Billboard number-one singles charts preceding the Billboard Hot 100 were updated weekly by Billboard magazine and the leading indicator of popular music for the American music industry since 1940 and until the Billboard Hot 100 chart was established in 1958.
Before the Billboard Hot 100 chart was established in August 1958, Billboard used to publish several weekly charts. Throughout most of the 1950s, the magazine published the following charts to measure a song's popularity:
- Most Played by Jockeys – ranked the most played songs on United States radio stations, as reported by radio disc jockeys and radio stations.
- Most Played in Jukeboxes – ranked the most played songs in jukeboxes across the United States.
- Best Selling Pop Singles (later renamed to Best Selling Singles and then renamed to Best Sellers in Stores) – ranked the biggest selling singles in retail stores, as reported by merchants surveyed throughout the country.
Number ones
- Key
- ♪ – Number-one single of the year
Statistics by decade
By artist
The following artists achieved three or more number-one hits during the 1950–1958. A number of artists had number-one singles on their own as well as part of a collaboration.
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 1950–1958.
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 1950–1958.
See also
- List of Billboard number-one singles
- 1950s in music
References
