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

The Hot 100 Airplay chart ranks the most frequently broadcast songs on US radio stations, published by Billboard magazine. Prior to December 1990, radio stations were simply asked what songs were on their playlists and what songs have recently been added. Nielsen BDS was introduced in Billboard in January 1990 and first used on the Billboard Country music chart. Billboard introduced the Top 40 Radio Monitor on December 8, 1990, as a BDS-monitored airplay chart for comparison to the Hot 100 airplay-component chart, which was determined by radio playlists. The Top 40 Radio Monitor became the official airplay component of the Hot 100 with the issue dated November 30, 1991, when the methodology of the Hot 100 was changed to utilize both BDS (airplay) and Soundscan (sales) technology.[1] BDS measures actual airplay by monitoring radio stations continuously with computers that "listen for the unique 'audio fingerprint' of each song and register a detection every time a song is played."[2] One of the first noticeable effects of the change in methodology was that there tended to be less turnover of the top songs. Before the switch, no song had spent at least ten weeks at number one on the Hot 100 Airplay chart, but from December 1990 until the end of the decade, 17 songs had a minimum ten-week run at the top of the chart. While the BDS technology may have had some impact as to why this was happening, the cause has also been attributed to the trends of the radio industry at the time with stations playing the same songs over longer periods of time.[2]

In the mid-1990s, a new trend began to emerge: singles without being released commercially in an attempt to boost album sales. While not a new concept, it started becoming commonplace.[3] With the June 17, 1995, issue, "I'll Be There for You", became the first single to top the Hot 100 Airplay chart without appearing on the Hot 100.[4] (It would later peak at No. 17 on the Hot 100 when released as a B-side to the Rembrandts follow-up single, "This House Is Not a Home", combined with its continued but fading dominance on the radio.) More songs followed with tracks such as "Don't Speak", "Men in Black", "Fly", "Torn", and "Iris", each becoming the most played song on American pop radio, despite being ineligible to chart on the Hot 100 itself due to a lack of a commercially available single. While this practice did not end, in the Billboard issue dated December 5, 1998, policy was revised to allow "airplay-only" songs to chart on the Hot 100.[5]

Number-one airplay hits

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Contents
Issue date[A] Song[A] Artist(s)[A]
1990
January 6 "Another Day in Paradise" Phil Collins
January 13
January 20 "How Am I Supposed to Live Without You" Michael Bolton
January 27
February 3 "Opposites Attract" Paula Abdul with The Wild Pair
February 10
February 17
February 24
March 3 "Escapade" Janet Jackson
March 10
March 17
March 24
March 31 "Love Will Lead You Back" Taylor Dayne
April 7
April 14 "Don't Wanna Fall in Love" Jane Child
April 21
April 28 "Nothing Compares 2 U" Sinéad O'Connor
May 5
May 12
May 19
May 26 "Vogue" Madonna
June 2
June 9
June 16 "It Must Have Been Love" Roxette
June 23
June 30
July 7 "Step by Step" New Kids on the Block
July 14 "She Ain't Worth It" Glenn Medeiros featuring Bobby Brown
July 21
July 28
August 4 "Vision of Love" Mariah Carey
August 11
August 18
August 25 "Come Back to Me" Janet Jackson
September 1
September 8 "Release Me" Wilson Phillips
September 15
September 22
September 29 "Something Happened on the Way to Heaven" Phil Collins
October 6
October 13 "Praying for Time" George Michael
October 20
October 27 "I Don't Have the Heart" James Ingram
November 3
November 10 "Ice Ice Baby" Vanilla Ice
November 17
November 24 "Love Takes Time" Mariah Carey
December 1
December 8
December 15
December 22 "Because I Love You (The Postman Song)" Stevie B
December 29
1991
January 5 "Love Will Never Do (Without You)" Janet Jackson
January 12
January 19
January 26
February 2
February 9
February 16
February 23 "Someday" Mariah Carey
March 2
March 9
March 16
March 23
March 30
April 6
April 13
April 20
April 27
May 4 "Touch Me (All Night Long)" Cathy Dennis
May 11
May 18 "Baby Baby" Amy Grant
May 25
June 1 "Rush Rush" Paula Abdul
June 8
June 15
June 22
June 29
July 6
July 13
July 20
July 27
August 3 "(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" Bryan Adams
August 10
August 17
August 24
August 31
September 7
September 14
September 21
September 28 "I Adore Mi Amor" Color Me Badd
October 5
October 12
October 19 "Emotions" Mariah Carey
October 26
November 2
November 9
November 16 "When a Man Loves a Woman" Michael Bolton
November 23
November 30
December 7 "Black or White" Michael Jackson
December 14
December 21
December 28
1992
January 4 "All 4 Love" Color Me Badd
January 11
January 18
January 25
February 1 "I Love Your Smile" Shanice
February 8
February 15
February 22
February 29
March 7 "Remember the Time" Michael Jackson
March 14
March 21 "Save the Best for Last" Vanessa Williams
March 28
April 4
April 11
April 18
April 25
May 2
May 9
May 16 "My Lovin' (You're Never Gonna Get It)" En Vogue
May 23
May 30
June 6
June 13 "I'll Be There" Mariah Carey
June 20
June 27
July 4
July 11
July 18
July 25
August 1
August 8 "Baby-Baby-Baby" TLC
August 15
August 22 "End of the Road" Boyz II Men
August 29
September 5
September 12
September 19
September 26
October 3
October 10
October 17
October 24
October 31
November 7
November 14
November 21 "I'd Die Without You" P.M. Dawn
November 28
December 5 "I Will Always Love You" Whitney Houston
December 12
December 19
December 26
1993
January 2 "I Will Always Love You" Whitney Houston
January 9
January 16
January 23
January 30
February 6
February 13
February 20 "A Whole New World" Peabo Bryson & Regina Belle
February 27
March 6
March 13
March 20 "I Have Nothing" Whitney Houston
March 27
April 3
April 10
April 17
April 24
May 1 "Freak Me" Silk
May 8
May 15
May 22 "That's the Way Love Goes" Janet Jackson
May 29
June 5
June 12
June 19
June 26
July 3
July 10
July 17
July 24
July 31 "Can't Help Falling in Love" UB40
August 7
August 14
August 21
August 28 "Dreamlover" Mariah Carey
September 4
September 11
September 18
September 25
October 2
October 9
October 16
October 23
October 30
November 6
November 13 "Again" Janet Jackson
November 20
November 27
December 4
December 11 "Hero" Mariah Carey
December 18
December 25
1994
January 1 "Hero" Mariah Carey
January 8
January 15
January 22
January 29
February 5
February 12
February 19 "Breathe Again" Toni Braxton
February 26 "The Sign" Ace of Base
March 5
March 12
March 19
March 26
April 2
April 9
April 16
April 23
April 30
May 7
May 14
May 21
May 28 "I Swear" All-4-One
June 4
June 11
June 18
June 25
July 2
July 9
July 16
July 23
July 30 "Don't Turn Around" Ace of Base
August 6
August 13 "Stay (I Missed You)" Lisa Loeb & Nine Stories
August 20
August 27
September 3
September 10 "I'll Make Love to You" Boyz II Men
September 17
September 24
October 1
October 8
October 15
October 22
October 29
November 5
November 12
November 19
November 26
December 3 "On Bended Knee"
December 10
December 17
December 24
December 31
1995
January 7 "On Bended Knee" Boyz II Men
January 14
January 21
January 28
February 4
February 11
February 18 "Take a Bow" Madonna
February 25
March 4
March 11
March 18
March 25
April 1
April 8
April 15
April 22 "I Know" Dionne Farris
April 29
May 6
May 13
May 20
May 27
June 3
June 10 "Water Runs Dry" Boyz II Men
June 17 "I'll Be There for You" The Rembrandts
June 24
July 1
July 8
July 15
July 22
July 29
August 5
August 12 "Kiss from a Rose" Seal
August 19
August 26
September 2
September 9
September 16
September 23
September 30
October 7
October 14
October 21 "Fantasy" Mariah Carey
October 28
November 4
November 11
November 18
November 25
December 2
December 9 "One Sweet Day" Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men
December 16
December 23
December 30
1996
January 6 "One Sweet Day" Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men
January 13
January 20
January 27
February 3
February 10
February 17
February 24
March 2
March 9 "Missing" Everything but the Girl
March 16
March 23
March 30
April 6
April 13 "Because You Loved Me" Celine Dion
April 20
April 27
May 4
May 11
May 18
May 25
June 1
June 8
June 15
June 22
June 29
July 6
July 13
July 20 "You Learn" Alanis Morissette
July 27
August 3
August 10
August 17
August 24 "I Love You Always Forever" Donna Lewis
August 31
September 7
September 14
September 21
September 28
October 5
October 12
October 19
October 26
November 2
November 9
November 16 "It's All Coming Back to Me Now" Celine Dion
November 23
November 30 "I Love You Always Forever" Donna Lewis
December 7 "Don't Speak" No Doubt
December 14
December 21
December 28
1997
January 4 "Don't Speak" No Doubt
January 11
January 18 "Un-Break My Heart" Toni Braxton
January 25
February 1 "Don't Speak" No Doubt
February 8
February 15
February 22
March 1
March 8
March 15
March 22
March 29
April 5
April 12 "You Were Meant for Me" Jewel
April 19
April 26
May 3
May 10
May 17
May 24
May 31
June 7
June 14 "MMMBop" Hanson
June 21
June 28
July 5
July 12 "Sunny Came Home" Shawn Colvin
July 19
July 26
August 2
August 9 "Men in Black" Will Smith
August 16
August 23
August 30
September 6 "Semi-Charmed Life" Third Eye Blind
September 13
September 20
September 27 "Foolish Games" Jewel
October 4
October 11
October 18 "Fly" Sugar Ray
October 25
November 1
November 8
November 15
November 22
November 29 "Tubthumping" Chumbawamba
December 6
December 13
December 20
December 27
1998
January 3 "Tubthumping" Chumbawamba
January 10
January 17
January 24
January 31 "My Heart Will Go On" Celine Dion
February 7
February 14
February 21
February 28
March 7
March 14
March 21
March 28
April 4
April 11 "Truly Madly Deeply" Savage Garden
April 18
April 25
May 2
May 9
May 16 "Torn" Natalie Imbruglia
May 23
May 30
June 6
June 13
June 20
June 27
July 4
July 11
July 18
July 25
August 1 "Iris" Goo Goo Dolls
August 8
August 15
August 22
August 29
September 5
September 12
September 19
September 26
October 3 "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing" Aerosmith
October 10 "Iris" Goo Goo Dolls
October 17
October 24
October 31
November 7
November 14
November 21
November 28
December 5
December 12 "Lullaby" Shawn Mullins
December 19
December 26 "Have You Ever?" Brandy
1999
January 2 "Have You Ever?" Brandy
January 9
January 16
January 23
January 30
February 6
February 13
February 20
February 27 "Slide" Goo Goo Dolls
March 6 "Angel of Mine" Monica
March 13
March 20 "No Scrubs" TLC
March 27
April 3
April 10
April 17
April 24
May 1
May 8
May 15
May 22
May 29
June 5
June 12
June 19 "Livin' La Vida Loca" Ricky Martin
June 26
July 3
July 10
July 17 "I Want It That Way" Backstreet Boys
July 24
July 31
August 7 "All Star" Smash Mouth
August 14
August 21
August 28
September 4
September 11 "Genie in a Bottle" Christina Aguilera
September 18
September 25
October 2 "Mambo #5" Lou Bega
October 9
October 16
October 23
October 30
November 6
November 13 "Smooth" Santana featuring Rob Thomas
November 20
November 27
December 4
December 11
December 18 "Back at One" Brian McKnight
December 25

See also

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Notes and references

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  1. ^ a b c The artist, song name, issue date and weeks at number one are those given by Billboard.[6]
  1. ^ Bronson, Fred (November 27, 2004). "Top 10 Billboard Chart Milestones". Billboard. Vol. 116, no. 48. p. 17. Retrieved February 26, 2013.
  2. ^ a b Bronson, Fred (September 19, 1998). "How the Chart Got Its Start". Billboard. Vol. 110, no. 38. p. 36. Retrieved February 26, 2013.
  3. ^ Mayfield, Geoff (September 19, 1998). "Chart Changes Pondered". Billboard. Vol. 110, no. 38. pp. 1, 165. Retrieved February 26, 2013.
  4. ^ McKenna, Jerry (June 17, 1995). "Hot 100 Singles Spotlight". Billboard. Vol. 107, no. 24. p. 89. Retrieved February 26, 2013.
  5. ^ Mayfield, Geoff; Sandiford-Waller, Theda (December 5, 1998). "A New Hot 100 Reflects Changes in Music Business". Billboard. Vol. 110, no. 49. p. 129. Retrieved February 26, 2013.
  6. ^ Billboard Radio Songs chart archive:

Additional sources

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