About PopHits.org
PopHits.org is your deep dive into the Billboard Hot 100—from its inception in 1958 to the streaming era of today. We celebrate the hits that defined decades, changed music, and made pop culture history. With over 30,000 tracks in our database, you can rate, revisit, and rediscover the most popular songs in America.
Why was this website created?
Because pop music is history. It’s joy, rebellion, heartbreak, and change—all in three-minute bursts. PopHits.org was created to track the pulse of popular music through the lens of the Hot 100, offering context and connection behind the songs that ruled the charts.
Whether you’re here to dig up forgotten gems, relive musical milestones, or simply build a killer playlist, this site invites you to explore how pop music reflects who we were—and who we are.
Timeline: Evolution of the Billboard Hot 100
August 4, 1958: The first Billboard Hot 100 chart is published. Ricky Nelson's 'Poor Little Fool' is the first #1.
1991: Billboard begins using Nielsen SoundScan to track actual sales and airplay, bringing more accuracy to the charts.
1998: Songs no longer need to be released as a physical single to chart—airplay alone becomes enough.
2005: Digital download sales via platforms like iTunes are incorporated into the chart formula.
2012: YouTube streaming data is added—helped 'Harlem Shake' reach #1 in 2013 thanks to viral popularity.
2013–2018: Streaming grows more important. Billboard adjusts weightings to include audio-only and paid streams.
2020s: TikTok and short-form video influence chart success. Billboard adapts weighting to reflect different tiers of paid vs. free streaming.
The First #1 Hit on the Hot 100
Ricky Nelson (1940–1985) had the first-ever Hot 100 #1 in 1958 with “Poor Little Fool.” It set the stage for what would become the definitive pop chart in the U.S.
Listen and rate this historic song