Zara Larsson performs “Midnight Sun” at Billboard Women In Music 2026.
At the Hollywood Palladium on Wednesday night (April 29), Billboard Women in Music 2026 is honoring EJAE, REI AMI, AUDREY NUNA, Kehlani, Teyana Taylor, Ella Langley, Thalia, Zara Larsson, Laufey and Tate McRae.
Tyla presents Zara Larsson with the Breakthrough Award at Billboard Women In Music 2026.
At the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles on Wednesday night (April 29), Billboard Women in Music 2026 is honoring EJAE, REI AMI, AUDREY NUNA, Kehlani, Teyana Taylor, Ella Langley, Thalia, Zara Larsson, Laufey and Tate McRae.
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.
IVE is embarking on its SHOW WHAT I AM world tour, and everyone’s invited.
The six-member girl group — comprised of Gaeul, An Yu-jin, Rei, Jang Won-young, Liz and Leeseo — is slated to take North America mid-July, traveling around the States until Aug. 7, when they’ll land in Seattle for a final hurrah before hitting Canada and then Asia. This marks the “Bang Bang” singers’ second world tour, following the group’s Show What I Have tour that ran from October 2023 through Sept. 5, 2024.
Fans can expect bold visuals and striking choreography while jamming out to old hits from the group such as “Eleven” and “Love Dive” along with newer title tracks off its 2026 REVIVE+ album, including “Blackhole” to bsides such as “Hush,” “Hot Coffee” and “Fireworks.” It’s also likely the members will break off for solo stages, since each member has a solo song on the album, namely, “Force” by An Yujin and “Unreal” by Liz, among others.
Below, is information on where you can buy affordable tickets to IVE’s world tour. As always, official ticketing to the girl group’s trek can be found at Live Nation and Ticketmaster. Keep reading to learn more.
General admission for IVE’s tour tickets went on sale on Ticketmaster on April 2 at 3 p.m. This is the official spot to snag tickets to the group’s tour. The site usually has a ton of tickets available, but pricing can be a bit expensive and competition is often fierce. It is worth keeping your eyes peeled for deals. The ticketing service offers a Fan Guarantee, which allows for cancellations, refunds or exchanges within 24 hours of booking, subject to certain exclusions.
StubHub is one of ShopBillboard’s top choices when it comes to searching for affordable tickets online. Pricing on the site for IVE’s tour is impeccable, with prices for in-demand venues going for as low as $80. When browsing the ticketing site, you’ll likely see deals up to 50% off group tickets. Just another reason to love StubHub. For example, StubHub has two tickets priced at $80 for IVE’s Newark, N.J., show. Ticket pricing is usually graded and marked on the site, showing buyers the best pricing upfront.
StubHub makes buying tickets easy and painless with its FanProtect Guarantee. This initiative protects fans’ purchases by ensuring valid tickets or your money back. Plus, if your event is canceled and not rescheduled, you will receive a credit worth 120% of the amount you paid for the impacted event, or the option of a cash refund.
SeatGeek is another ticketing site that we found has affordable tickets for IVE’s world tour. Within a few minutes, we found ticketing going for as low as $72. On the higher end of affordable, ticketing can be found for just $119.
Right now, you can use promo code BILLBOARD10 at checkout to receive $10 off. The ticketing service features a Buyer Guarantee that ensures smooth ticket purchases every time. The site also offers you venue options based on your location, giving you the closest venue to you.
For our price-conscious ticket shoppers, another option is Vivid Seats. The site often has great pricing on in-demand venues. A quick search reveals that pricing on the site goes as low as $65 for IVE’s show. The highest pricing we’ve seen so far on Vivid Seats on the lower end is $110. To lower the price of your tickets even further, you can use our promo code BB30 to snag $30 off your purchase. The ticketing service offers a 100% Buyer Guarantee that vows your transaction will be secure, that your tickets will be delivered before your event, and that those tickets will be valid and authentic.
IVE doesn’t always go on tour. If you’re planning on shelling out for tickets, why not do it on TicketNetwork? Right now, you can use our code BILLBOARD300 to save $300 off orders of $1,000, and BILLBOARD150 to save $150 off orders of $500. TicketNetwork features tickets for IVE’s tour for as low as $95 for some venues, a steal when compared to some of TicketNetwork’s competitors. If you don’t have the funds to buy your tickets just yet, you can also buy the tickets on the website now and pay later with help from Affirm. Plus, the website includes all-in pricing that lets you see exactly what you’ll be paying upfront (fees included).
Gametime is another great option with great pricing for IVE’s world tour. If you happen to choose Gametime on your ticketing search, you’ll see prices as low as $70. The site will also notify you when certain venues/dates feature steep deals, allowing you to find the best pricing on seating without fail. You’ll also see indicators on your search of the site that tell you which venues are in high demand, a helpful tool for preplanning your attack plan when purchasing tickets. Gametime guarantees the lowest prices, event cancellation protection, job-loss assurance, and on-time ticket delivery for a smooth ticket-buying experience every time, no matter the occasion.
When Joel and Leonel Espinoza first broke into the global regional Mexican music scene as Hermanos Espinoza, it wasn’t with a booming corrido or viral TikTok trend — it was with 2022’s accordion-driven “Prueba de Fuego,” a powerful norteña that struck a chord with fans for its raw vulnerability and triumphant message of overcoming adversity.
Anchored by bajo sexto chords and the brothers’ earnest harmonies, the song now boasts over 170 million views on YouTube and more than 180 million streams on Spotify, earning a spot at No. 39 on Billboard’s Regional Mexican Airplay chart two years after its release.
At a time when Mexican hitmakers like Fuerza Regida and Natanael Cano were dominating the charts with their streetwise corridos tumbados, Hermanos Espinoza managed to stand out with something more introspective but just as impactful: a powerful statement of perseverance wrapped in soaring accordion melodies and heartfelt lyrics. The song in question, along with other recent hits from their 2026 album Linaje, has solidified their place as fresh voices in banda music — giving the genre a modern twist while paying homage to tradition and connecting with a new generation of fans.
Joel, 24, and Leonel, 20, were born and raised in McAllen, Texas, on the border with Reynosa, Mexico — a region that has shaped not only their identity but also their music.
“Growing up between these two cultures was honestly something really beautiful and special because we got to live and grow in both worlds,” Joel tells Billboard Español via Zoom. “At home, we were always connected to our roots with the music our parents and grandparents listened to — Los Cadetes, Los Invasores, Carlos y José, Luis y Julián, all of that. But as soon as we stepped out of the house and went to school, we were listening to Drake, Travis Scott, Black Eyed Peas — everything that was trending here.”
That duality is the foundation of their sound: part classic norteña, part modern outlook, and unmistakably youthful. From this unique perspective, they’re breathing new life into traditional Tejano music. Their most recent album, Linaje, released in March, is a love letter to that cultural blend. The 14-track set reached No. 12 on Top Regional Mexican Albums and No. 25 on Top Latin Albums (dated April 11), a milestone that feels like just the first chapter in the story of Hermanos Espinoza.
Before becoming pro musicians, Joel and Leonel were “restaurant kids”. In the early mornings, they helped their grandparents and father run the family business in McAllen, which they operated for nearly 30 years. “My brother and I [waited] tables, washed dishes, and ran errands with my grandmother. That’s how we learned what it meant to earn a dollar,” Joel shares.
Those years taught them the value of hard work, but they also came close to giving up. In 2021, before the duo’s breakthrough, they faced what felt like a dead end. Their music wasn’t gaining traction, and the phone had stopped ringing. Joel recalls feeling defeated, “on the verge of throwing in the towel,” he says. “I was really down and thought that this was the end of the dream of making music.”
He started looking for work with friends at oil refineries, ready to leave the dream behind and choose stability. It was his dad — always a figure of faith and encouragement — who stopped him. “My dad said, ‘You’re not giving up,’” Joel recalls.
In that moment of crisis, they received unexpected help: Martín García, a local producer, called them and offered to record five songs on credit. The duo couldn’t afford to pay upfront, but they decided to take the risk. Months later, those five songs — including “Cómo es Él” and “El Malandrín” — would become the foundation of Hermanos Espinoza’s career. And it worked: “My dad closed [the family restaurant] to come with us and be our manager,” Leonel says.
Last year, in April, a pivotal performance changed their trajectory. At the Bésame Mucho Festival in Austin, Texas, they caught the attention of Double P Management, the team behind Peso Pluma. “What better way to show what we bring to the table than a live performance?” Leonel says about that moment. Shortly after, the duo flew to Los Angeles to meet the team, and before they knew it, they had signed a contract.
The past year has been a whirlwind for Hermanos Epsinoza, backed by Double P and fueled by the success of Linaje and major milestones on the Billboard charts. Songs like “29:11,” inspired by the Bible verse Jeremiah 29:11, reached No. 32 on the Hot Latin Songs chart this month.
“We really like to write from the heart, we like to sing the truth, and we love when people connect with us,” adds Joel.
Now, with a 17-city tour kicking off in San Diego, the brothers are riding the wave of momentum and creativity. In our interview, they teased new music on the way this summer. “We have another project in the works,” Joel shares. “An EP, God willing.”
Up next, get to know more about our April’s Latin Artist on the Rise.
Name: Joel Martín Espinoza and Leonel Espinoza
Age: 24 and 20, respectively
Recomended Song: “29:11.” “It’s something very spiritual,” says Joel. “I think it’s something the world needs right now; something people can relate to. And more than anything, it’s about building that relationship with God and inspiring them.”
Major Acomplishment: “Helping our parents and grandparents retire,” says Joel. “Thanks to you, they no longer have to work. They can finally rest after 40 years of hard work. They’re now able to relax, and it’s our turn to go all in and keep pushing forward. That’s our biggest accomplishment.”
What’s Next: “Expect a lot of new music. The Linaje Tour is coming, and it’s going to feature a new production and all the new songs. We’re ready to give the fans the very best—they deserve it,” says Joel. “We’re so excited to see all the fans there with us, singing and enjoying the night, and to keep spreading the energy and light that God has given us, and to keep moving forward.”
Check out the dates for the Linaje tour across the U.S. below:
** Non-Live Nation Tour Dates
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.
Olivia Rodrigo will be sitting down for an interview on The Tonight Show, chatting with host Jimmy Fallon about her new album, slated for June, titled You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love.
The “Vampire” singer’s episode is set to air Thursday, April 30, at 11:35 p.m. ET/PT (10:35 p.m. CT), airing on NBC. It appears that Rodrigo will only be interviewed on the show, as the musical guest is listed as Bruce Hornsby. Along with her appearance on the show, Rodrigo just announced dates for The Unraveled Tour, a huge 65-date run across North America, Europe, and the U.K. in support of her new third album.
Beyond Rodrigo, Richard Gadd and the crew of NASA’s Artemis II moon mission will also be interviewed on the April 30 episode. After her stop with Fallon, Rodrigo will be making her hosting debut on Saturday Night Live on May 2. If you’re looking to catch Rodrigo’s The Tonight Show episode, we’ll be showing you how to do so, sans cable, online for free. Keep reading to learn more.
As mentioned, Olivia Rodrigo’s episode of The Tonight Show will be on April 30 at 11:35 p.m. ET/PT (10:35 p.m. CT). We’ll be showing you how you can tune into her spot on the show for free.
If you don’t have cable, DIRECTV is your best bet at streaming the performer’s interview. The streamer allows users to watch live TV channels. All of DIRECTV‘s packages include access to NBC as part of their base lineup, though we’d suggest the CHOICE package above them all.
This package is currently available for a discounted price of $84.99 for the first month, down from $94.99, and is ideal for those looking to tap into a slew of fan-favorite channels, around 125+, such as ESPN, Animal Planet, BET, Bravo, Cartoon Network, Food Network, Comedy Central and the Hallmark Channel, along with your popular channels including CNN and Fox. If you’re unsure about committing to a new subscription, you can try the service out for free for five days, which will let you watch Rodrigo on the late-night talk show without spending a dime.
You can also watch Rodrigo’s interview via Hulu + Live TV, given that NBC is included in the live TV channel lineup. The service also offers a three-day free trial to new users. A subscription to the service (with ads) will cost $89.99 per month, while the plan without ads goes for $99.99 per month. Both plans give you access to watch Rodrigo’s interview without cable.
All episodes of The Tonight Show stream online on Peacock the day after they air on TV. The platform offers affordable plans starting at just $10.99 per month, or an annual plan for $109.99 per year (which gets you 12 months of streaming for the price of 10). Your subscription will give you access to NBC for The Tonight Show, along with 50 “always-on” curated channels that include hits such as Saturday Night Live, Vanderpump Rules, The Real Housewives, Top Gear, Hell’s Kitchen and Below Deck. Subscribers will also gain access to Peacock Originals such as The Traitors and live sports. There are no free trials for new users.
Watch The Tonight Show‘s teaser for Olivia Rodrigo’s appearance below:
Lil Tjay is clearing the air. TMZ caught up with the Bronx native in Beverly Hills Wednesday (April 29), where he explained he’s got no beef with Offset — or anybody for that matter — following the April 6 casino shooting in Florida.
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“I ain’t got no beef for nobody, brother,” Tjay said as he turned the chat into a promotional opportunity. “My album’s coming out May 1. They Just Ain’t You, it stands for Tjay. l’ma have a lot of controversial s—t. If y’all want some controversial s—t, stream the album.”
Billboard has reached out to Offset’s rep for comment.
In an interview with Billboard earlier in April, Tjay played it coy when it came to the shooting after receiving advice from his attorney. “I’m just as confused as everyone else about that,” he said. “My lawyer told me not to touch on it too much.”
Lil Tjay (born Tione Merritt) was arrested for disorderly conduct in connection with Offset being shot in the valet parking lot outside Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino earlier in the month following an alleged dispute. Set was transported to a local hospital and treated for non-life-threatening injuries.
A spokesperson for the Seminole Police Department said in a statement to Billboard at the time that “the incident began with an affray, or fight. Merritt was booked into the Broward County Jail late [April 6].” Police have not labeled Tjay as the gunman.
Lil Tjay’s lawyer, Dawn Florio, at the time downplayed Tjay’s involvement in the shooting, which she called “false rumors.”
Tjay delivered a boisterous, fresh-out-of-jail interview after posting a $500 bond on April 7, which saw him label Offset as a “rat,” and he threatened to slap the Migos rapper.
“The last thing I seen was Offset looking at me like this, ‘Yo, that n—a shot me. That n—a shot me.’ La la la. N—a is a rat. n—a is a rat. I don’t do no damn fighting,” he told reporters before being asked if he was the triggerman. “I didn’t do no damn fighting. Did I shoot Offset? That s–t is crazy.”
The “Calling My Phone” rapper continued: “I’ll slap the s–t out of Offset. He would never play with me like that in his life.”
Offset responded to Tjay’s jarring interview in an Instagram comment. “U ain’t buss nun,” he wrote.
A few days later, the Atlanta native released a message to fans and explained his plans to be better in the future. “Thank you to everyone who’s checked in on me and showed me love! I’m good….but I’m planning to be better! I’m focused on my family, my recovery, and getting back to the music…realizing that life is made up of quiet wins and loud losses,” Offset shared on April 10. “Life’s a gamble and I’m still playing to win.”
Back in 2021, Offset and Tjay were friendly collaborators, which saw them team up on “Run It Up.” Tjay explained in a January 2025 Twitch stream that their relationship soured after he allegedly lent Offset $10,000 at a casino, which was he claims was never paid back.
SiriusXM Holdings reported double-digit profit growth in the first quarter driven by the company’s subscription price hikes and increased advertising revenue from Pandora.
Net income rose 20% to $245 million, and overall revenue edged 1% higher to $2.1 billion in the quarter ending March 31 compared to the same period a year ago. The company’s adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (adjusted EBITDA), a metric that normalizes company earnings by removing one-time costs, rose by nearly 6% to $666 million for a margin of 31.9%, and free cash flow more than tripled to $171 million from a year ago.
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The company’s stock was up 1.2% to $27.08 in mid-day trade. In the past month SiriusXM’s stock has risen by more than 17% as investors speculated that it may lease or sell some of its vast and valuable airwave resources, or spectrum, to space start-ups. Investors also reacted positively to mid-April reports that terrestrial radio station iHeart Radio approached SiriusXM to discuss a potential sale. Executives declined to discuss appetite for selling internal resources or acquisitions, saying it is most focused on growing its core business, like its 360L platform.
SiriusXM Holdings, which encompasses its in-car satellite radio, Pandora, podcasting and streaming networks, consistently reports steady earnings, but the company has struggled in recent years with declining subscribers. After experiments developing a costly streaming app, building a popular podcast business and two subscription price hikes in two years, the company has hit on family or companion plans as a successful way to increase customer loyalty and stem subscriber loss.
“We’re very pleased with our Q1 subscriber performance, especially after a strong Q4 last year, and the companion subscriptions clearly contributed to that,” Sirius CEO Jennifer Witz, saying they drove 124,000 subscriptions. “Companion plans expand access to SiriusXM to more listeners across the household, and also enhance the value and improve retention of that subscription household. So we’re really pleased.”
Churn among self-pay subscribers fell to a record low of 1.5%, despite SiriusXM raising the price of subscriptions like its Platinum/All Access offering by $1 to $25.99. SiriusXM lost 111,000 self-paying subscribers — compared to 303,000 this quarter last year — for a total of 31.2 million self-pay subscribers. Trial subscribers who pay typically $1 for the first three months totaled 1.6 million in the quarter, a decline of 37,000 to 1.6 million. These improvements contributed to a 13-cent increase in average revenue per user (ARPU) to $14.99, Witz said.
SiriusXM launched new artist-curated channels in the quarter from Morgan Wallen, John Summit and a live Metallica call in show, as well as pop-up channels for BTS, Luke Combs and Robin around their album releases.
The company has worked to keep a lid on expenses as it works to achieve its target of $1.5 billion in free cash flow by 2027. They reduced overall cost of services by $6 billion by spending slightly less on revenue share and royalties costs for music programming, which cost $697 million split roughly even between SiriusXM and Pandora, and programming and content, which cost $137 million for a total of $986 million. Total company operating expenses decreased slightly to $1.6 billion.
Pandora generated half a billion in total quarterly revenue, including $129 million from about 5.6 million subscribers and $372 million from advertisers. Pandora reported a gross profit of $139 million for a gross margin of 28%. Pandora’s total monthly active users fell 5% to 40.1 million.
With most of its revenue coming from its in-vehicle satellite radio product, SiriusXM is exposed to customer sentiment related to car sales and gas prices. Witz said they think they can control their offerings and prices to maintain “resilient in-car foundation and… support performance.”
Earlier in April, SiriusXM announced a deal with Google and YouTube making SiriusXM, Pandora, SoundCloud and its podcast networks the exclusive advertising representative for audio ads that run against YouTube content in the United States.
Advertising revenue rose by 3% to around $407 million on a 37% increase in podcasting advertising revenue, a sign Witz said that its ad “momentum is accelerating.”
“Our partnership with YouTube marks a significant step forward,” Witz said on a call. “We are expanding our reach to 255 million monthly listeners, nearly 90% of the US population, age 13 and older [offering] advertisers scaled access to content … like SNL to leading creators like Mr. Beast as well as podcasts beyond our own network and streaming music.”
INI’s “All 4 U” soars to No. 1 on the Billboard Japan Hot 100 chart dated April 29.
The lead single from INI’s eighth single “PULSE” sold 725,113 copies in its first week to rule sales, while also landing at No. 1 for downloads, No. 3 for radio airplay, and No. 75 for streaming. The chart-topper marks the group’s sixth No. 1 on the Japan song chart.
“CALL 119”
“Password”
“LOUD”
“WMDA (Where My Drums At)”
“Present”
“All 4 U”
Mrs. GREEN APPLE’s “Kaze to Machi” rises one place to No. 2. The track serves as the theme song for NHK’s morning drama series Kaze, Kaoru and hits No. 1 for radio, No. 2 for downloads, and No. 7 for streaming this week, with radio points surging 386% week-over-week. The song’s music video is scheduled to premiere on April 29 at 9 p.m., a release that is expected to further impact the chart in coming weeks. Also for the group, “StaRt” re-enters the chart at No. 85. The three-member band performed the song — the lead track from their 2015 major label debut mini-album Variety — on the April 13 broadcast of TV Mrs, a program hosted by the trio.
CANDY TUNE’s “HAPPY BOUNCE BIRTHDAY” bows at No. 3. The track from the group’s third single launched with 171,762 copies to hit No. 2 for sales. M!LK’s “Bakuretsu Aishiteru” holds at No. 4, coming in at No. 1 for streaming, No. 12 for sales, No. 16 for downloads, No. 3 for video views, No. 11 for karaoke, and No. 76 for radio. Following at No. 5 is “Sukisugite Metsu!” by the breakout five-member boy band, climbing a notch from last week. Notably, “Bakuretsu Aishiteru” has now topped streaming for six consecutive weeks, while “Sukisugite Metsu!” continues to perform strongly on the karaoke chart, this week recording its seventh No. 1 on that metric — including six consecutive weeks.
The Billboard Japan Hot 100 combines physical and digital sales, audio streams, radio airplay, video views and karaoke data.
See the full Billboard Japan Hot 100 chart, tallying the week from April 20 to 26, here (https://www.billboard.com/charts/japan-hot-100/). For more on Japanese music and charts, visit Billboard Japan’s English X account (https://x.com/BillboardJP_ENG).
Milo J brought the soul of South America to NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert series on Thursday (April 30), making his debut with a vibrant 17-minute performance that paid homage to Argentina’s folkloric traditions and the Río de la Plata region. The 19-year-old artist from Morón, Buenos Aires, kicked off his medley with “Recordé” and the unreleased “Cuestiones,” acoustic-driven ballads elevated by dynamic percussion.
“My name is Milo J, we come directly from Argentina, and these guys are Agárrate Catalina from Uruguay, another beautiful country,” he said in between songs, dressed in a colorful Polo shirt and occasionally sipping mate.
The singer-rapper transitioned into tracks that highlight his genre-defying scope, including “Solifican12,” “Bajo de la Piel” and the reflective “Niño,” showcasing his ability to deliver folkloric sounds — such as chacarera, chamamé and zamba — with a modern, poetic take. The inclusion of a charango — a traditional Andean string instrument — violin, guitar and piano gave a lush texture to his set, while the murga vocal harmonies created exhilarating dynamic crescendos. These songs are from his latest album, 2025’s La Vida Era Más Corta.
Agárrate Catalina is a revivalist of Uruguayan murga, a historic performance tradition celebrated for its brightly painted faces, elaborate costumes and carnival-inspired antics. Murga — a musical theater style rooted in Uruguay and Argentina — blends vibrant harmonies, rhythmic percussion and sharp satirical storytelling, often serving as a platform for social and political commentary during carnival celebrations.
Another standout moment arrived with “Luciérnagas,” Milo’s collaboration with legendary Cuban troubadour Silvio Rodríguez. The interplay between Milo’s youthful vigor and musicians’ chants and solos turned the performance into a dialogue between eras and nations, all while underscoring murga’s historical role as a folk medium of storytelling, activism and solidarity in South America.
An Argentine flag, a mate kit and the book The Gaucho Martín Fierro by José Hernández, written in Argentina in 1872, adorned the set.
Watch Milo J’s NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert below.
Given its sound, the top 10 of the latest Billboard Hot 100, dated May 2, is one of the most notable going back more than a decade.
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The latest chart marks the first time since at least 2013, when Hit Songs Deconstructed started tracking the weekly Hot 100’s top 10, that every song in the region has been in a major key, excluding weeks in which it was dominated by a single lead artist.
The only other all-major key top 10 during that span? Two years ago this week (May 4, 2024), Taylor Swift held the entire region with songs from her album The Tortured Poets Department.
(Note that this data excludes weeks with holiday songs in the chart’s top 10.)
The popularity of major keys on the newest Hot 100 is due, in part, to the top 10’s genre makeup: pop (60%), country (20%) and R&B/soul (20%).
To put each genre’s tonality into perspective, here are major/minor key breakdowns for Hot 100 top 10s from the start of this decade through this week:
In other words, pop, country and R&B/soul top 10s on the Hot 100 this decade have largely leaned major key, and the latest top 10 is fully made up of those three primary genres.
Hits by Olivia Rodrigo — new at No. 1 on the Hot 100 with “Drop Dead” — Bruno Mars, Olivia Dean (“So Easy [To Fall in Love]”), Alex Warren, Justin Bieber and HUNTR/X account for pop’s dominance in the May 2 top 10. Ella Langley has the two country titles and Dean (“Man I Need”) and Kehlani represent R&B/soul.
The recession of hip-hop/rap hits also contributed to the rise of major keys. Over the same 2020-26 period, 84% of hip-hop/rap top 10s on the Hot 100 have been in a minor key (with the rest major or encompassing both).
Alongside major keys taking center stage in the Hot 100’s top 10 this week, romantic songs and faster tempos claim runaway wins:
“Drop Dead” helps drive both of those marks, from its “kiss me and I might drop dead”-punctuated chorus to its 130-BPM tempo. Similarly, “Daisies,” back in the Hot 100’s top 10, finds Bieber daydreaming, “I’m countin’ the days, how many days ‘til I can see you again?,” set to a 110-BPM backdrop.
Meanwhile, women continue their dominance in the Hot 100’s top 10, claiming seven spots for a sixth consecutive week. As previously reported, the streak is the longest since an eight-week run in 2014.
Notably, exclusively female-led Hot 100 top 10s have been on the rise since 2018, vaulting from a 15% share that year to 42% in 2025, while holding relatively steady at 40% year to date.
David and Yael Penn cofounded Hit Songs Deconstructed, which provides compositional analytics for top 10 Hot 100 hits. In 2023, Hit Songs Deconstructed and fellow song analysis platform MyPart publicly launched ChartCipher, an AI-powered platform analyzing a deeper scope of hit songs, as defined by Billboard’s charts.
