In 2003, KaZaA led the peer-to-peer file-sharing applications in the wake of Napster's shutdown. Harry Potter consumed a nation: Two movies had been released in 2001 and 2002, and the book "Harry Potter and the the Order of the Phoenix" had a worldwide release that June. Socialite and Internet "it"" girl Paris Hilton appeared in the Top 10 for the first time, joining celebrity regulars Britney Spears and Eminem.

1. KaZaA
2. Harry Potter
... more 

In 2003, KaZaA led the peer-to-peer file-sharing applications in the wake of Napster's shutdown. Harry Potter consumed a nation: Two movies had been released in 2001 and 2002, and the book "Harry Potter and the the Order of the Phoenix" had a worldwide release that June. Socialite and Internet "it"" girl Paris Hilton appeared in the Top 10 for the first time, joining celebrity regulars Britney Spears and Eminem.

1. KaZaA
2. Harry Potter
3. American Idol
4. Britney Spears
5. 50 Cent
6. Eminem
7. WWE
8. Paris Hilton
9. NASCAR
10. Christina Aguilera

Yahoo! expanded its top lists and dug into top technologies (ringtones!), diets (Atkins), reality shows ("American Idol"), and monthly movers — the terms that showed the biggest percentage spike. Those included many losses, such as the Space Shuttle Colombia's crew, NBC reporter David Bloom, singer Celia Cruz, and actor John Ritter. The Iraqi war spurred the popularity of news outlet Al-Jazeera, Matrix sunglasses were the hot new summer look, and 13-year-old surfer Bethany Hamilton made Internet news for surviving a shark attack. Her story would inspire a movie eight years later. (Scott Olson/Getty Images) less