Charli XCX, Central Cee, and one blast from the past: Meet the most trending music on YouTube for 2024

04 December 2024 - Press release

 

• YouTube releases its annual End of Year lists, with the largest mix of genres in years showing that 2024 was the year of the democratisation of music

• Charli XCX & Central Cee were the two UK artists who broke out this year, with Central Cee’s BAND4BAND making it to the Top Songs this year. 

• 2024 was a big year for Taylor Swift, who earned over 200M views in the UK this year.

YouTube released today its annual lists ranking the top songs people in the UK listened to, watched, and even created Shorts with. The lists are generated by the YouTube Culture and Trends team using internal YouTube data.

The Top Shorts Songs list is based on in-country user-generated Shorts of songs that debuted in 2024 or saw significant year-over-year growth, with Charli XCX’s Apple, which trended for several weeks in the UK, making it to the list alongside NSYNC’s Bye, Bye, Bye, which featured in the Deadpool film which came out earlier this year. 

The Top Songs list is based on in-country views of songs that debuted in 2024 or saw significant year-over-year growth - including official music videos, lyric videos, and art track videos. Central Cee’s and Lil Baby’s BAND4BAND made it to the list and was also one of the top music videos this year in the UK.

Lizzie Dickson, Head of Music YouTube UK said, "2024 has truly been the year of music without borders. Hyperpop exploded with Charli XCX while NSYNC proved the enduring power of nostalgia, and  UK drill fused with Atlanta trap thanks to innovators Central Cee and Lil Baby. This year's charts prove it: this year fans were crossing genres and embracing sounds from every corner of the world more than ever before.¨

 

Top Shorts Songs Shorts

1. Lay Bankz - Tell Ur Girlfriend

2. Odetari - KEEP UP

3. Bobby Caldwell - What You Won't Do for Love

4. фрози, Joyful - Bounce (I Just Wanna Dance)

5. prodbycpkshawn - Pop like this Pt. 2 (Slowed)

6. Scott Frenzel - Sugar High

7. Eternxlkz - SLAY!

8. NSYNC - Bye Bye Bye

9. Charli XCX - Apple

10. Tommy Richman - MILLION DOLLAR BABY

 

Top Songs

1. Benson Boone - Beautiful Things

2. Teddy Swims - Lose Control (Live)

3. Noah Kahan - Stick Season

4. Sabrina Carpenter - Espresso

5. Shaboozey - A Bar Song (Tipsy)

6. Eminem - Houdini

7. Kendrick Lamar - Not Like Us

8. Central Cee, Lil Baby - BAND4BAND

9. NewEra - Birds In The Sky

10. Artemas - i like the way you kiss me

 

Alongside the lists, the YouTube Culture and Trends team also released new data and facts about the music scene on YouTube this year: 

• The power of Taylor Swift's fandom was undeniable this year, with related ´Swifties´ content securing a spot in the Top Ten Trending Topics, a new list that highlights the top moments in culture as reflected on YouTube, based on analysis of a variety of signals, including views, uploads, and creator activity around these topics. Only topics determined to have conspicuous popularity this year, either because they were new to 2024 or because they experienced significant increases in user interest metrics, were eligible.

 

Top Trending Topics (not ranked) 

2024 United States elections

Dress To Impress

Olympic Games

Swifties

UEFA Euro 2024

The Amazing Digital Circus

Hazbin Hotel

Deadpool & Wolverine

Preppy

EA Sports FC 25

 

• Similarly, Charli XCX's music dominated the UK charts throughout the year, with several of her songs ranking among the most popular tracks, most notably Apple, which reached the top 10 Shorts Songs. 

• Central Cee's song "Band4Band” was one of the top songs and top music videos this year in the UK.