Artists of the decade
The artist of the decade, as determined by the same formula that we use to calculate each year's top pop artists list, is a singer who launched her career in 1990: Mariah Carey. The formula awards points according to chart position and total chart weeks on both The Billboard 200 and The Billboard Hot 100, and a quick look at her chart history easily explains her standing.
She has sent 14 songs to No. 1 on the Hot 100, more than any other female artist in chart history, trailing only Elvis Presley and the Beatles among all acts. She debuted at No. 1 three times on the Hot 100, an all-time Billboard record, and her 60-weeks-at-No.-1 mark trails only Presley.
Carey also reigns as the top R&B artist of the '90s, as determined by the formula of performance on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks and Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums that establishes each year's top R&B artist categories. She has had 18 top-10 singles in the format, including six No. 1s. She's also had eight top-10 albums on the R&B list, including two No. 1s.
The highest-ranking male on the pop-artists list is Garth Brooks, third among all '90s acts behind Carey and Janet Jackson. Brooks never appeared on the Hot 100 until the 1999 chart year, which means he earns his rank by virtue of his prodigious album sales.
Brooks, not surprisingly, also rules as the decade's top country artist. Through the end of the '99 chart year, all but two of his albums had reached No. 1 on the country chart. Of his 32 top-10 hits at country radio, 18 went all the way to No. 1.
Ranking fourth among all pop acts is Boyz II Men, the top-charting group of the '90s. Of the five No. 1 singles in its career, three had some of the longest reigns in Hot 100 history: "End Of The Road" chalked up 13 weeks in 1992, "I'll Make Love To You" held the summit for 14 weeks, and "One Sweet Day," recorded with Carey, was No. 1 for a record 16 weeks.
The late Selena is the top Latin artist of the '90s. The Tejano singer placed 20 songs on Hot Latin Tracks, with all but six of them reaching the top 10, including seven No. 1s. Her five No. 1 albums on that list include four that were released after her death. (Billboard Online, Decade In Review)
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