The first quarter of the 21st century featured 327 No. 1 Billboard Hot 100 hits seemingly covering every topic imaginable.
Chart-toppers in that span ranged from “We Belong Together” to “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together.” From “Bootylicious” to “Way 2 Sexy,” “Angel” to “Vampire.”
“Butterfly” and “Fireflies” both winged their way to No. 1. So did such explosive hits such as as “Firework” and (directly after) “Grenade.” For every “Party Rock Anthem,” there was “A Bar Song” to sing along to (probably loudly if while tipsy).
Meanwhile, no matter where music fans were, or any loyalties, we bopped to “Empire State of Mind” and “California Gurls” and everything in between.
The creators of those hits encompass nearly 1,000 credited songwriters (along with more than 300 producers). Some double as superstar recording artists, while others have made their mark on pop culture as behind-the-scenes musical masterminds.
After revealing the top artists, albums, songs and producers of the first 25 years of the 21st century on the Hot 100 and more since January, Billboard is now celebrating The Top Songwriters of the 21st Century on the Hot 100 — the top 25 writers with the most No. 1 hits on the chart in the century’s first 25 years. Every writer on the ranking led the Hot 100 at least six times in that span (Jan. 1, 2000-Dec. 28, 2024), with the top eight talents each boasting double-digit No. 1 totals.
(Songwriters are ranked by most Hot 100 No. 1s, with ties broken by most top 10s followed by most overall chart entries in the tracking period.)
Billboard is unveiling the full songwriters list all this week: Monday, Nov. 10: Nos. 25-21; Tuesday, Nov. 11: Nos. 20-16; Wednesday, Nov. 12: Nos. 15-11; Thursday, Nov. 13: Nos. 10-6; and Friday, Nov. 14: Nos. 5-1. Check back each day to see which prominent songwriters made the cut — and who crowns the tally.
Plus, browse all of Billboard’s 21st Century Charts coverage.
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25. Jay-Z
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}Total Hot 100 No. 1s as a writer 2000-24: 6
Longest-leading Hot 100 No. 1 as a writer 2000-24: Beyoncé feat. Sean Paul, “Baby Boy,” nine weeks at No. 1, beginning Oct. 4, 2003
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24. Ye
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}Total Hot 100 No. 1s as a writer 2000-24: 6
Longest-leading Hot 100 No. 1 as a writer 2000-24: Kanye West feat. Jamie Foxx, “Gold Digger,” 10 weeks at No. 1, beginning Sept. 17, 2005
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23. Sean Garrett
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}Total Hot 100 No. 1s as a writer 2000-24: 7
Longest-leading Hot 100 No. 1 as a writer 2000-24: Usher feat. Lil Jon & Ludacris, “Yeah!,” 12 weeks at No. 1, beginning Feb. 28, 2004
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22. Fergie
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}Total Hot 100 No. 1s as a writer 2000-24: 7
Longest-leading Hot 100 No. 1 as a writer 2000-24: The Black Eyed Peas, “I Gotta Feeling,” 14 weeks at No. 1, beginning July 11, 2009
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21. Jermaine Dupri
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}Total Hot 100 No. 1s as a writer 2000-24: 7
Longest-leading Hot 100 No. 1 as a writer 2000-24: Mariah Carey, “We Belong Together,” 14 weeks at No. 1, beginning June 4, 2005
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20. The Weeknd
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}Total Hot 100 No. 1s as a writer 2000-24: 7
Longest-leading Hot 100 No. 1 as a writer 2000-24: The Weeknd, “The Hills,” six weeks at No. 1, beginning Oct. 3, 2015
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19. Pharrell Williams
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}Total Hot 100 No. 1s as a writer 2000-24: 7
Longest-leading Hot 100 No. 1 as a writer 2000-24: Robin Thicke feat. T.I. + Pharrell, “Blurred Lines,” 12 weeks at No. 1, beginning June 22, 2013
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18. Philip Lawrence
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}Total Hot 100 No. 1s as a writer 2000-24: 8
Longest-leading Hot 100 No. 1 as a writer 2000-24: Mark Ronson feat. Bruno Mars, “Uptown Funk!,” 14 weeks at No. 1, beginning Jan. 17, 2015
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17. Justin Bieber
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}Total Hot 100 No. 1s as a writer 2000-24: 8
Longest-leading Hot 100 No. 1 as a writer 2000-24: Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee feat. Justin Bieber, “Despacito,” 16 weeks at No. 1, beginning May 27, 2017
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16. benny blanco
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}Total Hot 100 No. 1s as a writer 2000-24: 8
Longest-leading Hot 100 No. 1 as a writer 2000-24: Ke$ha, “TiK ToK,” nine weeks at No. 1, beginning Jan. 2, 2010
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15. Jack Antonoff
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}Total Hot 100 No. 1s as a writer 2000-24: 8
Longest-leading Hot 100 No. 1 as a writer 2000-24: Taylor Swift, “Anti-Hero,” eight weeks at No. 1, beginning Nov. 5, 2022
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14. Timbaland
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}Total Hot 100 No. 1s as a writer 2000-24: 8
Longest-leading Hot 100 No. 1 as a writer 2000-24: Justin Timberlake, “SexyBack,” seven weeks at No. 1, beginning Sept. 9, 2006
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13. Katy Perry
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}Total Hot 100 No. 1s as a writer 2000-24: 9
Longest-leading Hot 100 No. 1 as a writer 2000-24: Katy Perry, “I Kissed a Girl,” seven weeks at No. 1, beginning July 5, 2008
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12. Ariana Grande
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}Total Hot 100 No. 1s as a writer 2000-24: 9
Longest-leading Hot 100 No. 1 as a writer 2000-24: Ariana Grande, “Thank U, Next,” seven weeks at No. 1, beginning Nov. 17, 2018
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11. Louis Bell
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}Total Hot 100 No. 1s as a writer 2000-24: 9
Longest-leading Hot 100 No. 1 as a writer 2000-24: Post Malone feat. 21 Savage, “Rockstar,” eight weeks at No. 1, beginning Oct. 28, 2017
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10. Bruno Mars
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}Total Hot 100 No. 1s as a writer 2000-24: 9
Longest-leading Hot 100 No. 1 as a writer 2000-24: Mark Ronson feat. Bruno Mars, “Uptown Funk!,” 14 weeks at No. 1, beginning Jan. 17, 2015
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9. Cirkut
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}Total Hot 100 No. 1s as a writer 2000-24: 9
Longest-leading Hot 100 No. 1 as a writer 2000-24: Maroon 5 feat. Cardi B, “Girls Like You,” seven weeks at No. 1, beginning Sept. 29, 2018
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8. Shellback
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}Total Hot 100 No. 1s as a writer 2000-24: 10
Longest-leading Hot 100 No. 1 as a writer 2000-24: Maroon 5, “One More Night,” nine weeks at No. 1, beginning Sept. 29, 2012
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7. Tor Hermansen
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}Total Hot 100 No. 1s as a writer 2000-24: 10
Longest-leading Hot 100 No. 1 as a writer 2000-24: Beyoncé, “Irreplaceable,” 10 weeks at No. 1, beginning Dec. 16, 2006
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6. Mikkel Eriksen
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}Total Hot 100 No. 1s as a writer 2000-24: 10
Longest-leading Hot 100 No. 1 as a writer 2000-24: Beyoncé, “Irreplaceable,” 10 weeks at No. 1, beginning Dec. 16, 2006