All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.
With the end of the NCAA Football season, college football bowl games are dominating the months of December and January going into the College Football Playoff starting on Friday, Dec. 19.
A majority of the games are broadcasting on ESPN, ESPN2 and ABC. We rounded up the best ways to watch ESPN online. ESPN is one of the easiest ways to get access to games and analysis, but sports fans who have become cord-cutters don’t have to reinvest in cable if they want to watch ESPN. There are a variety of affordable streaming options that can give you access to watch ESPN online.
These days, there are a number of live TV streaming platforms that include ESPN as well as hundreds of other channels that’ll get you access to NFL, NCAA College Football, NBA, WNBA, NHL, UFC and more online at home. Plus, most of the platforms include promos and free trials that’ll help save you additional money while allowing you to watch ESPN online for free.
Keep reading to learn how to watch ESPN at home without cable.
How to Watch ESPN Online Without Cable
ESPN Unlimited is the official streaming platform for ESPN, and a subscription includes instant access to games and more exclusive content for $29.99 per month. You can save almost 17% off by purchasing an annual subscription for $299.99 per year. There is no free ESPN Unlimited trial, but it does include exclusive on-demand videos and access to content from what was formerly known as ESPN Insider.
In addition to live sports, ESPN Unlimited has original shows to stream on-demand, plus game recaps and analysis, a shorter version of NFL Primetime and full replays of historic NFL matchups.
To expand your savings and content offerings, currently, you can bundle ESPN Unlimited with Hulu and Disney+ for a single monthly price of just $29.99 per month for all three services for 12 months of streaming.
While ESPN Unlimited doesn’t currently offer a free trial, there are other streamers that offer ESPN online free. If you want access to ESPN and additional channels, you can take advantage of DirecTV, Hulu + Live TV, Sling TV and Fubo, which are all offering free trials or promos right now. Some of them can give you free access to ESPN for up to a week.
Here are all the ways to watch ESPN online, including ways to stream ESPN online for free.
DirecTV is offering a five-day free trial, which will let you watch ESPN and more for free. The Entertainment and Sports Programming Network is included in all of the streaming packages. In addition to unlimited DVR storage, you’ll get access to local channels and the ability to stream on as many devices as you want.
With prices starting at just $4.99 for a day pass, Sling TV includes ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPN 3 (for ABC simucast) with it Sling Orange and Sling Orange + Blue packages — which features dozens of channels that can be streamed on up to three devices at the same time. Sling Orange + Blue features FS1 and the NFL Network too
Please note: Sling TV’s pricing and channel availability depends on your local TV market.
Fubo is another great option you can take advantage of to watch ESPN online. The streamer offers a seven-day free trial that’ll give you access to ESPN free and more than 240 live TV channels. The service offers a promo that’ll get you up to $30 off the first month, which can get you access to ESPN and more for as low as $54.99 (reg. $84.99 per month).
For the most content options, Hulu + Live TV gives you access to the entire Hulu library in addition to more than 95 live TV channels — including ESPN for just $82.99 per month.
And, unlike the rest of the options, you can also expand your content library by bundling Hulu + Live TV with Disney+ and ESPN Unlimited. You’ll not only have all of the Hulu library to watch, but also exclusive and original programming available exclusively on ESPN Unlimited.
ESPN is also good to watch for surprise celebrity appearances. Every now and then, musicians have been know to drop in and give their thoughts and opinions on the latest going in the sports world. Famous recording artists, like Kendrick Lamar, Lizzo, J. Cole, John Legend, Imagine Dragons, Fall Out Boy, Drake and others.
https://i0.wp.com/neztelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/station.nez_png.png?fit=943%2C511&ssl=1511943Yvetohttps://neztelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/nez_png.pngYveto2025-12-15 21:15:422025-12-15 21:15:42How to Watch ESPN Without Cable to Livestream College Football Bowl Games & More Live Sports
Wham!’s ‘Last Christmas’ Hits No. 1 on Billboard Global 200 for First Time
Mariah Carey’s ‘All I Want for Christmas Is You’ Unwraps Record-Breaking 20th Week at No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100
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The song, which in July became the first leader on the list for the act — whose music is voiced by EJAE, Audrey Nuna and REI AMI– ties ROSÉ and Bruno Mars’ “APT.” for the longest command since the survey began in September 2020.
Meanwhile, five holiday songs light up the Global Excl. U.S. top 10, led by Wham!’s “Last Christmas.”
The Billboard Global 200 and Global Excl. U.S. charts rank songs based on streaming and sales activity culled from more than 200 territories around the world, as compiled by Luminate. The Global 200 is inclusive of worldwide data and the Global Excl. U.S. chart comprises data from territories excluding the United States.
Chart ranks are based on a weighted formula incorporating official-only streams on both subscription and ad-supported tiers of audio and video music services, as well as download sales, the latter of which reflect purchases from full-service digital music retailers from around the world, with sales from direct-to-consumer (D2C) sites excluded from the charts’ calculations.
“Golden” leads Global Excl. U.S. with 70.8 million streams (down 5%) and 5,000 sold (down 8%) beyond the U.S. Dec. 5-11.
Here’s a recap of the chart’s longest-leading titles:
19 weeks at No. 1, “Golden,” HUNTR/X: EJAE, Audrey Nuna & REI AMI, beginning July 19, 2025
19, “APT.,” ROSE & Bruno Mars, Nov. 2, 2024
17, “Die With a Smile,” Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars , Sept. 7, 2024
14, “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” Mariah Carey, Jan. 2, 2021
13, “Flowers,” Miley Cyrus, Jan. 28, 2023
13, “As It Was,” Harry Styles, April 16, 2022
Taylor Swift’s “The Fate of Ophelia” is steady at No. 2 on Global Excl. U.S. after three weeks at No. 1 starting in October; “Last Christmas” lifts 4-3, after reaching No. 2; “All I Want for Christmas Is You” slips 3-4; and Brenda Lee does some caroling as “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” rises 8-5, after hitting No. 2.
The other Yuletide tracks in the Global Excl. U.S. top 10: Bobby Helms’ “Jingle Bell Rock” (11-7, after hitting No. 5) and Ariana Grande’s “Santa Tell Me” (10-9; No. 4 peak).
The Billboard Global 200 and Billboard Global Excl. U.S. charts (dated Dec. 20, 2025) will update on Billboard.com Tuesday, Dec. 16. For both charts, the top 100 titles are available to all readers on Billboard.com, while the complete 200-title rankings are visible on Billboard Pro, Billboard’s subscription-based service. For all chart news, you can follow @billboard and @billboardcharts on both X and Instagram.
Luminate, the independent data provider to the Billboard charts, completes a thorough review of all data submissions used in compiling the weekly chart rankings. Luminate reviews and authenticates data. In partnership with Billboard, data deemed suspicious or unverifiable is removed, using established criteria, before final chart calculations are made and published.
https://i0.wp.com/neztelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/station.nez_png.png?fit=943%2C511&ssl=1511943Yvetohttps://neztelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/nez_png.pngYveto2025-12-15 21:02:022025-12-15 21:02:02HUNTR/X’s ‘Golden’ Ties ROSÉ & Bruno Mars’ APT.’ for Most Weeks at No. 1 on Billboard Global Excl. U.S. Chart
Bose is one of the most trusted names in audio engineering, and its earbuds and headphones have been seen on everyone from top musicians and world-class producers to star athletes.
The comfort level and audio performance of their products are unmatched, making the brand a go-to for all things music, something that ShopBillboard can totally get behind. If you’re still searching for holiday gifting ideas for music lovers in your life, the tech brand is offering major deals this holiday season, up to 45% off on some of its bestselling wireless headphones, earbuds, speakers and more.
We’re talking savings up to $300 on soundbars, earbuds in exlusive colorways and even the brand’s famed Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (30% off now), our editor’s top pick for listening to music on-the-go.
Gifting has never been so easy, and affordable too. Below, you can shop our picks from the holiday sale online. If you’re still stumped on what to get the music-lover in your life, why not try out our guide for Music Book Gifts, Gifts for Grateful Dead Fans and Gifts for K-Pop Fans?
Bose QuietComfort Headphones are a best-selling item, and it’s easy to see why. Top musicians like Normani and Steve Lacy have worn and used the style in the past, likely due to the model’s top-notch audio quality and noise-cancelling capabilities, letting you focus in on the music. Right now, you can get the musician-used OG Bose QuietComfort Headphones for 30% off and the all-new Gen 2 model for 20% off.
The original model and the Gen 2 come in a slew of colorways so you can make sure you get colors to please everyone on your list. The main differences between the new and old model include an added USB-C lossless audio, longer battery life ( from 24 to 30 hrs). You also have a better microphone for calls and a new Cinema Mode which utilizes Bose’s spatialized audio to transform stereo into theater-like immersive sound. The upgrade still retains that sleek and core design, but the finish is slightly glossier.
If you’re not a fan of over the ear models, we’ve included a few earbuds styles for up to 33% off. First up, we’ve got the pretty in pink QuietComfort Earbuds retailing for $129. These are your traditional noise-cancelling earbuds that fit inside the ear, filtering out unwanted noise so you can get back to the music. What drew us to this model, beyond the crisp audio performance and lightweight design, was the color options. You’ve got pink, our personal favorite, along with varying shades of blue, black and a smokey white hue. If we’re being honest, most people shopping for gifts focus on colorway, pricing and then quality. Wouldn’t you know it but these earbuds have all three in one tiny package.
These Bose Ultra Open Earbuds come in an exclusive Carbon Blue colorway, and they’re 33% off right now. That’s just $199 down from the OG price tag of $299. The colorway is a galaxy-esque style with rich blues and chrome purples. Beyond the interesting color, these earbuds boast a unique composition that leaves you alert, while OpenAudio technology delivers rich and immersive sound. It’s the best of both worlds.
If you’re tired of speakers looking clunky and unattractive, this Bose SoundLink Home Bluetooth Speaker might just be the answer to all your speaker-oriented problems. The style is currently 22% off and comes in this beautiful retro-inspired design, along with sculptural elements that make it more modern. The weightless and wireless model allows portability throughout your house, while the audio output is crisp and clear, filling a room with whatever artists you choose from Taylor Swift to Drake (we don’t judge). It’s a stylish investment that doubles as a decor piece.
Sleek, lightweight and super mini, this Gen 2 Bose SoundLink Micro Portable Speaker is made for music listeners on-the-go. Retailing for just $109 during Bose’s holiday sale, the mini speaker delivers room-filling audio despite its small package. You’ll be getting 12 hours of uninterrupted sound that can withstand water and dust and even a few drops here and there. Slip it into your pocket for a jog or in your tote bag to the beach and let the tunes play.
Another portable option in a larger size is the Gen 2 Bose SoundLink Flex Portable Speaker currently 25% off. This speaker also delivers a big sound and impressive base in an easy-to-pack size. You’ll get up to 12 hours of listening time along with a durable construction that can withstand water, dust and falls. If you want even bigger sound from your little friend, you can link two Bose speakers together to share tunes with friends on the fly. If the deep blue hue isn’t your thing, Bose has seven other colorways to choose from including a sunshine yellow and a dreamy sage.
If you’re always out and about, you’ll need portable speakers that work with you, not against you. That means clunky models that give out on you within the first hour of playtime or the first splash of water. You need something intuitive like this Bose Portable Smart Speaker, currently 20% off. While the word “Smart” makes it sound kind of intimidating, it basically means that the portable model is voice-controlled. You can also manipulate sound specifications via the Bose app or with the touch of your finger if you’d rather. The Smart Speaker delivers powerful 360 sound and comes with an ergonomic handle, making taking the speaker around a whole lot easier. If all that wasn’t enough, it’s waterproof and boasts a 12 hour battery life.
This Bose S1 Pro+ Portable Bluetooth Speaker System is one of the bigger portable models on our list, but don’t let that deter you. Retailing for $599, 14% off, the model offers larger-than-life sound wherever you go. We’d recommend this heftier model to those who are always hosting. This speaker will liven up any gathering from backyard barbeques to holiday parties. With a 3-channel mixer, this speaker allows you to stream playlists, plug in a microphone or even an instrument, giving you endless options for fun all from just one speaker.
So, we’ve covered personal sound for on-the-go, but what about in the comfort of your own home? Bose also offers pretty amazing soundbars like this Smart Ultra Soundbar, currently 30% off on the brand’s website. The soundbar offers theater-level audio thanks to a whopping nine total speakers, great for gaming and movie-watching, all from the comfort of your own home. The immersive soundbar also utilizes A.I. Dialogue Mode, which analyzes audio in real time, automatically adjusting tonal balance to boost speech clarity while preserving immersive sound effects without pushing a button.
Want even more deals on Bose products? We’ve also included some of the music tech deals we’ve spotted via Amazon. Shop those below.
https://i0.wp.com/neztelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/station.nez_png.png?fit=943%2C511&ssl=1511943Yvetohttps://neztelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/nez_png.pngYveto2025-12-15 21:02:012025-12-15 21:02:01Holiday Deals: Bose Bluetooth Headphones, Speakers & Earbuds Are Up to 45% Off
All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.
Fallout, the apocalyptic drama based on the popular video game series, shot to No. 1 on Prime Video during its first season. With the next installment finally here and heading to the fan-favorite location of New Vegas, season two will more than likely put up similar numbers. If you’re ready to dive back into the wacky wasteland, vault dwellers don’t have to wait long. Fans can stream the Fallout season two premiere one day earlier thanks to Prime Video. Instead of waiting to Wednesday, if you sign up for Prime Video, you can stream the first episode on Tuesday, Dec. 16.
Season two will have eight episodes that will premiere weekly on Wednesdays (besides this first episode), with the season finale airing on February 4th, 2026.
“The new season of Fallout will pick up in the aftermath of Season One’s epic finale and take audiences along for a journey through the wasteland of the Mojave to the post-apocalyptic city of New Vegas,” according to Amazon.
Fallout stars from the first season are all set to return including, Ella Purnell as “Lucy,” one of the first among the citizens to venture out of the vault and into the real world, alongside Walton Goggins, Aaron Moten, Moisés Arias, Kyle MacLachlan, Sarita Choudhury, and more. Westworld director Jonathan Nolan helms the series, which he executive produced along with Geneva Robertson-Dworet, Graham Wagner, Lisa Joy, Athena Wickham, Todd Howard and James Altman. Fallout is produced by Amazon Studios and Kilter Films in association with Bethesda Game Studios and Bethesda Softworks.
Keep reading on to learn how to watch Fallout season two online early and for free.
How to Stream Fallout Season 2 Online for Free
Falloutseason two will premiere Tuesday, Dec. 16 exclusively on Prime Video. The first episode will launch at 9 P.M. ET / 6 P.M. PT. If you’re not already subscribed to Amazon Prime, click below to launch a 30-day free trial to stream the new series and everything else that Prime Video has to offer for free.
Amazon Prime members can stream the series directly from the homepage on the Amazon app. Prime Video is accessible on a smart TV, phone, computer and other compatible devices.
How much does it cost? Prime Video is free for Prime members. You can subscribe to Amazon under a 30-day free trial to test out Prime Video, Prime Music, Prime Gaming, Prime Reading and enjoy free shipping on millions of items. Prime memberships costs $14.99 per month (or $139 a year) after the free trial. Amazon also offers 50% off for students and qualifying EBT/Medicaid recipients.
https://i0.wp.com/neztelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/station.nez_png.png?fit=943%2C511&ssl=1511943Yvetohttps://neztelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/nez_png.pngYveto2025-12-15 21:02:012025-12-15 21:02:01‘Fallout’ Heads to New Vegas: Here’s How to Stream Season Two One Day Early
Nothing tells a story quite like a photo, and Billboard has compiled more than 60 of the year’s most defining images.
In 2025, several of the music industry’s leading ladies graced the cover of Billboard. Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Gracie Abrams and R&B icon Erykah Badu both fronted March’s Women In Music issue, Afrobeats superstar Tems posed for the May cover and Wicked: For Good star Cynthia Erivo appeared on the cover of June’s Pride issue. By August, hip-hop’s reigning queen Cardi B lorded over August’s R&B/Hip-Hop Power Players cover, while global crossover stars Rosalía and ROSÉ delivered stunning shoots for the November and December covers, respectively.
While the ladies certainly came to slay, the men also left quite an impression on Billboard’s covers this year. Jamaica’s King of Dancehall, Vybz Kartel, appeared on the year’s first digital cover, Khalid launched his new era on the cover of Billboard Canada, Leon Thomas made his cover debut for the R&B/Hip-Hop Power Players issue and EMPIRE founder and CEO Ghazi scored February’s Sports & Music issue.
Outside of the cover stars, several of the 2025’s buzziest breakthroughs were captured by Billboard, including rising pop star Aubrey Hobert, ambient artist Flawed Mangoes, “Burning Blue” singer Mariah The Scientist, country powerhouse Riley Green and Texas rapper BigXThaPlug. On the other end of the spectrum, Billboard also photographed industry icons such as Joni Mitchell and Daddy Yankee.
As other sectors continue to converge with music, several social media stars caught Billboard’s eye, including Kai Cenat and Druski, both of whom graced printcovers in 2025.
Scroll through the following gallery to relive 2025 with a gorgeous collection of Billboard photographs.
https://i0.wp.com/neztelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/station.nez_png.png?fit=943%2C511&ssl=1511943Yvetohttps://neztelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/nez_png.pngYveto2025-12-15 20:56:222025-12-15 20:56:22Billboard’s Best Photography of 2025
Lady Gaga will not have to stop selling Mayhem album and tour merchandise after a surf company lost its legal bid for a trademark infringement injunction against the pop superstar.
It’s a key win for Gaga (Stefani Germanotta) in the lawsuit filed back in March by Lost Surfboards, which has been selling surf equipment and apparel emblazoned with the word “Mayhem” since the 1980s. The company alleged the artwork for Gaga’s chart-topping album, Mayhem, infringed its logo, and it sought to bar her from putting it on merch for her ongoing Mayhem Ball tour.
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Judge Fernando M. Olguin rejected that initial request on Monday (Dec. 15), saying there’s little merit to the trademark infringement claims. While technically not a final ruling, the judge’s decision strongly indicates that he will not allow the case to make it to trial.
“Because defendant’s use of the mark is artistically relevant and does not explicitly mislead consumers as to the source or content of the challenged work, the Lanham Act does not apply, and [plaintiff] cannot succeed on its claims for trademark infringement and false designation of origin,” wrote Judge Olguin.
Gaga’s lead attorney, Orin Snyder of Gibson Dunn, celebrated the decision as a “total victory” on Monday.
“It reaffirms that trademark law cannot be used to censor expressive works or chill artistic expression,” said Snyder. “We are pleased with the court’s clear and decisive ruling.”
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Meanwhile, Lost Surfboards’ attorney Keith Bremer said they will keep fighting.
“While we would have preferred a different outcome at this preliminary stage, we respect the court’s reasoning and look forward to continuing this process,” Bremer told Billboard in a Monday statement. “Our commitment to protecting the MAYHEM® trademark we’ve built over nearly four decades remains unchanged.”
The next step in the case will be for Gaga’s attorneys to file a motion to dismiss the claims. Bremer also suggested in his statement that Lost Surfboards could be interested in settling: “We remain open to a constructive dialogue that protects consumers from confusion while allowing artists to express themselves,” said the lawyer.
Mayhem, Lady Gaga’s seventh studio album, debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 in March and has spent 39 weeks on the chart. Her supporting Mayhem Ball world arena tour began in July and grossed over $100 million on its first North American leg alone. The tour is now in Australia and is set to run through April 2026.
https://i0.wp.com/neztelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/station.nez_png.png?fit=943%2C511&ssl=1511943Yvetohttps://neztelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/nez_png.pngYveto2025-12-15 20:46:102025-12-15 20:46:10Lady Gaga Scores Key Victory in ‘Mayhem’ Surf Brand’s Trademark Lawsuit Against Her
Mariah The Scientist and Kali Uchis each score a second No. 1 on Billboard’s Rhythmic Airplay chart thanks to their collaboration “Is It a Crime.” The single rises from the runner-up spot to lead the ranking dated Dec. 20 as the most played song on U.S. panel-contributing rhythmic radio stations in the tracking week of Dec. 5-11, according to Luminate.
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“Is It a Crime,” released and promoted through Buckles Laboratories/Epic Records, captures the crown with a 15% increase in plays compared with the prior week. Thanks to its improvement, it wins the Greatest Gainer honor, given each week to the song with the largest play increase. As it ascends, “Is It a Crime” replaces Tyler, The Creator’s “Sugar on My Tongue,” which falls 1-9 after three weeks in charge, shedding 28% in plays for the week.
For Mariah The Scientist, “Is It a Crime” lands her back-to-back champs. Her prior single, breakout hit “Burning Blue,” topped the list for one week in July. In addition to its Rhythmic Airplay victory, the track unlocked new levels of success for the singer-songwriter, including her first top 40 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 with its No. 25 peak.
Kali Uchis, likewise, nabs her second Rhythmic Airplay leader, after “Telepatía” ruled for two weeks in April 2021.
Elsewhere, “Is It a Crime” pushes 6-4 on the plays-based Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart, surging 18% in weekly plays to a new peak. On the audience-based R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart, the collaboration climbs 8-7 with 14.6 million in audience from the genre, up 20%. On both lists, the single earns Greatest Gainer awards.
Improvements from the R&B/hip-hop and rhythmic formats force the track 25-18 on the all-genre Radio Songs chart. There, “Is It a Crime” reaches 25.6 million in total audience, a 21% week-over-week lift.
“Is It a Crime” and “Burning Blue” appear on Mariah The Scientist’s Hearts Sold Separately album, which was released in August. The set debuted at No. 1 on the Top R&B Albums chart and yielded the singer-songwriter’s best results on several charts, including Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (No. 3) and the Billboard 200 (No. 11).
https://i0.wp.com/neztelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/station.nez_png.png?fit=943%2C511&ssl=1511943Yvetohttps://neztelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/nez_png.pngYveto2025-12-15 20:41:532025-12-15 20:41:53Partners in ‘Crime’: Mariah the Scientist & Kali Uchis Score Shared No. 1
Billboard revealed its year-end Boxscore charts, ranking the top tours, venues and promoters of 2025 earlier in December. We’re breaking it down further, looking at the biggest live acts, genre by genre. Now, we continue with country.
Country is one of the most consistent genres when it comes to the Boxscore charts. In fact, its 14.5% share of this year’s top 100 grosses is almost the same, but slightly up, from its place on the inaugural year-end chart in 1991 (14.3%). Never higher than 18% (1996 – 17.5%) or lower than 8% (except for 2001, 5.9%), this year still marks a bright spot.
Though country music has never fallen off, it has slowly built back to a decade high. After reaching 14.7% in 2015, it slipped back under the 10% threshold for 2017-19 before slowly growing to 10% in 2022, more than 12% in 2023-24, and now to 14.5%.
It’s no secret who tops this year’s genre breakout, as it’s already been reported that Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter Tour is not only 2025’s biggest country tour, but the highest grossing country tour in Boxscore history. But she isn’t the only superstar who is new to the genre, leading over another genre agnostic hitmaker who has previously made their mark in pop and hip-hop.
Keep reading to check out the 10 highest grossing tours by country acts, with such acts qualifying due to recent performance on Billboard’s Top Country Albums and/or Hot Country Songs charts. Rankings are determined according to figures reported to Billboard Boxscore. All reported shows worldwide between Oct. 1, 2024, and Sept. 30, 2025, are eligible.
https://i0.wp.com/neztelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/station.nez_png.png?fit=943%2C511&ssl=1511943Yvetohttps://neztelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/nez_png.pngYveto2025-12-15 20:35:362025-12-15 20:35:36Top 10 Highest Grossing Country Tours of the Year
Wham!’s “Last Christmas” is the No. 1 song in the world, snowballing three places to the top of the Billboard Global 200, as the 1984 classic by the British duo of George Michael, who died in 2016, and Andrew Ridgeley, leads the list for the first time.
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The song is the second holiday hit to reign since the Global 200 began in September 2020. Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You” has ruled for a chart-record 19 weeks since that December.
A week earlier, “Last Christmas” reached a new No. 2 high on the U.S.-based Billboard Hot 100.
Ridgeley marveled to Billboard at how “Last Christmas” has become “beloved by all generations,” upon its rise to the Hot 100’s runner-up rank, citing “the special place the song occupies in so many hearts and one that George Michael would have been immensely proud of. Thank you, everyone who has embraced the song as a little piece of their own merry Christmas.”
Michael’s estate described “Last Christmas” as “a timeless record that embodies the very sound of Christmas and continues to resonate with audiences, while captivating new listeners around the world. Thank you to everyone who keeps this song at the very heart of Christmas.”
The Billboard Global 200 and Global Excl. U.S. charts rank songs based on streaming and sales activity culled from more than 200 territories around the world, as compiled by Luminate. The Global 200 is inclusive of worldwide data and the Global Excl. U.S. chart comprises data from territories excluding the United States.
Chart ranks are based on a weighted formula incorporating official-only streams on both subscription and ad-supported tiers of audio and video music services, as well as download sales, the latter of which reflect purchases from full-service digital music retailers from around the world, with sales from direct-to-consumer (D2C) sites excluded from the charts’ calculations.
“Last Christmas” tops the Global 200 with 95.3 million streams (up 19%) and 5,000 sold (up 26%) worldwide Dec. 5-11.
“All I Want for Christmas Is You” holds at No. 2 on the Global 200; HUNTR/X’s “Golden” falls two spots to No. 3 after 18 weeks at No. 1 beginning in July; Taylor Swift’s “The Fate of Ophelia” slips 3-4 after three weeks at No. 1 starting in October; and Brenda Lee’s No. 2-peaking “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” keeps at No. 5.
Four more carols decorate the Global 200’s top 10: Bobby Helms’ “Jingle Bell Rock,” which repeats at No. 6; Ariana Grande’s “Santa Tell Me,” steady at No. 7; Kelly Clarkson’s “Underneath the Tree” (10-8); and Michael Bublé’s “It’s Beginning To Look a Lot Like Christmas” (11-10). (The songs have hit highs of Nos. 4, 5, 6 and 6, respectively.)
Alex Warren’s “Ordinary” is the only other non-holiday song in the Global 200’s top 10, down 8-9 after 10 weeks at No. 1 beginning in May.
The Billboard Global 200 and Billboard Global Excl. U.S. charts (dated Dec. 20, 2025) will update on Billboard.com tomorrow, Dec. 16. For both charts, the top 100 titles are available to all readers on Billboard.com, while the complete 200-title rankings are visible on Billboard Pro, Billboard’s subscription-based service. For all chart news, you can follow @billboard and @billboardcharts on both X, formerly known as Twitter, and Instagram.
Luminate, the independent data provider to the Billboard charts, completes a thorough review of all data submissions used in compiling the weekly chart rankings. Luminate reviews and authenticates data. In partnership with Billboard, data deemed suspicious or unverifiable is removed, using established criteria, before final chart calculations are made and published.
https://i0.wp.com/neztelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/station.nez_png.png?fit=943%2C511&ssl=1511943Yvetohttps://neztelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/nez_png.pngYveto2025-12-15 20:11:072025-12-15 20:11:07Wham!’s ‘Last Christmas’ Hits No. 1 on Billboard Global 200 for First Time
Emmanuel de Buretel is still buzzing from the weekend when he speaks to Billboard over Zoom on a Tuesday evening in Paris.
Seventy-two hours earlier, de Buretel was in the crowd watching Daft Punk’s Thomas Bangalter perform his first DJ set in 16 years, in what instantly became a headline-generating, dance-music-history-making moment. Performed alongside fellow electronic luminaries Busy P, Erol Alkan and Fred again.., the set also functioned as an exclamation point on Because Beaubourg, an exhibition that took over Paris’ Centre Pompidou museum complex and welcomed 40,000 visitors over three days.
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The occasion was the 20th anniversary of Because Music, the indie label de Buretel co-founded with Eric Bielsa in 2005. The exhibition featured immersive installations, talks, performances and even a roller disco, all inspired by Because’s two decades of artists, music and culture.
“We don’t like the auto-congratulation of anniversaries,” de Buretel says. “But the speech to my people this morning was that we’ve had big challenges in proving record companies have to change very quickly in the way they do their job, and this event was a total symbol of what an independent record company should be.”
De Buretel cites receiving congratulatory emails from Because believers like Coachella co-founder Paul Tollett and Diplo, whose group Major Lazer is signed to Because in select territories. The roster also includes indie pop outfit Parcels, underground electronic acts including Oklou, Snow Strippers, Shygirl and Bambii, veteran electronic acts like Justice and Cerrone, indie titan Christine and the Queens and the output of revered French label Ed Banger, which includes the work of artists like Justice, Myd, SebastiAn and more. Because also acts as business manager for the legacy of Daft Punk, a duo de Buretel originally signed to Virgin in the 1990s. The Because Group now encompasses Because Music and the publishing arm Because Editions, along with several venues, a festival and multiple booking agencies.
These structures create homes and opportunities for music that de Buretel says is coming from an ever-wider cross-section of the world.
“Most of the new generation is multinational and multicultural, and the music moves at a faster pace. The subjects explored are quite advanced — genres, cultures, religions, the environment. It’s an especially exciting and interesting moment, particularly as Because aims to position itself as a truly multinational and multi-cultural record label.”
De Buretel and Bielsa founded Because after they both departed major labels in the early 2000s. De Buretel had been in leadership positions at Virgin Records and EMI, signing acts like Daft Punk and Air, with Bielsa also coming from EMI.
The label’s multinational, multicultural aim was present from the very beginning, with Because’s first release being Dimanche à Bamako, the Grammy-nominated 2005 collaborative album from Malian couple Amadou & Mariam and French/Spanish legend Manu Chao. Over the last two decades, the label has signed roughly 70 other acts.
“At the beginning of Because we had to break an artist every year,” says de Buretel. “If we didn’t break one album a year, we could’ve been bankrupt, because you had to make a living with one album when you didn’t have a back catalog.”
Focusing on one artist at a time was a dramatically different business model than at the majors and the distributors, which de Buretel says “have too many acts to develop. They have only three or four months to work on each project, so they need to be fast when it comes to distribution and success.”
Instead, the guiding philosophy at Because is giving artists years to develop. Curating a trim but mighty roster and focusing on long-term artist development have been key to Because’s track record, with the label taking seven to 10 years to cultivate its biggest acts, like Justice.
“We’ve been patient, and we grow little by little, and they have all succeeded,” de Buretel says.
Keeping a tight roster requires betting on often relatively unknown acts who may not yet be streaming juggernauts or have giant social media followings. For de Buretel, that’s okay. “We are very mathematical and data-oriented, but not to sign artists,” he says. “It’s always good when the artist you want to sign has good numbers, but the numbers don’t make the artist.”
Instead, he focuses on raw talent and authenticity, finding that many of the most exciting new acts come from underground scenes. “It’s important to understand that very often, the art of tomorrow comes from the street rather than from galleries,” he says. “Basquiat was from the street, Keith Haring was from the street. Punk and rap came from the street, not from schools.”
Newer Because artists who’ve emerged from such scenes include the underground electronic acts Snow Strippers and Oklou, along with Belgian rapper Shay, with part of the label’s strategy being to invest serious money in new names. “When we put a big advance on Snow Strippers, it’s a big risk if you don’t know your business,” says de Buretel. “Me, I’m sure they’re going to be big.”
Emmanuel de Buretel
Manuel Brulé
Signing relatively few artists annually requires stringent quality control, which de Buretel and his team assure by only bringing on acts whose live shows are as culture-shaking as their recorded work. “At the beginning, everybody was laughing at us, saying, ‘You still focus on live when TikTok is the future?’” he says. “But one of my key decision-making processes when I sign an artist is to check how strong they are live.”
Acts who pass muster receive the full attention of de Buretel and his roughly 140-person team, based in offices in Paris, London and Los Angeles and working across digital marketing, production, touring, publishing and live. Because operates two Paris venues, the 250-capacity La Boule Noire and the 1,500-capacity La Cigale, and also co-founded the city’s longstanding We Love Green festival, which this year entered a strategic partnership with AEG and French media company Combat5, with an eye on international expansion.
Simultaneously, de Buretel says Because focuses on “being the best toolbox for our big artists like Daft Punk, who we do everything for, from records to publishing to IP.” This work with Daft Punk recently included co-creating The Daft Punk Experience for online video game Fortnite, in what was the biggest activation in the history of Epic Games’ flagship IP.
“Artists need people like us,” says de Buretel. “They need catalyzers; they need filters; they need workers, and the clients we serve are very happy of the job we do.”
De Buretel says Because’s annual gross profit margin is 24%, a number that’s buoyed by the label’s international focus.
“When we signed Christine and the Queens and told Christine to mix English and French, and that we intended to sell the music outside of France, Christine was very surprised and excited,” de Buretel recalls of the French artist’s 2015 eponymous debut album. De Buretel reports that the project ultimately sold 1.5 million equivalent album units worldwide, with 50% of sales happening outside of France.
Christine and the Queens performing during the concert ’20 years of love’ at MADO 2025, on July 6, 2025, in Madrid, Spain.
A. Perez Meca/Europa Press/Getty Images
“It’s the same thing today,” de Buretel continues. “For Justice or Shygirl, the number one territory is the U.S., and sometimes number two is Mexico. We decided from the beginning to be worldwide and to market artists internationally, which isn’t exactly what’s happening at major labels or distributors. They have so many artists that they don’t have the time, money, or people to market them worldwide. They have to prioritize.”
This boutique approach is paying off not just in revenue and global success, but in accolades. In 2025, Because added a Grammy and an Academy Award to its achievements via wins by Justice and French singer Camille, with the former winning best dance/electronic recording for their 2024 Tame Impala collab “Neverender” and the latter for best original song for Emilia Perez’s “El Mal.” Justice also clocked the first No. 1 in its nearly 20-year history when “Neverender” reached the peak of Alternative Airplay in February.
Because’s London office recently moved into a new building in the city’s hip Shoreditch neighborhood, and in 2026, the Paris office will also relocate to Montmartre in the 18th arrondissement, a transition precipitated by a critical mass of Because employees moving to that area. “We always follow our employees’ wishes and move with the new generation,” says de Buretel. “It’s going to be a very nice move for us.”
He’s also continuing to invest in Because’s longstanding relationships with entities like Merlin, other indie labels and the majors, feeling that they’re all in it together in terms of “the structures in front of us, huge icebergs called Google, Amazon, Apple.”
“Right now, what I see with Google is that they’re very nice, very proactive and they have a fantastic music team,” he continues. “But when it comes to deals, we still don’t accept that there is a difference in value in the way they pay an artist from an independent company and an artist from a major. It’s totally unacceptable that they don’t receive the same amount also regarding short formats; artists should be paid [the same] as they are for videos, which is not the case.”
But despite challenges that can appear existential, de Buretel is confidently leading the label forward, implementing new strategies and celebrating the past while looking to the future.
“The company has changed significantly over the last seven years,” he says. “We now operate worldwide with a direct-to-platform model, without intermediaries, supported by our own in-house audience marketing, digital marketing and promotional teams. We are an international development company for new artists and catalogues, as we are the antithesis of a traditional distributor. We believe we have built the needed record company of tomorrow for international developing artists and catalogues.”
Editors note: A version of this article in the Dec. 13 print issue incorrectly stated that Because Music signed electronic duo Fcukers, who are in fact signed to Ninja Tune. Billboard regrets the error.
https://i0.wp.com/neztelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/station.nez_png.png?fit=943%2C511&ssl=1511943Yvetohttps://neztelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/nez_png.pngYveto2025-12-15 20:01:242025-12-15 20:01:24Label Look: How Because Music, Home to Daft Punk & Justice, Became the ‘Record Company of Tomorrow’
