Billboard worked in partnership with Logitech for Creators to bring the Song Breaker chart and associated features like this story to life.
TikTok creator Usim E. Mang (@usimmango) keeps his spot at the top of the Billboard Song Breaker Chart thanks to his massively viral trend using Stromae’s track “Alors en Danse.” The Song Breaker Chart is a new music industry standard ranking of creators who are driving music consumption through content creation. The Song Breaker Chart was created by Billboard and Logitech For Creators, a brand extension of Logitech that helps all creators pursue their passions, to recognize the role of creators in helping songs break into the coveted Billboard charts through memes and dance challenges originated or amplified on social media.
Joining Mang on the chart is Max Taylor (@maxtaylorlifts) at No. 2, an Originator who used the hit song “STAY” by the The Kid LAROI featuring Justin Bieber — along with his curly red locks and biceps — to create his irreverently hilarious TikToks. Coming in at No. 3 is another Originator in Tai Verdes (@taiverdes) with his hit song “A-O-K.” The LA-based artist isn’t a stranger to viral popularity — his 2020 song “Stuck in the Middle” has soundtracked 3.3 million videos on TikTok — but Verdes’ hustle and immaculate songwriting show that he has staying power.
“Any accomplishment I get to achieve through music is a cherry on top, so being a part of this new chart is dope,” Verdes told Billboard. “I think any new way of connecting to music is the future… Artistry is all about finding a way to make your project fit into these new mediums where people are collecting and sharing ideas.”
Walker Hayes (@walkerhayesofficial) moves up one position from last month to No. 4 on the Song Breaker Chart as an Originator with “Fancy Like,” a viral trend that began with the country artist doing a choreographed dance with his teenage daughter and grew into a worldwide phenomenon. The 41-year-old Hayes has been on the Billboard charts before, but “Fancy Like” rocketed Hayes to new heights as he reached No. 1 on the Hot Country Songs chart in July and broke into the top 20 of the Hot 100.
Rounding out the Top 5 on the Song Breaker Chart is Scot Hubbard (@scottyhubs), an Amplifier who used his platform to highlight Quvenzhané’s Wallis’ rendition of “Opportunity” from the 2014 film Annie. Hubbard’s secret weapon is his pet chihuahua who had a starring role in launching the trend that had everyone from Camila Cabello to Jason Derulo taking advantage of their “opportunities.”
A pair of household influencer names also make their Billboard chart debut: JoJo Siwa (@itsjojosiwa) and Addison Rae (@addisonre) come in as Amplifiers at No. 6 and No. 7 respectively, and both have used their massive platforms to highlight the music that drives their creativity. Siwa’s infectious energy and hand choreography took a Q&A trend using Hoáng Read’s track “The Magic Bomb” global, with everyone from Meghan Trainor to U.S. Olympic Fencer Monica Aksamit answers questions backed by Hoáng’s pulsating beat.
“This is something that I’ve been working towards for years, so to think that finally the moment is here is just so amazing,” Siwa told Billboard. “Music is something that I need in my life every day. I think whenever I create anything it’s a matter of what I’m singing in my head! There is always a song on repeat in my head, then I use that in my content.”
Amplifier Rae’s influence as a trendsetter is once again on display as she gave the “Need to Know” challenge a boost using her massive platform — a trend launched by No. 9 on the Song Breaker Chart, Tracy Joseph (@tracy.oj). Joseph used the hit from Doja Cat to inspire her crisp choreography, and the trend was eventually picked up by some of the most popular creators on TikTok.
Other notable new faces on this month’s Song Breaker chart include No. 13 ICONA’s (@iconaklast) uncanny cosplay as Reba McEntire which launched a trend that saw creators from around the globe celebrating the smallest of victories using the country icon’s “I’m a Survivor” as a soundtrack, as well as an Amplifier in Maddie Ziegler at No. 17, who used her influential platform to boost the #euphoriavibes challenge with Labrinth’s track “Formula,” where creators mimic the aesthetics of the hit HBO show “Euphoria.”
At No. 20 are indie rockers and Amplifiers Glass Animals (@glassanimalsofficial), who make it onto the Song Breaker Chart thanks to their hit song “Heat Waves” soundtracking the “#AllIThinkAboutIsYou” challenge. The English band are no strangers to the Billboard charts, but this is the first time they’ll be included in a ranking that measures their impact on a groundbreaking new way of discovering and engaging with music.
“These platforms can level the playing field a bit,” says Glass Animals’ Dave Bayley. “They allow anyone to make a piece of art and publish it and put it out there into the world. And at the same time, older songs that never had the life they deserved for one reason or another are being rediscovered. It’s very exciting.”
The Billboard Song Breaker Chart will drop on the second Tuesday of each month, with the inaugural ranking releasing today. The chart ranks the top creators on social media platforms including TikTok and YouTube, who amplify music and music-based trends that often result in their success on charts such as the Billboard Hot 100. From dance challenges that help songs go viral to funny videos that introduce new audiences to the classics, creators are changing the way we listen to music. Monthly rankings are created using a blend of engagement and view data from these platforms provided by analytics partner Shareable.
Check out the latest Logitech and Billboard Song Breaker Chart here: www.billboard.com/charts/song-breaker
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