JANUARY
Top hit
One Sweet Day · Mariah Carey
Top album
Daydream · Mariah Carey
Enter the Year
Year
1996
Genre Walls Come Down
Alternative, hip-hop, and pop collide in a faster cycle — but every smash still feels personal.
Voices of the year
Albums that mattered
The songs
Through the year
Tap a month to explore what people were playing.
FEBRUARY
Top hit
One Sweet Day · Mariah Carey
Top album
Jagged Little Pill · Alanis Morissette
MARCH
Top hit
One Sweet Day · Mariah Carey
Top album
Jagged Little Pill · Alanis Morissette
APRIL
Top hit
Because You Loved Me (From "Up Close & Personal") · Celine Dion
Top album
Jagged Little Pill · Alanis Morissette
MAY
Top hit
Always Be My Baby · Mariah Carey
Top album
Evil Empire · Rage Against The Machine
JUNE
Top hit
Tha Crossroads · Bone Thugs-n-harmony
Top album
The Score · Fugees
JULY
Top hit
Tha Crossroads · Bone Thugs-n-harmony
Top album
Load · Metallica
AUGUST
Top hit
Macarena (Bayside Boys Mix) · Los Del Rio
Top album
Jagged Little Pill · Alanis Morissette
SEPTEMBER
Top hit
Macarena (Bayside Boys Mix) · Los Del Rio
Top album
Jagged Little Pill · Alanis Morissette
OCTOBER
Top hit
Macarena (Bayside Boys Mix) · Los Del Rio
Top album
Falling Into You · Celine Dion
NOVEMBER
Top hit
Macarena (Bayside Boys Mix) · Los Del Rio
Top album
Recovering The Satellites · Counting Crows
DECEMBER
Top hit
Un-Break My Heart · Toni Braxton
Top album
Razorblade Suitcase · Bush