Adult Contemporary is a chart published by Billboard ranking the top-performing songs in the United States in the adult contemporary music (AC) genre. In 1990, 18 songs topped the chart, then published under the title Hot Adult Contemporary, based on playlists submitted by radio stations.
In North American music, adult contemporary music (AC) is a form of radio-played popular music, ranging from 1960s vocal and 1970s soft rock music to predominantly ballad-heavy music of the present day, with varying degrees of easy listening, pop, soul, rhythm and blues, quiet storm, and rock influence. Adult contemporary is generally a continuation of the easy listening and soft rock style that became popular in the 1960s and 1970s with some adjustments that reflect the evolution of pop/rock music.
| Issue Date | Song | Artist |
|---|---|---|
| January 6 | "How Am I Supposed to Live Without You" | Michael Bolton |
| January 13 | ||
| January 20 | "Downtown Train" | Rod Stewart |
| January 27 | "Here We Are" | Gloria Estefan |
| February 3 | ||
| February 10 | ||
| February 17 | ||
| February 24 | ||
| March 3 | "All My Life" | Linda Ronstadt featuring Aaron Neville |
| March 10 | ||
| March 17 | ||
| March 24 | "Love Will Lead You Back" | Taylor Dayne |
| March 31 | ||
| April 7 | ||
| April 14 | ||
| April 21 | "This Old Heart of Mine" | Rod Stewart featuring Ronald Isley |
| April 28 | ||
| May 5 | ||
| May 12 | ||
| May 19 | ||
| May 26 | "Hold On" | Wilson Phillips |
| June 2 | "Do You Remember?" | Phil Collins |
| June 9 | ||
| June 16 | ||
| June 23 | ||
| June 30 | ||
| July 7 | "When I'm Back on My Feet Again" | Michael Bolton |
| July 14 | ||
| July 21 | ||
| July 28 | "Cuts Both Ways" | Gloria Estefan |
| August 4 | "Vision of Love" | Mariah Carey |
| August 11 | ||
| August 18 | ||
| August 25 | "Come Back to Me" | Janet Jackson |
| September 1 | ||
| September 8 | ||
| September 15 | "Release Me" | Wilson Phillips |
| September 22 | "Oh Girl" | Paul Young |
| September 29 | ||
| October 6 | ||
| October 13 | "Unchained Melody" | The Righteous Brothers |
| October 20 | ||
| October 27 | "Love Takes Time" | Mariah Carey |
| November 3 | "From a Distance" | Bette Midler |
| November 10 | ||
| November 17 | ||
| November 24 | ||
| December 1 | ||
| December 8 | ||
| December 15 | "You Gotta Love Someone" | Elton John |
| December 22 | ||
| December 29 | ||
