining sales and airplay figures drastically changed with the chart dated November 30, 1991. Instead of surveying retail stores and radio stations, sales data was now gathered by Soundscan via a collection of the number of barcode scans a record received while airplay was to be compiled by Broadcast Data Systems, which continuously monitored what songs were being played on radio. As the decade progressed, a growing trend in the music industry was to promote songs to radio without the release of a commercially-available singles in an attempt by record companies to boost albums sales. Because such a release was required to chart on the Hot 100, many popular songs that were hits on top 40 radio never made it onto the chart. Beginning December 5, 1998, the Hot 100 changed from being a "singles" chart to a "songs" chart. Not only did Billboard start allowing airplay-only tracks to chart, it broadened its radio panel to include "R&B, adult R&B, mainstream rock, triple-A rock, and country outlets", which was formerly "confined to the mainstream top 40, rhythmic top 40, adult top 40, adult contemporary, and modern rock formats."

"Another Day in Paradise" by Phil Collins began the 1990s in the number-one position, spending the first two weeks of the decade on top, but its first week at number one was on the chart dated December 23, 1989. Santana's "Smooth" featuring Rob Thomas finished the decade and began the next with a 12-week run atop the Hot 100.

Number ones

Key
 ♪  Number-one single of the year
Contents
Mariah Carey had the highest number of top hits at the Billboard Hot 100 chart during the 1990s (14 songs). Carey also remained the longest at the top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart during the 1990s (60 weeks) and is the only artist that had at least one week at the summit of the chart in each year of the decade.
American R&B band Boyz II Men remained at the top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart for 50 weeks during the 1990s. They scored five number-one songs, with three of them spending over 10 weeks atop the chart.
The song "One Sweet Day", performed by Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men, had 16 weeks on top of the chart, and became the longest-running number-one song in history, until surpassed in 2019 by "Old Town Road".
During the early 1990s Whitney Houston's cover version of the song "I Will Always Love You" spent 14 weeks at the top of the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, which at the time was a record.
In 1994, Lisa Loeb became the first artist to score a #1 hit with "Stay (I Missed You)" before signing to any record label.
Michael Jackson became the first artist to debut at #1 with "You Are Not Alone". His song "Black or White" also spent seven weeks at number one during 1991 and 1992.
# Reached number one Artist(s) Single Record label Weeks at
number one
Ref
1990
711 January 20, 1990 Michael Bolton "How Am I Supposed to Live Without You"
3
712 February 10, 1990 Paula Abdul & The Wild Pair "Opposites Attract"
3
713 March 3, 1990 Janet Jackson "Escapade"
3
714 March 24, 1990 Alannah Myles "Black Velvet"
2
715 April 7, 1990 Taylor Dayne "Love Will Lead You Back"
1
716 April 14, 1990 Tommy Page "I'll Be Your Everything"
1
717 April 21, 1990 Sinéad O'Connor "Nothing Compares 2 U"
4
718 May 19, 1990 Madonna "Vogue"
3
719 June 9, 1990 Wilson Phillips "Hold On"♪ (1990)
1
720 June 16, 1990 Roxette "It Must Have Been Love"
2
721 June 30, 1990 New Kids on the Block "Step By Step"
3
722 July 21, 1990 Glenn Medeiros featuring Bobby Brown "She Ain't Worth It"
2
723 August 4, 1990 Mariah Carey "Vision of Love"
4
724 September 1, 1990 Sweet Sensation "If Wishes Came True"
1
725 September 8, 1990 Jon Bon Jovi "Blaze Of Glory"
1
726 September 15, 1990 Wilson Phillips "Release Me"
2
727 September 29, 1990 Nelson "(Can't Live Without Your) Love And Affection"
1
728 October 6, 1990 Maxi Priest "Close To You"
1
729 October 13, 1990 George Michael "Praying for Time"
1
730 October 20, 1990 James Ingram "I Don't Have the Heart"
1
731 October 27, 1990 Janet Jackson "Black Cat"
1
732 November 3, 1990 Vanilla Ice "Ice Ice Baby"
1
733 November 10, 1990 Mariah Carey "Love Takes Time"
3
734 December 1, 1990 Whitney Houston "I'm Your Baby Tonight"
1
735 December 8, 1990 Stevie B "Because I Love You (The Postman Song)"
4
1991
736 January 5, 1991 Madonna "Justify My Love"
2
737 January 19, 1991 Janet Jackson "Love Will Never Do (Without You)"
1
738 January 26, 1991 Surface "The First Time"
2
739 February 9, 1991 C+C Music Factory featuring Freedom Williams "Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)"
2
740 February 23, 1991 Whitney Houston "All the Man That I Need"
2
741 March 9, 1991 Mariah Carey "Someday"
2
742 March 23, 1991 Timmy T "One More Try"
1
743 March 30, 1991 Gloria Estefan "Coming Out of the Dark"
2
744 April 13, 1991 Londonbeat "I've Been Thinking About You"
1
745 April 20, 1991 Wilson Phillips "You're in Love"
1
746 April 27, 1991 Amy Grant "Baby Baby"
2
747 May 11, 1991 Roxette "Joyride"
1
748 May 18, 1991 Hi-Five "I Like the Way (The Kissing Game)"
1
749 May 25, 1991 Mariah Carey "I Don't Wanna Cry"
2
750 June 8, 1991 Extreme "More Than Words"
1
751 June 15, 1991 Paula Abdul "Rush Rush"
5
752 July 20, 1991 EMF "Unbelievable"
1
753 July 27, 1991 Bryan Adams "(Everything I Do) I Do It for You"♪ (1991)
7
754 September 14, 1991 Paula Abdul "The Promise of a New Day"
1
755 September 21, 1991 Color Me Badd "I Adore Mi Amor"
2
756 October 5, 1991 Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch featuring Loleatta Holloway "Good Vibrations"
1
757 October 12, 1991 Mariah Carey "Emotions"
3
758 November 2, 1991 Karyn White "Romantic"
1
759 November 9, 1991 Prince & The New Power Generation "Cream"
2
760 November 23, 1991 Michael Bolton "When A Man Loves A Woman"
1
761 November 30, 1991 P.M. Dawn "Set Adrift on Memory Bliss"
1
762 December 7, 1991 Michael Jackson "Black or White"
7
1992
763 January 25, 1992 Color Me Badd "All 4 Love"
1
764 February 1, 1992 George Michael & Elton John "Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me"
1
765 February 8, 1992 Right Said Fred "I'm Too Sexy"
3
766 February 29, 1992 Mr. Big "To Be With You"
3
767 March 21, 1992 Vanessa Williams "Save the Best for Last"
5
768 April 25, 1992 Kris Kross "Jump"
8
769 June 20, 1992 Mariah Carey "I'll Be There"
2
770 July 4, 1992 Sir Mix-A-Lot "Baby Got Back"
5
771 August 8, 1992 Madonna "This Used To Be My Playground"
1
772 August 15, 1992 Boyz II Men "End of the Road"♪ (1992)
13
773 November 14, 1992 The Heights "How Do You Talk To An Angel"
2
774 November 28, 1992 Whitney Houston "I Will Always Love You"♪ (1993)
14
1993
775 March 6, 1993 Peabo Bryson & Regina Belle "A Whole New World"
1
776 March 13, 1993 Snow "Informer"
7
777 May 1, 1993 Silk "Freak Me"
2
778 May 15, 1993 Janet Jackson "That's The Way Love Goes"
8
779 July 10, 1993 SWV "Weak"
2
780 July 24, 1993 UB40 "(I Can't Help) Falling in Love with You"
7
781 September 11, 1993 Mariah Carey "Dreamlover"
8
782 November 6, 1993 Meat Loaf "I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That)"
5
783 December 11, 1993 Janet Jackson "Again"
2
784 December 25, 1993 Mariah Carey "Hero"
4
1994
785 January 22, 1994 Bryan Adams, Rod Stewart & Sting "All For Love"
3
786 February 12, 1994 Céline Dion "The Power Of Love"
4
787 March 12, 1994 Ace Of Base "The Sign" ♪ (1994)
6
788 April 9, 1994 R. Kelly "Bump n' Grind"
4
789 May 21, 1994 All-4-One "I Swear"
11
790 August 6, 1994 Lisa Loeb & Nine Stories "Stay (I Missed You)"
3
791 August 27, 1994 Boyz II Men "I'll Make Love to You"
14
792 December 3, 1994 Boyz II Men "On Bended Knee"
6
793 December 17, 1994 Ini Kamoze "Here Comes the Hotstepper"
2
1995
794 January 28, 1995 TLC "Creep"
4
795 February 25, 1995 Madonna "Take A Bow"
7
796 April 15, 1995 Montell Jordan "This Is How We Do It"
7
797 June 3, 1995 Bryan Adams "Have You Ever Really Loved A Woman"
5
798 July 8, 1995 TLC "Waterfalls"
7
799 August 26, 1995 Seal "Kiss from a Rose"
1
800 September 2, 1995 Michael Jackson "You Are Not Alone"
1
801 September 9, 1995 Coolio featuring L.V. "Gangsta's Paradise"♪ (1995)
3
802 September 30, 1995 Mariah Carey "Fantasy"
8
803 November 25, 1995 Whitney Houston "Exhale (Shoop Shoop)"
1
804 December 2, 1995 Mariah Carey & Boyz II Men "One Sweet Day"
16
1996
805 March 23, 1996 Céline Dion "Because You Loved Me"
6
806 May 4, 1996 Mariah Carey "Always Be My Baby"
2
807 May 18, 1996 Bone Thugs-N-Harmony "Tha Crossroads"
8
808 July 13, 1996 2Pac featuring K-Ci & JoJo / Dr. Dre and Roger Troutman "How Do U Want It" / "California Love"
2
809 July 27, 1996 Toni Braxton "You're Makin' Me High" / "Let It Flow"
1
810 August 3, 1996 Los Del Rio "Macarena (Bayside Boys Mix)"♪ (1996)
14
811 November 9, 1996 Blackstreet featuring Dr. Dre "No Diggity"
4
812 December 7, 1996 Toni Braxton "Un-Break My Heart"
11
1997
813 February 22, 1997 Spice Girls "Wannabe"
4
814 March 22, 1997 Puff Daddy featuring Mase "Can't Nobody Hold Me Down"
6
815 May 3, 1997 The Notorious B.I.G. "Hypnotize"
3
816 May 24, 1997 Hanson "MMMBop"
3
817 June 14, 1997 Puff Daddy & Faith Evans featuring 112 "I'll Be Missing You"
11
818 August 30, 1997 The Notorious B.I.G. featuring Puff Daddy & Mase "Mo Money Mo Problems"
2
819 September 13, 1997 Mariah Carey "Honey"
3
820 October 4, 1997 Boyz II Men "4 Seasons of Loneliness"
1
821 October 11, 1997 Elton John "Candle in the Wind '97" /
"Something About the Way You Look Tonight"♪ (1997)
14
1998
822 January 17, 1998 Savage Garden "Truly Madly Deeply"
2
823 January 31, 1998 Janet "Together Again"
2
824 February 14, 1998 Usher "Nice & Slow"
2
825 February 28, 1998 Céline Dion "My Heart Will Go On"
2
826 March 14, 1998 Will Smith "Gettin' Jiggy Wit It"
3
827 April 4, 1998 K-Ci & JoJo "All My Life"
3
828 April 25, 1998 Next "Too Close"♪(1998)
5
829 May 23, 1998 Mariah Carey "My All"
1
830 June 6, 1998 Brandy & Monica "The Boy Is Mine"
13
831 September 5, 1998 Aerosmith "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing"
4
832 October 3, 1998 Monica "The First Night"
5
833 October 17, 1998 Barenaked Ladies "One Week"
1
834 November 14, 1998 Lauryn Hill "Doo Wop (That Thing)"
2
835 November 28, 1998 Divine "Lately"
Red Ant
1
836 December 5, 1998 R. Kelly & Céline Dion "I'm Your Angel"
6
1999
837 January 16, 1999 Brandy "Have You Ever"
2
838 January 30, 1999 Britney Spears "Baby One More Time"
2
839 February 13, 1999 Monica "Angel of Mine"
4
840 March 13, 1999 Cher "Believe"♪ (1999)
4
841 April 10, 1999 TLC "No Scrubs"
4
842 May 8, 1999 Ricky Martin "Livin' la Vida Loca"
5
843 June 12, 1999 Jennifer Lopez "If You Had My Love"
5
844 July 17, 1999 Destiny's Child "Bills, Bills, Bills"
1
845 July 24, 1999 Will Smith featuring Dru Hill & Kool Moe Dee "Wild Wild West"
1
846 July 31, 1999 Christina Aguilera "Genie in a Bottle"
5
847 September 4, 1999 Enrique Iglesias "Bailamos"
2
848 September 18, 1999 TLC "Unpretty"
3
849 October 9, 1999 Mariah Carey featuring Jay-Z "Heartbreaker"
2
850 October 23, 1999 Santana featuring Rob Thomas "Smooth"
12

Statistics by decade

Artists by total number-one singles

The following artists achieved three or more number-one hits during the 1990s. A number of artists had number-one singles on their own as well as part of a collaboration.

Artist Number-one hits
Mariah Carey 14
Janet Jackson 6
Boyz II Men 5
Madonna 4
Whitney Houston 4
Celine Dion 4
TLC 4
Wilson Phillips 3
Paula Abdul 3
Bryan Adams 3
Puff Daddy 3
Monica 3

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 1990s.

Artist Weeks at
number-one
Mariah Carey 60
Boyz II Men 50
Monica 22
Puff Daddy 19
TLC 18
Whitney Houston 18
Janet Jackson 17
Céline Dion 17
Brandy 15
Bryan Adams 15
Elton John 15

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 1990s.

Weeks at
number one
Song Artist(s) Year
16 "One Sweet Day" Mariah Carey & Boyz II Men 1995-96
14 "I Will Always Love You" Whitney Houston 1992-93
"I'll Make Love To You" Boyz II Men 1994
"Macarena (Bayside Boys Mix)" Los Del Rio 1995-96
"Candle in the Wind 1997 /
Something About the Way You Look Tonight"
Elton John 1997-98
13 "End of the Road" Boyz II Men 1992
"The Boy Is Mine" Brandy & Monica 1998
11 "I Swear" All-4-One 1994
"Un-Break My Heart" Toni Braxton 1996-97
"I'll Be Missing You" Puff Daddy & Faith Evans ft. 112 1997
  • "Smooth" by Santana featuring Rob Thomas spent 12 consecutive weeks at number one, on the charts dated from October 23, 1999 to January 8, 2000. Its reign at the top of the Hot 100 extended into the 2000s by two weeks, so only 10 of its weeks occurred in the 1990s, making it fall short of the 10 longest running number-ones in the 1990s if going strictly by its weeks at number one during the decade.

See also


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