Who had the most number 1s?
Who had the most number 1s?
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A user asked who had the most number 1 entries in the charts.   This is, naturally, a bit more complex than it first appears.   First, and most obviously, we could be talking about number 1  songs, or albums, or both.  But even if we decide we're going to  focus on songs we could be asking "Which song was number 1 in most charts?",  or "Which artist had most songs that were number 1 somewhere?" or "Which artist had most number 1 entries for songs". This means that we have 8 different charts:
 
most item entries
For the purposes of these lists being awarded a Grammy, Oscar or similar prize counts as a number 1 (being nominated of course doesn't).  Of course the larger  number of recent charts will tend to mean that recent music is over  represented.
Here are the artists with the highest count of albums and songs that  reached number 1 in at least one chart.
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This is a list of the artists that have had most number 1 chart entries for  albums and songs round the world.  In this list an album that is number 1  in two different countries counts as 2 entries.
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This is a list of the songs that reached number 1 in the  highest number of charts.
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Here are the artists with the highest count of songs that  reached number 1 in at least one chart.
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This is a list of the artists that have had most number 1 chart entries for  songs round the world.  In this list a song that is number 1 in two different countries counts as 2 entries.
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This is a list of the albums that reached number 1 in the  highest number of charts.
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Here are the artists with the highest count of albums that  reached number 1 in at least one chart.
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This is a list of the artists that have had most number 1 chart entries for  albums round the world.  In this list an album that is number 1 in two different countries counts as 2 entries.
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Anastacia
15
The process of calculating these results is a bit complex, for that  reason the data shown is not recalculated each time the site is  regenerated.  So the information may not exactly match the current  version of the data.  These results were calculated from the  1.8.0060 data.
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10 Jan 2017
More Elvis
How often is this updated? In the last year and a half,Elvis has had 2 numberone albums in the UK,1 number one album on the US Rock Chart,1 number one album on the US Classical Charts.Not bad for someone gone almost 40 years.
25 Dec 2016
Ok to the dumbass who made this set... <rant about George Strait removed>
...Billboard is so dumb it's like album sells are Bullshit to back in the day you bought a whole CD or a tape or something now if you just down load one song from someone album cost 99 cents they get the credit they sold a whole damn am I album which they didn't sold a song
1 Sep 2016
country music
Really the country music is only largely listened to in the US, so it onlyreally counts on one chart. I am from the UK and would like to know how 2 Canadians topped songs that were #1 on the most charts, weird, even beat the Beatles and Elvis which was a surprise. As you go down the charts and those two are on the top of every other chart.
As the text says "reached number 1 in the highest number of charts", the fact  is that there were many more charts available for the 1990s than the 1960s.  That is  why the count of charts is not a good indicator of overall success.
19 Aug 2016
All Hail King George Strait!!!
Sorry all you haters of Country music but in the Republic of Texas, KingGeorge is the current #1 Artist in Billboard charts history and that's the only nation/country that counts! All other genres of music is just noise!
Other opinions are also available
4 Jun 2016
The King
George is content to be the King of country music, Honorary King of the Republic of Texas and filthy freaking rich! Bahahahahaaa
8 May 2016
Last week, country stalwart George Strait set a new milestone: 60 songs certified by Billboard as No. 1 hits...
No they didn't, they certified 60 Number One COUNTRY Hits.  Which is something quite different
It doesn't matter how many times you repeat the same old refain a Number One COUNTRY Hit will never  qualify as a real number one.
8 May 2016
You've already mentioned your opinion (on many occasions)
21 Apr 2016
Lol! Sorry guys, I got it WHY George Strait did not on the lists. I'm a fanand am not bother to complain, we knew what an artist achieved. It's his/her legacy, period. In Quora, it worst!
16 Nov 2015
charts
LETS FACE IT ELVIS IS THE NO 1 SOLO ARTIST ,THE BEATLES THE TOP BAND NO ONE ELSE COMES NEAR ,
7 Nov 2015
they had 125 #1 hits
30 Oct 2015
Just shut up.
Why is every one here soo dumb? George Strait may is only big for countrymusic, and country music is only big in some parts of the US. I'd never even heard if him before looking at these comments. We are looking at songs here that have achieved universal success across national charts, not country genre specific charts. No one cares if he had 59 number 1 hits in the US hot country singles.
7 Oct 2015
Sorry do break it to everbody..George Strait owns the record..Billboard does not recognize country..
He's the king
21 Sep 2015
About George
The reason George isn't extrmely huge pitside the U.S. Is because he does not tpur outside the U.S.
He also filled Cowboy's Stadium to capacity (Largest Arena in the world) The largest crowd for any artist in any genre ever. The only thing that beat it was the Academy Of Country Music Awards held in the same stadium, setting a world record......
Yep, Country Music sure is "Not that big" huh?
The largest arena in the world is Rungrado 1st of May Stadium, it seats 40,000  more people.  The largest arena in the USA is Michigan Stadium.  Kyle Field is  the largest arena in Texas (which is not the same thing)
The largest crowd for any artist ever was either Rod Stewart's Rio concert of 1994 or  Jean Michel Jarre's Moscow concert of 1997 (both estimated at 3.5 million).  The  largest crowd for a concert at a sports stadium was probably the 147,241 people who saw  Paul McCartney, U2 and Madonna at Melbourne Cricket Ground in 1993.
We suspect that the 104,793 fans at the concert you mention is a record for Texas, but  not for the World.
So Yep, Country Music is not that big (outside Texas)
12 Jul 2015
Number 1s+
Hello my name is Terry Moore. Thought up a good question for you guys. Howmany artists have had number 1 hits in multiple different genres? Who were they, and what were the genres that they held number 1s in?
We don't have a good definition of genres.
6 Jul 2015
hmm
According to wiki: A kind of magic was #1 in over 35 countries Radio ga ga was #1 in 19 countries The final Countdown was #1 in 25 countries
We can only list countries where a complete chart is available
30 May 2015
George Strait+
I'm looking back on these comments and I'm seeing you saying stuff like GeorgeStrait Has NO Number 1s dude get your facts right.This Chart and your opinion proves nothing just you being a slob and disregarding The KING GEORGE STRAIT...
Your use of capitals says all anyone needs to know
8 Apr 2015
Missing Artists
Where is George Strait? He has 60 #1 hits... so I guess the US Billboard Hot Country Singles doesn't count  as a chart... You guys put no thought on that list
It doesn't matter how many times you make this same point, the "US Hot Country Singles" does not (and never  will) count as a national chart (neither does the R&B, Death Metal nor Polka music charts). "Number one  Country Song" in the US is not the same as number one song in the country.
15 Mar 2015
missing artist's
What no garth brooks, no george strait wierd?? Books has 19 ok overlooked no big deal But George Strait has 59 songs that reached # 1 and hes not on any of these lists. Im not a big country music fan but dam if you missed these two how many more did you miss? I see your dissclamer but George had 51 of his # 1's before 2000 anyway lost some credibility. P.S the only rapper on the list is eminem, I dont know the facts on it, J-Z, biggie or TUPAC doesnt make anyof these list? Hmmm suspicious or just lazy
51 number 1 hits in the Coutry music charts before 2000 counts as no  number 1 hits in the National charts (still).  George Strait's highest peak was 23 in 2002 with "She'll Leave You With A Smile", he has not  had a top 20 hit, let alone a number 1.
Garth Brooks has at least had one top 10 hit ("Lost In You" reached  number 5 in 1999) but has never had a number one.
25 Feb 2015
Newest No.1 Artist
Psy is the first Korean artist to have more than 20 European number ones incountries likw UK, France, Austria, Germany for one week and other countries too with his smashing hit, Gangnam Style. No.2 in the U.S. because he was scandalisedd by nearly performing topless in the American Music Awards so he was replaced by Maroon 5 as the No.1 in the U.S. for 9 weeks but in Canada and several European countries he charted at number 1. He's a very new artist in the Americas and Europe but a veteran artist in South Korea. All of the most number ones in several countries in this webpage should be replaced by Psy as with the most number ones in the world.
We think you have overestimated Psy's achievement.  When all the charts are  available we'll see how it compares
20 Jan 2015
elvis
If you count The few years Elvis recorded before the military And the couple years after the movie contract was up it doesnt add up to many years at all. He accomplished a lot in a short time his career spanned what about 22 years? A lot of that time he didnt, record im almost sure please, correct,me, if, im wrong thank you
30 Nov 2014
George Strait has the most # 1 hits...
I bet your mother is ...<insults removed>... Shove it you Limey bastard!
Pull this info or we sue, is that clear?
6 Nov 2014
George Strait
he now has 60 number ones witch is more then anyone. plus he is the only artist to have a number one every year of his music career . you also leave out Garth Brooks who's album was number one only a few months ago.
George Strait has NO number ones, anywhere.  In fact he has no top 20 hits, not a single one anywhere
Being number one in a genre chart doesn't count
28 Oct 2014
Queen - a kind of magic?
A kind of magic was number 1 in over 35 countries. Where is that?
The song was NOT number one in the UK, US, Germany, France or any of the  other countries we actually have charts for.
The album was number 1 in the UK (and nowhere else) but this is a list of  songs not albums.
19 Oct 2014
u missed many artists in country music like don williams, grorge strait etc both got more than 20 hits
Number 1 in the country music charts still doesn't count (and never will, it doesn't matter how many times you tell us they should)
17 Sep 2014
Artist without nber one hits
Cannot believe that Comway Twitty is not mentioned anywhere! He passed away with the most number one hits upon his death in 1993 with 55 even more than Elvis! And his music is as relavent today as it was back then!+
12 Jul 2014
Merle Haggard ++ "43 LEGENDARY HITS"
Let's say Merle Haggard didn't get the most number 1s, but all the Greats and everyone that is able to recognize the best , Termed  Merle Haggards 43 +number 1s ! + LEGENDARY HITS , +I would Ike to  take this opportunity help persons measure the difference between  number 1s , and +LEGENDARY HITS , the differences ! + most number 1s  get tired of listening to them after about 2 or 3 years , + a +LEGENDARY HIT +you don't get tired of hearing for 30 years . upon researching into what all MUSIC ROYALTY +them selves , states ! +that  nobody can compete with Merle Haggard , his album released 13 or 14 years  title ++ +Merle Haggard +FOR THE RECORD +"43" LEGENDARY HITS . says it all , if that's not convincing there's the TRIBUTE TO MERLE HAGGARD  video , all the greats interveiwed one after another say that for vocals  and who the greatest country singer is , is Merle Haggard .
8 Jul 2014
Where's the facts?
Where's George Strait? ...<rant about why everyone likes Country music  and dislikes the Billboard 100 chart removed because of excessive obscenity>
8 May 2014
What about George straight? Just kidding I get it.
5 May 2014
Avicii - Wake Me Up
This chart may have been wrote a while ago but, according to Wikipedia, the song was number 1 in 22 countries. I'm just  curious to if the song can be called the song which charted #1  in most charts
We only include charts where we can get hold of significant  data sets.  It could be number one in other countries whose  data we can't obtain.
17 Apr 2014
Julio Iglesias and Camilo Sesto
Please read about these two singers. You will be surprised what you will find! Julio Iglesias 3 times Guinness World Records, over 300 million sold and 16 number 1. Camilo Sesto with 52 number 1 certainly makes your lists somewhere!
Unfortunately we don't have any good charts for Spain (or Latin America).  Do you  know where we can get some (covering the 1980s and earlier)?
16 Apr 2014
King George
Something you'll just have to deal with. No matter how you put it, #1 plain and simple, George Strait. All the pop people and hip hoppers are just going  to have to swallow it down and realize they pale in comparison to George.
It doesn't matter how many times you repeat this.  Country music number 1  will never count
12 Apr 2014
The Beatles with The Beatles (White Album) was nr.1 in over 34 countries?
If you look at the listing for the album it tells you which countries we  have data for: UK, US, West Germany, Norway, Australia, France and  Italy for example.  It is almost certainly true that it was the number one album in  more than 34 countries, but we lack data to show that.  For example  countries such as Poland, Russia and East Germany (that were behind  the Iron Curtain at the time), it was illegal to have a copy so reliable  charts are somewhat sparse.
We don't have the data for 34 country's album charts from the 1960s.   We can tell you that "Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" was number  one in 16 charts
27 Mar 2014
George strait
+(George Strait has the most number one singles of any artist in history including Elvis. He has sold nearly 69 million records and with 33 different platinum or multi-platinum albums has the  most RIAA platinum certifications in country music and the third in all genres, behind The  Beatles and Elvis Presley) Oh because he insist relevant???+
Once again, number one in the Country Music charts is not the same as number one in the national  charts.  How many national number ones has he had in the US?  The answer to that question is 0 (zero) that's fewer than 50cent, or The Bellamy Brothers, or Jim Croce, or Jimmy Soul, or David Soul. How many number ones has he had outside the US?  Again the answer is 0 (zero)
Internationally George Strait is not in the 1,000 biggest song artists.
17 Dec 2013
Most Number 1 Songs
I would look to include country music as it takes its roots from the same place as rock and blues and can be argued as the foundation for  both.  You should be including artists like George Strait and Conway  Twitty as both would have been at the top of this list.
We do include Country music, anytime it makes it to the top of the  standard charts.
Being the "Number 1 Country Song" is very different from being the "Number 1 Song".  If someone were to list the "Number 1 songs by  a woman singing in French that mentions Leopards" we wouldn't include  that chart either.
Including any genre specific charts would make the results just depend  on our personal tastes
30 Nov 2013
I didn't see any country artist. Country was around longer than rock!
Johnny Cash, John Denver, Billy Ray Cyrus, Dolly Parton, Faith Hill, Garth Brooks,  Willie Nelson
Of course artists have to have enough hits (across the world) to make the list,  so there are few modern country artists
17 Oct 2013
denisse maldonado
6 Sep 2013
this list is totally inaccurate. B'z has over 70 albums at #1 on the OriconJapan chart alone which is the main chart for Japan. They have 46 consecutive #1 singles, which I don't think is matched by anyone in the world. In the list Oricon is not even sited...
...There are tons of Japanese artists missing from this list...
...(B'z) are the only Asian band with handprints in holleywood and no  one in the states even knows who they are!
The Oricon number one albums is cited, as we say in the chart listing "The combination of an unofficial source and a not very good translation  lowers the quality of the result"
If you tell us where we can get reliable Japanese charts we will include  them.
Without good source data we have to rely on what we can get, with all the  issues you point out.
22 Jul 2013
This is wrong
Ummm jay z has the most #1 albums for a solo artist and he isn't even on the chart
For a start we don't have much data for album charts after 2008, secondly this  is not just about US charts.
In our list Jay Z has 9 number one albums in the US and none (not a single  one) anywhere else, this compares with these other solo artists:
Elvis Presley - 25 number one albums. Bob Dylan - 18 number one albums. Bruce Springsteen - 17 number one albums. Seiko Matsuda - 17 number one albums. Elton John - 16 number one albums. Madonna - 16 number one albums. Peter Maffay - 16 number one albums. Rod Stewart - 16 number one albums. Celine Dion - 15 number one albums. Michael Jackson - 14 number one albums.
As it says on this page we only calculate this list occasionally (the counts  above are for the 2.2.0022 version of the data.  Even adding the latest chart  data would only place Jay Z about 30th in the list of artists
27 Jun 2013
RIAA says Elvis sold the most
While I enjoy diversity and the talent the many artists have displayed over the years, I wanted to know which artist sold the most records. It wasn't as close as I thought.
According to the R.I.A.A., the governing body that certifies Gold, Platinum, and Multi-Platinum Record Sales, (Recording Industry Association of America) the Leading all time Artist in Record Sales is ELVIS PRESLEY. Elvis is the leading sales artist for both Solo Artist or Group. Elvis has sold over 2.5 Billion Records Worldwide. ( A Billion is 1 Thousand Million). Elvis has been on the charts more times than any other artist or group. Elvis has the most hits in the Top 100, the Top 40, The Top 10, and has had 32 Number 1 Records. Elvis is the only artist inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, The Country Music Hall of Fame, The Gospel Music Hall of Fame, and The Rythm and Blues Hall of Fame.
John Lennon said: "Before Elvis there was nothing". Bruce Springsteen said: "There are pretenders and contenders... but their is only one King". Elton John said: "There is no one greater as an artist on this earth, Elvis was my inspiration... he is the Man. Period."
Paul McCartney said: "I thought the Beatles had gold records, until I had a private tour of Graceland... the hall of Gold says it all... Elvis has the most Gold, Platinum, and Multi-Platinum sales of all of us.... amazing man... simply amazing".
According to the R.I.A.A., with help from EMI, the Beatles place number 2 on the list of All Time Record Sellers with nearly 1.6 Billion Records sold worldwide. Hey Jude was their Biggest selling record followed by Yesterday.
Michael Jackson made the top 20, placing number 16 on the list of all time Record Sales. His Album Thriller is the Biggest Selling Album of all time with over 50 Million Copies Sold. Michael's personal sales as a Solo Artist, along with the Jackson 5, has sold a total of 185 Million Records worldwide. (His Album BAD sold 22 Million copies).
These certifications, current as of March 1, 2009. Every 3 months the R.I.A.A., with the help of BMI, and ASCAP... update record sales awards.
So, there ya go folks. Those are the true facts. And, I might add, Elvis, the Beatles, and Michael Jackson continue to sell records daily.
So, their record sales will continue to increase. But remember, in Elvis and the Beatles day, you had to sell 1 million copies for a single, and 500 thousand for an album to be certified gold. Now days, you only have to sell 500 thousand singles and 250,000 albums to be certified gold. That's what makes the sales records of Elvis and the Beatles even more impressive.
The Fans and Other Entertainers called Elvis, "The King of Rock and Roll". The term "King of Pop" was self imposed by Michael Jackson. It stuck from there, but Michael called himself that... that's what he wanted to be called.
The Smithsonian Institution, in Washington, D.C., named Elvis Presley, "The Greatest Entertainer of the 20th Century".
Source(s): The Recording Industry Association of America, ASCAP, BMI, Billboard Magazine, RCA Records/BMG Records.
4 May 2013
George Strait??
It's a disgrace that no country music artists are included in this chart! Garth Brooks has sold the 3rd most albums of all artists in the  history of music!
Number one in genre specific charts still doesn't count (and never will).
Garth Brooks has the third highest album sales of all artists?  That  claim would require some evidence
3 May 2013