JANUARY
Top hit
(Just Like) Starting Over · John Lennon
Top album
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Year
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One moment while we pull together the music from this year.
MTV era begins
1981
MTV flips on August first and every artist suddenly needs a visual identity, a haircut, and a storyline to match the hook.
MTV Launches, Synths Bloom
Music television flips on August 1 and suddenly every artist needs a visual identity — the single becomes half song, half short film. Synths and drum machines bloom across pop and rock while Prince and Madonna begin assembling personas that will define the decade. The charts still reward a hook, but now the hook needs a haircut and a storyline.
- MTV launch
- synth pop
- new wave
- Prince
- Madonna
- MTV launches August 1 — 'Video Killed the Radio Star' first video
- Prince's 'Controversy' and Madonna's debut signal new pop royalty
- The Human League's 'Don't You Want Me' tops the U.S. chart
- Lionel Richie leaves Commodores for solo superstardom
Hot 100 · weeks at #1
Top songs
Album chart · weeks at #1
Top albums
Through the year
Tap a month to drill into chart weeks.
FEBRUARY
Top hit
Celebration · Kool
Top album
Hi Infidelity · Reo Speedwagon
MARCH
Top hit
I Love A Rainy Night · Eddie Rabbitt
Top album
Hi Infidelity · Reo Speedwagon
APRIL
Top hit
Rapture · Blondie
Top album
Hi Infidelity · Reo Speedwagon
MAY
Top hit
Morning Train (Nine To Five) · Sheena Easton
Top album
Hi Infidelity · Reo Speedwagon
JUNE
Top hit
Bette Davis Eyes · Kim Carnes
Top album
Hi Infidelity · Reo Speedwagon
JULY
Top hit
Bette Davis Eyes · Kim Carnes
Top album
Mistaken Idenity · Kim Carnes
AUGUST
Top hit
Jessie's Girl · Rick Springfield
Top album
Long Distance Voyager · The Moody Blues
SEPTEMBER
Top hit
Endless Love · Diana Ross
Top album
Bella Donna · Stevie Nicks
OCTOBER
Top hit
Endless Love · Diana Ross
Top album
Tattoo You · The Rolling Stones
NOVEMBER
Top hit
Private Eyes · Daryl Hall Undefined John Oates
Top album
Tattoo You · The Rolling Stones
DECEMBER
Top hit
Physical · Olivia Newton-john
Top album
4 · Foreigner
