The Songwriters & Producers With the Most Billboard Hot 100 No. 1s
Written by djfrosty on January 23, 2024
Among recording artists, The Beatles boast the most No. 1 singles in the Billboard Hot 100’s history: Mariah Carey ranks second, and paces all soloists, with 19 leaders.
Who has the most No. 1s among songwriters and producers?
Paul McCartney, with 32, and John Lennon (26), of The Beatles, rank first and second, respectively, for having written the most Hot 100 No. 1s, thanks to their respective group and solo outputs – with Max Martin now tied with Lennon for second place, from Britney Spears’ “…Baby One More Time” in 1999 through, most recently, Ariana Grande’s “Yes, And?”
Max Martin, meanwhile, has passed George Martin for the most Hot 100 No. 1s among producers, 24. As with his writing history, the former’s No. 1 run as a producer stretches from “…Baby One More Time” through “Yes, And?” The latter, notably, produced 19 of The Beatles’ 20 No. 1s. The lone Fab Four No. 1 that he didn’t produce? Their last, 1970’s “The Long and Winding Road,” on which Phil Spector took the reins. His other four leaders as a producer: America’s “Sister Golden Hair” (1975), McCartney and Stevie Wonder’s “Ebony and Ivory” (1982), McCartney and Michael Jackson’s “Say, Say, Say” (1983-84) and Elton John’s “Candle in the Wind 1997” (1997-98).
Here is an updated look at the songwriters and producers with the most Hot 100 No. 1s all-time, through the chart dated Jan. 27, 2024 (compiled via Billboard charts department research and Fred Bronson’s invaluable The Billboard Book of Number One Hits).
Most Hot 100 No. 1s by Writers:
- 32, Paul McCartney
- 26, John Lennon
- 26, Max Martin
- 18, Mariah Carey
- 18, Lukasz “Dr. Luke” Gottwald
- 16, Barry Gibb
- 15, James “Jimmy Jam” Harris III
- 15, Brian Holland
- 15, Terry Lewis
- 14, Lamont Dozier
Most Hot 100 No. 1s by Producers:
- 24, Max Martin
- 23, George Martin
- 18, Lukasz “Dr. Luke” Gottwald
- 16, James “Jimmy Jam” Harris III
- 16, Terry Lewis
- 15, Mariah Carey
- 14, Barry Gibb
- 13, Lamont Dozier
- 13, Albhy Galuten
- 13, Brian Holland
- 13, Karl Richardson
As for other talents on the lists above, Mariah Carey’s count climbed to 18 Hot 100 No. 1s as a writer and 15 as a producer, and 19 as an artist, thanks to her 25-years-in-the-making present received when “All I Want for Christmas Is You” reached No. 1 in December 2019. (Carey’s only No. 1 that she didn’t author? Her 1992 cover of the Jackson 5’s “I’ll Be There.”)
Barry Gibb’s totals include the Bee Gees’ nine Hot 100 No. 1s, seven of which Albhy Galuten and Karl Richardson also produced. Gibb, Galuten and Richardson also co-produced all three of Andy Gibb’s leaders.
James “Jimmy Jam” Harris III and Terry Lewis guided the sound of pop/R&B beginning in the ’80s, having co-written and co-produced 14 Hot 100 No. 1s, including nine recorded by Janet Jackson. They also co-produced George Michael’s 1988 leader “Monkey” and Usher’s 2001 topper “U Remind Me,” giving them 16 total No. 1s as producers, and co-wrote Carey’s 1996 leader “Always Be My Baby,” making for 15 No. 1s for them as writers.
Brian Holland and Lamont Dozier, along with Eddie Holland (13 Hot 100 No. 1s as a writer), made their influential mark on Motown, thanks in large part to the threesome having written (and Brian Holland and Dozier having produced) the first 10 of The Supremes’ 12 total No. 1s in the ’60s.
Also, a special mention of Steve Sholes, who, while not on the rankings above, produced 10 No. 1s by Elvis Presley on Hot 100 predecessor charts in 1956-58 and six of the King’s seven Hot 100 leaders following the survey’s inception.