Hit Parade is back for non-Slate Plus listeners! Upcoming episodes will be split into two parts, released two weeks apart. For the full episode right now, sign up for Slate Plus and you'll also get The Bridge, our Trivia show and deep dive into our subjects. slate.com/hitparadeplus. What makes a one-hit wonder? To artists and pop chart analysts, it isn't just an academic question. On this episode of Hit Parade we explore the history and context of the one-hit wonder. In part 2, we'll propose three rules to determine if an artist can be classified as a one-hit wonder. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices