Runner-Up Royalty: Billboard Names the 100 Best No. 2 Hits of All Time
Billboard’s staff-curated list crowns the 100 favorite No. 2 peaks in Hot 100 history, drawn from 542 runner-ups across decades. The feature explains why each song stalled one spot from No. 1 (often due to stiff competition or timing), notes historical Near-Misses, and even hints at moments where a No. 2 later finished No. 1 on a different Billboard list, all tied together with a Spotify playlist featuring all 100 tracks.