AT40's Top 40 Acts of the '80s

[joman]

Here's the list of the Top 40 Acts of the '80s based on AT40 for the entire decade:

1.Michael Jackson
2.Madonna
3.Daryl Hall & John Oates
4.Prince
5.Lionel Richie
6.Billy Joel
7.Phil Collins
8.John Cougar Mellencamp
9.Huey Lewis & the News
10.Whitney Houston
11.Stevie Wonder
12.Kool & the Gang
13.Kenny Rogers
14.Paul McCartney
15.Duran Duran
16.Diana Ross
17.Elton John
18.Air Supply
19.Olivia Newton-John
20.Chicago
21.Bruce Springsteen
22.Journey
23.Rick Springfield
24.George Michael
25.Billy Ocean
26.Culture Club
27.Cyndi Lauper
28.Bon Jovi
29.Bob Seger
30.REO Speedwagon
31.Sheena Easton
32.The Pointer Sisters
33.Rod Stewart
34.The Police
35.Tina Turner
36.Pat Benatar
37.Foreigner
38.Survivor
39.Kenny Loggins
40.Steve Winwood

[bestmusicexpert]

Aren't we hearing the top 40 artists of the 80's special from 1983?

[Caseyfan4everRyanfanNever]

Hey BME:

The list printed above was likely a personal calculation of the top artists including those who debuted between mid 1983 and the end of 1989. The Top Acts special is different (only includes those who were popular from the beginning of 1980 through the first several months of 1983). I've heard the show and the rankings on the Top Acts special are much different than those listed above (I won't give away anything else but Madonna had not even had a top 40 hit at that point in 1983-so she cannot be on the Top Acts special)

[joman]

Yes we are, but that covers only the first 3 1/2 years of the '80s. This list covers all 10 years of the decade.

[joman]

Jul 1, 2011 13:10:36 GMT -5 Caseyfan4everRyanfanNever said:

Hey BME:

The list printed above was likely a personal calculation of the top artists including those who debuted between mid 1983 and the end of 1989. The Top Acts special is different (only includes those who were popular from the beginning of 1980 through the first several months of 1983). I've heard the show and the rankings on the Top Acts special are much different than those listed above.

[joman]

A lot had changed from July '83-Dec. '89. That's why there's a big difference in the rankings. Compare the lists to the specials that Casey did on AT40 in July '74/July '78 and you'll see some dramatic changes there too; the Bee Gees weren't ranked in the '74 Top 40 Acts special but were all the way up at #2 on the '78 special behind Elton John. And the Bee Gees ended up as the #1 Act for the entire decade of the '70s!

[mrjukebox]

Joman,was your list of the top artists straight out of Joel Whitburn's "Billboard Book Of Top 40 Hits" or his "Top Pop Singles" book?

[80sfan]

The ranking in Joel Whitburn's Book of Top 40 Hits was similar. Whitburn did the scoring based on how many weeks at the peak position. The top 4 artist were the same followed by
5 Goerge Michael/Wham 1631 pts
6 Lionel Richie 1460
7 Billy Joel 1442
8 Elton John 1416
9 Phil Collins 1379
10 John Cougar Mellencamp 1255

[joman]

George Michael solo and with Wham! were ranked as separate artists on this list. His duet with Aretha Franklin, "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)" was counted towards his solo ranking. Sheena Easton didn't get credit for "U Got the Look". However, Stevie Wonder was credited for "Ebony and Ivory" but not "That's What Friends Are For" and neither was Elton John. Michael Jackson and Paul McCartney both got credited for "The Girl is Mine" and "Say Say Say". And Phil Collins was only credited as a solo artist and yes, his duet with Philip Bailey, "Easy Lover", was included for his ranking.

[joman]

And both Diana Ross and Lionel Richie got credited for "Endless Love" for their rankings.