It Takes a Room to Write a Hit Song, 1959–2025

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Topic: Culture & Entertainment

In this chart: The year's top 20 hits, Second Layer

About this chart

The green line is the average number of credited songwriters on the year's top 20 hits. Below it, the year's 20 hits stand in chart order, one square for each writer; the tallest stack glows. The readout gives the year, the average and the most writers on one hit; the line's record is marked. Point at any year or stack, or tap it, to read its numbers. The animation steps through the years from 1959 to 2025 over fifty-six seconds, holds on the last year for three seconds, and loops. The scrubber under the chart marks each year and pauses on any of them.

Method

The songs are the top 20 of Billboard's year-end Hot 100 for every year from 1959 to 2025, 1,340 songs, as the chart is reproduced on Wikipedia's “Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles” pages; a year-end chart covers Billboard's chart year, which does not match the calendar year exactly. The details of each song were compiled for DataSlapper from Wikipedia's song and artist pages, SongBPM and other song pages, with a cited page for every value, and checked by DataSlapper: every year's top 20 against Wikipedia's page, and a random sample of 112 songs against the pages cited. A value no source gave is left out, not guessed; a double-sided single that holds one chart position counts as one song.

Every credited songwriter is counted, as the song pages list them; a performer counts only when credited as a writer, and a song that samples another carries that song's writers too, which is why some hits list many. The average is over the songs whose credits are known; 16 of the 1,340 have none and are left out. The stacks are drawn to one scale in every year, set by the most writers on one hit: 31, on “Sicko Mode” in 2019.

Data sources

Data table

Every top 20 hit from 1959 to 2025 by year and chart position, with its number of credited songwriters; the year's hit with the most writers is named. Compiled by DataSlapper.

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Show all 1,340 rows
It Takes a Room to Write a Hit Song, 1959–2025
YearPositionCredited writersThe year's most
1959 11
1959 23Mack the Knife
1959 32
1959 41
1959 51
1959 61
1959 72
1959 83Come Softly to Me
1959 92
1959 101
1959 113Sleep Walk
1959 121
1959 132
1959 141
1959 151
1959 162
1959 172
1959 181
1959 192
1959 201
1960 12
1960 22
1960 31
1960 41
1960 52
1960 62
1960 73It's Now or Never
1960 82
1960 92
1960 101
1960 112
1960 123Wild One
1960 133Greenfields
1960 141
1960 151
1960 161
1960 172
1960 181
1960 192
1960 202
1961 12
1961 22
1961 31
1961 42
1961 52
1961 63
1961 72
1961 83
1961 91
1961 104
1961 111
1961 122
1961 132
1961 142
1961 155Last Night
1961 162
1961 171
1961 182
1961 191
1961 201
1962 11
1962 21
1962 32
1962 42
1962 51
1962 62
1962 72
1962 81
1962 91
1962 102
1962 112
1962 121
1962 133Duke of Earl
1962 141
1962 152
1962 162
1962 171
1962 181
1962 191
1962 202
1963 12
1963 22
1963 31
1963 41
1963 52
1963 61
1963 72
1963 82
1963 93
1963 102
1963 113
1963 122
1963 131
1963 144Wipe Out
1963 151
1963 162
1963 171
1963 182
1963 192
1963 204I Will Follow Him
1964 12
1964 22
1964 31
1964 42
1964 52
1964 62
1964 71
1964 81
1964 91
1964 103Where Did Our Love Go
1964 112
1964 123Java
1964 132
1964 142
1964 152
1964 162
1964 173Dancing in the Street
1964 182
1964 192
1964 202
1965 11
1965 23I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)
1965 32
1965 41
1965 53You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'
1965 61
1965 72
1965 82
1965 91
1965 102
1965 112
1965 121
1965 131
1965 141
1965 151
1965 161
1965 173This Diamond Ring
1965 181
1965 191
1965 203Stop! In the Name of Love
1966 12
1966 21
1966 33What Becomes of the Brokenhearted
1966 42
1966 53Reach Out I'll Be There
1966 61
1966 71
1966 83Strangers in the Night
1966 92
1966 102
1966 112
1966 122
1966 133You Can't Hurry Love
1966 141
1966 152
1966 161
1966 172
1966 182
1966 191
1966 202
1967 12
1967 21
1967 31
1967 41
1967 51
1967 64Light My Fire
1967 71
1967 82
1967 92
1967 102
1967 112
1967 121
1967 131
1967 144I Was Made to Love Her
1967 151
1967 161
1967 173
1967 182
1967 192
1967 202
1968 12
1968 22
1968 31
1968 42
1968 52
1968 63
1968 72
1968 81
1968 91
1968 102
1968 111
1968 121
1968 134Mony Mony
1968 144Hello, I Love You
1968 151
1968 162
1968 171
1968 181
1968 191
1968 201
1969 12
1969 23Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In
1969 32
1969 42
1969 51
1969 62
1969 71
1969 82
1969 92
1969 102
1969 111
1969 123Crystal Blue Persuasion
1969 133Hair
1969 143Too Busy Thinking About My Baby
1969 151
1969 161
1969 172
1969 181
1969 191
1969 203What Does It Take (To Win Your Love)
1970 11
1970 22
1970 34
1970 42
1970 52
1970 62
1970 74
1970 81
1970 92
1970 102
1970 111
1970 121
1970 131
1970 142
1970 154
1970 164
1970 171
1970 182
1970 191
1970 208Spill the Wine
1971 12
1971 2—
1971 3—
1971 41
1971 52
1971 61
1971 72
1971 83Take Me Home, Country Roads
1971 92
1971 102
1971 112
1971 121
1971 133Want Ads
1971 142
1971 151
1971 162
1971 171
1971 183Mr. Big Stuff
1971 191
1971 201
1972 11
1972 21
1972 31
1972 42
1972 52
1972 61
1972 71
1972 81
1972 91
1972 102
1972 113Let's Stay Together
1972 121
1972 131
1972 141
1972 151
1972 163(If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don't Want to Be Right
1972 171
1972 182
1972 191
1972 202
1973 12
1973 21
1973 32
1973 42
1973 52
1973 61
1973 72
1973 82
1973 91
1973 102
1973 111
1973 122
1973 132
1973 142
1973 153Me and Mrs. Jones
1973 161
1973 171
1973 182
1973 191
1973 202
1974 13
1974 22
1974 31
1974 41
1974 53
1974 62
1974 72
1974 81
1974 92
1974 102
1974 113
1974 128Jungle Boogie
1974 131
1974 142
1974 151
1974 162
1974 171
1974 183
1974 192
1974 201
1975 12
1975 21
1975 32
1975 42
1975 52
1975 61
1975 73Shining Star
1975 83Fame
1975 92
1975 102
1975 111
1975 123Jive Talkin'
1975 133Best of My Love
1975 142
1975 151
1975 161
1975 172
1975 182
1975 193He Don't Love You (Like I Love You)
1975 201
1976 12
1976 22
1976 33Disco Lady
1976 42
1976 51
1976 61
1976 72
1976 81
1976 91
1976 102
1976 112
1976 121
1976 131
1976 142
1976 152
1976 162
1976 171
1976 181
1976 191
1976 202
1977 11
1977 21
1977 32
1977 42
1977 53
1977 61
1977 73
1977 84(Your Love Has Lifted Me) Higher and Higher
1977 91
1977 102
1977 112
1977 123
1977 132
1977 141
1977 151
1977 162
1977 171
1977 181
1977 193
1977 201
1978 14Shadow Dancing
1978 23
1978 31
1978 43
1978 52
1978 63
1978 72
1978 82
1978 92
1978 101
1978 111
1978 121
1978 131
1978 142
1978 151
1978 162
1978 171
1978 181
1978 193
1978 203
1979 12
1979 24Bad Girls
1979 32
1979 43
1979 52
1979 62
1979 73
1979 82
1979 91
1979 101
1979 113
1979 121
1979 131
1979 142
1979 151
1979 163
1979 171
1979 182
1979 192
1979 202
1980 12
1980 21
1980 31
1980 41
1980 51
1980 61
1980 71
1980 81
1980 91
1980 101
1980 111
1980 121
1980 132
1980 143Working My Way Back to You/Forgive Me, Girl
1980 151
1980 162
1980 171
1980 182
1980 192
1980 201
1981 12
1981 21
1981 31
1981 41
1981 51
1981 69Celebration
1981 72
1981 83
1981 91
1981 101
1981 112
1981 121
1981 131
1981 141
1981 152
1981 161
1981 171
1981 183
1981 192
1981 201
1982 12
1982 22
1982 32
1982 41
1982 51
1982 63Don't You Want Me
1982 71
1982 82
1982 91
1982 102
1982 111
1982 121
1982 131
1982 141
1982 153I Can't Go for That (No Can Do)
1982 162
1982 172
1982 182
1982 192
1982 201
1983 11
1983 21
1983 33
1983 42
1983 51
1983 61
1983 73
1983 81
1983 92
1983 102
1983 114
1983 121
1983 133
1983 141
1983 152
1983 162
1983 175Hungry Like the Wolf
1983 181
1983 191
1983 201
1984 11
1984 22
1984 32
1984 42
1984 51
1984 64
1984 71
1984 84
1984 91
1984 105Karma Chameleon
1984 113
1984 121
1984 132
1984 141
1984 151
1984 165The Reflex
1984 172
1984 183
1984 195Talking in Your Sleep
1984 203
1985 12
1985 22
1985 31
1985 41
1985 51
1985 62
1985 73
1985 82
1985 92
1985 103
1985 111
1985 123
1985 131
1985 144
1985 153
1985 162
1985 177Cherish
1985 182
1985 192
1985 202
1986 12
1986 21
1986 31
1986 42
1986 53
1986 63
1986 71
1986 82
1986 93
1986 101
1986 112
1986 122
1986 132
1986 143
1986 152
1986 163
1986 173
1986 185Never
1986 191
1986 202
1987 11
1987 22
1987 31
1987 42
1987 52
1987 63
1987 72
1987 81
1987 93
1987 103
1987 111
1987 123
1987 131
1987 143
1987 15—
1987 162
1987 176Head to Toe
1987 181
1987 194
1987 201
1988 11
1988 22
1988 31
1988 41
1988 55Sweet Child o' Mine
1988 62
1988 72
1988 81
1988 92
1988 105Roll with It
1988 111
1988 122
1988 131
1988 142
1988 152
1988 161
1988 172
1988 181
1988 195Pour Some Sugar on Me
1988 201
1989 11
1989 23
1989 34
1989 41
1989 52
1989 61
1989 72
1989 85Girl You Know It's True
1989 93
1989 103
1989 111
1989 122
1989 131
1989 141
1989 151
1989 163
1989 171
1989 182
1989 193
1989 202
1990 13
1990 21
1990 31
1990 41
1990 52
1990 62
1990 71
1990 86Hold On
1990 92
1990 101
1990 115
1990 122
1990 132
1990 141
1990 153
1990 161
1990 173
1990 182
1990 191
1990 203
1991 13
1991 22
1991 33
1991 41
1991 51
1991 65Unbelievable
1991 72
1991 83
1991 92
1991 102
1991 114
1991 121
1991 132
1991 143
1991 151
1991 162
1991 171
1991 182
1991 192
1991 203
1992 13
1992 21
1992 328Jump
1992 43
1992 53
1992 62
1992 75
1992 84
1992 97
1992 102
1992 114
1992 122
1992 133
1992 142
1992 151
1992 164
1992 171
1992 181
1992 193
1992 204
1993 11
1993 22
1993 33
1993 43
1993 53
1993 61
1993 71
1993 82
1993 96Rump Shaker
1993 105
1993 115
1993 121
1993 132
1993 143
1993 151
1993 163
1993 172
1993 182
1993 196If
1993 201
1994 11
1994 22
1994 31
1994 44
1994 52
1994 61
1994 71
1994 83
1994 92
1994 103
1994 111
1994 123
1994 133
1994 143
1994 151
1994 16—
1994 173
1994 182
1994 191
1994 2010Fantastic Voyage
1995 14
1995 23
1995 31
1995 41
1995 52
1995 63
1995 76Fantasy
1995 82
1995 94
1995 103
1995 112
1995 121
1995 136Freak Like Me
1995 141
1995 153
1995 163
1995 171
1995 18—
1995 191
1995 202
1996 12
1996 26
1996 31
1996 42
1996 53
1996 61
1996 7—
1996 81
1996 9—
1996 108Twisted
1996 114
1996 122
1996 132
1996 141
1996 15—
1996 161
1996 17—
1996 181
1996 193
1996 202
1997 1—
1997 2—
1997 33
1997 41
1997 510Can't Nobody Hold Me Down
1997 61
1997 74
1997 81
1997 91
1997 103
1997 112
1997 123
1997 131
1997 143
1997 152
1997 163
1997 171
1997 181
1997 192
1997 207
1998 14
1998 25
1998 32
1998 42
1998 51
1998 64
1998 72
1998 8—
1998 95
1998 101
1998 112
1998 125
1998 132
1998 145
1998 153
1998 163
1998 172
1998 184
1998 199Been Around the World
1998 202
1999 16Believe
1999 2—
1999 32
1999 43
1999 51
1999 61
1999 73
1999 85
1999 92
1999 102
1999 113
1999 125
1999 131
1999 141
1999 152
1999 161
1999 171
1999 181
1999 192
1999 202
2000 12
2000 22
2000 35
2000 43
2000 51
2000 67Say My Name
2000 72
2000 83
2000 91
2000 104
2000 112
2000 122
2000 133
2000 145
2000 151
2000 163
2000 172
2000 183
2000 192
2000 201
2001 11
2001 21
2001 36
2001 45
2001 57
2001 61
2001 75
2001 82
2001 91
2001 104
2001 111
2001 124
2001 132
2001 144
2001 152
2001 165
2001 174
2001 185
2001 192
2001 209Peaches & Cream
2002 14
2002 25
2002 34
2002 45
2002 52
2002 61
2002 75
2002 87What's Luv?
2002 93
2002 103
2002 114
2002 123
2002 137Ain't It Funny (Murder Remix)
2002 141
2002 156
2002 161
2002 175
2002 186
2002 194
2002 202
2003 13
2003 21
2003 32
2003 44
2003 54
2003 61
2003 73
2003 83
2003 92
2003 103
2003 113
2003 125
2003 136
2003 145
2003 158All I Have
2003 161
2003 176
2003 184
2003 191
2003 202
2004 17Yeah!
2004 23
2004 31
2004 42
2004 53
2004 62
2004 76
2004 81
2004 95
2004 103
2004 113
2004 123
2004 132
2004 145
2004 154
2004 165
2004 174
2004 187Naughty Girl
2004 192
2004 203
2005 110We Belong Together
2005 23
2005 33
2005 42
2005 53
2005 63
2005 73
2005 82
2005 93
2005 103
2005 113
2005 122
2005 13—
2005 146
2005 154
2005 162
2005 172
2005 184
2005 194
2005 201
2006 11
2006 23
2006 34
2006 43
2006 57
2006 63
2006 74
2006 84
2006 93
2006 106
2006 114
2006 1213Grillz
2006 132
2006 141
2006 155
2006 163
2006 173
2006 182
2006 193
2006 203
2007 16
2007 24
2007 33
2007 42
2007 512Buy U a Drank (Shawty Snappin')
2007 62
2007 71
2007 82
2007 93
2007 105
2007 113
2007 122
2007 133
2007 146
2007 154
2007 161
2007 174
2007 186
2007 1911
2007 201
2008 13
2008 22
2008 33
2008 46
2008 51
2008 65
2008 71
2008 88Love in This Club
2008 95
2008 105
2008 114
2008 123
2008 134
2008 144
2008 153
2008 164
2008 174
2008 183
2008 192
2008 203
2009 14
2009 22
2009 33
2009 46
2009 51
2009 612Right Round
2009 71
2009 84
2009 94
2009 102
2009 112
2009 123
2009 132
2009 144
2009 156
2009 1611
2009 177
2009 184
2009 195
2009 206
2010 13
2010 24
2010 33
2010 46
2010 51
2010 66
2010 73
2010 82
2010 94
2010 103
2010 114
2010 124
2010 1311BedRock
2010 143
2010 156
2010 165
2010 175
2010 185
2010 194
2010 209
2011 12
2011 24
2011 35
2011 44
2011 53
2011 66
2011 75
2011 85
2011 94
2011 108Just Can't Get Enough
2011 117
2011 124
2011 131
2011 144
2011 155
2011 164
2011 173
2011 182
2011 193
2011 205
2012 12
2012 23
2012 34
2012 46
2012 53
2012 63
2012 74
2012 81
2012 95
2012 103
2012 118
2012 122
2012 135
2012 144
2012 155
2012 169Good Feeling
2012 176
2012 184
2012 193
2012 203
2013 12
2013 24
2013 35
2013 44
2013 53
2013 64
2013 73
2013 84
2013 95
2013 105
2013 113
2013 122
2013 133
2013 144
2013 152
2013 163
2013 177
2013 186
2013 193
2013 208Suit & Tie
2014 11
2014 26
2014 32
2014 46
2014 51
2014 68
2014 75
2014 82
2014 95
2014 105
2014 1116Timber
2014 121
2014 133
2014 144
2014 153
2014 167
2014 173
2014 182
2014 191
2014 202
2015 111Uptown Funk
2015 22
2015 37
2015 42
2015 56
2015 66
2015 73
2015 82
2015 94
2015 105
2015 116
2015 125
2015 135
2015 141
2015 154
2015 165
2015 175
2015 183
2015 196
2015 202
2016 13
2016 25
2016 39
2016 47
2016 51
2016 62
2016 72
2016 83
2016 93
2016 106
2016 113
2016 124
2016 1310Needed Me
2016 145
2016 151
2016 168
2016 172
2016 184
2016 198
2016 201
2017 16
2017 26
2017 38
2017 43
2017 55
2017 65
2017 76
2017 84
2017 98
2017 106
2017 117
2017 1210
2017 133
2017 143
2017 156
2017 163
2017 176
2017 1811Wild Thoughts
2017 194
2017 206
2018 16
2018 21
2018 34
2018 410
2018 56
2018 64
2018 714
2018 87
2018 915
2018 106
2018 1117Nice for What
2018 12—
2018 136
2018 1410
2018 154
2018 163
2018 172
2018 186
2018 195
2018 204
2019 16
2019 26
2019 38
2019 42
2019 56
2019 63
2019 710
2019 83
2019 931Sicko Mode
2019 108
2019 119
2019 128
2019 135
2019 145
2019 158
2019 166
2019 175
2019 184
2019 194
2019 205
2020 15
2020 26
2020 37
2020 44
2020 53
2020 64
2020 75
2020 87
2020 93
2020 105
2020 115
2020 12—
2020 139Whats Poppin
2020 141
2020 159Savage
2020 164
2020 175
2020 182
2020 192
2020 204
2021 15
2021 26
2021 35
2021 45
2021 54
2021 69
2021 74
2021 82
2021 95
2021 1011
2021 117
2021 129
2021 135
2021 148
2021 153
2021 161
2021 174
2021 183
2021 1915Go Crazy
2021 202
2022 11
2022 23
2022 39
2022 42
2022 54
2022 613First Class
2022 711
2022 85
2022 93
2022 107
2022 118
2022 128
2022 133
2022 145
2022 158
2022 169
2022 173
2022 182
2022 194
2022 202
2023 14
2023 23
2023 33
2023 42
2023 521Creepin
2023 65
2023 78
2023 81
2023 95
2023 107
2023 117
2023 124
2023 131
2023 1414
2023 153
2023 163
2023 173
2023 183
2023 194
2023 203
2024 15
2024 26
2024 33
2024 48I Had Some Help
2024 57
2024 65
2024 74
2024 82
2024 92
2024 107
2024 111
2024 123
2024 134
2024 148Like That
2024 152
2024 163
2024 177
2024 183
2024 196
2024 205
2025 15
2025 211
2025 36
2025 45
2025 52
2025 63
2025 74
2025 88
2025 911
2025 102
2025 1111
2025 124
2025 135
2025 142
2025 1513TV Off
2025 169
2025 175
2025 188
2025 195
2025 206

Updated 2025

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