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Neither Taylor Swift Nor Sabrina Carpenter: This Is the Artist Who Tops Apple Music’s 100 Best Songs of 2024

'Not Like Us' has been named the platform's Best Song of the Year.

Archivado en: Sabrina Carpenter  •   Taylor Swift  •  

As 2024 comes to an end, major platforms are unveiling their musical retrospectives for the past 365 days. Apple Music has released its list of the 100 songs that defined the year’s sound. Surprisingly, neither Taylor Swift nor Benson Boone lead the ranking.

This year has been a vibrant and diverse period for music. The list reflects global trends and preferences, using metrics such as play counts, chart popularity, and cultural impact to determine the rankings.

Criteria for Apple Music’s Ranking

Apple Music uses several criteria to compile its annual list. The primary consideration is the total number of streams accumulated from November 1, 2023, to October 31, 2024. Other factors include virality on social media, inclusion in popular playlists, and the cultural impact of the songs. This approach allows both established artists and emerging talent to shine.

Kendrick Lamar Tops the List

Leading this year’s ranking is Not Like Us by Kendrick Lamar, marking his first #1 spot on Apple Music’s year-end global chart. Without a doubt, the singer of HUMBLE, who will also headline the 2025 Super Bowl, is in his prime. Following closely are Beautiful Things by Benson Boone in second place and Espresso by Sabrina Carpenter in third. Other notable mentions include Shaboozey’s A Bar Song (Tipsy) and Taylor Swift’s Cruel Summer.

The year 2024 has seen remarkable musical diversity, spanning genres from rap and pop to country and R&B. Artists like Kendrick Lamar and Taylor Swift have maintained their dominance, while rising stars such as Benson Boone and Shaboozey have made a significant impact. However, it seems that Drake is the artist with the most songs on the ranking, with a total of 8.

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Kendrick Lamar performs on the Pyramid stage during day five of Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm, Pilton on June 26, 2022 in Glastonbury, England.. Joseph Okpako/WireImage

Comparing 2024 to 2023

To put 2024’s success in context, it’s worth revisiting last year’s standout hit. In 2023, the top song on Apple Music’s global chart was Last Night by Morgan Wallen, which has now slipped to the 12th spot. This track, blending country and pop, captivated listeners worldwide and stayed at the top of the charts for much of the year.

The cultural influence of music has also been evident in how songs tackle social and personal themes. Artists like Kendrick Lamar have used their music to delve into issues of identity and social justice, resonating deeply with audiences. Earlier this year, Billie Eilish was named Artist of the Year.

Here is the list of Apple Music’s 100 Best Songs of 2024: 

  1. Kendrick Lamar, ‘Not Like Us’
  2. Benson Boone, ‘Beautiful Things’
  3. Sabrina Carpenter, ‘Espresso’
  4. Shaboozey, ‘A Bar Song (Tipsy)’
  5. Taylor Swift, ‘Cruel Summer’
  6. Post Malone, ‘I Had Some Help (feat. Morgan Wallen)’
  7. Teddy Swims, ‘Lose Control’
  8. Metro Boomin, Kendrick Lamar, Future, ‘Like That’
  9. Billie Eilish, ‘BIRDS OF A FEATHER’
  10. Creepy Nuts, ‘Bling-Bang-Bang-Born’
  11. SZA, ‘Snooze’
  12. Morgan Wallen, ‘Last Night’
  13. Noah Kahan, ‘Stick Season’
  14. Jack Harlow, ‘Lovin On Me’
  15. Zach Bryan, ‘I Remember Everything (feat. Kacey Musgraves)’
  16. Sabrina Carpenter, ‘Please Please Please’
  17. Hozier, ‘Too Sweet’
  18. Tate McRae, ‘greedy’
  19. Tommy Richman, ‘MILLION DOLLAR BABY’
  20. Taylor Swift, ‘Fortnight (feat. Post Malone)’
  21. Lil Baby, ‘Freestyle’
  22. FloyyMenor y Cris MJ, ‘Gata only’
  23. Future, Metro Boomin, travis Scott y Playboy Carti, ‘Type shit’
  24. ¥$, Kanye West, Ty Dolla $ign, Rich the Kid, ‘Carnival (ft Playboi Carti)
  25. Illit, ‘Magnetic’
  26. Drake, ‘Rich Baby Daddy (ft. Sexyy Red & SZA)
  27. Morgan Wallen, ‘Thinkin’ bout me’
  28. Ariana Grande, ‘we can’t be Friends (wait for your love)
  29. Travis Scott, ‘Fe!N (ft. Playboi Carti)
  30. Doja Cat, ‘Agora Hills’
  31. Luke Combs, ‘Fast car’
  32. Yoasobi, ‘Idol’
  33. tuki, ‘Bansanka’
  34. Taylor Swift, ‘Lover’
  35. Doja Cat, ‘Paint the town red’
  36. 21 Savage, ‘redrum0
  37. Omoinotake, ‘Ikuokukonen’
  38. Future, ‘Wait for u )ft. Drake y Tems)
  39. Chappell Roan, ‘Good luck, babe!’
  40. SZA, ‘Saturn’
  41. Jung Kook y Latto, ‘Seven (Explicit ver)’
  42. Drake, ‘Best I ever had’
  43. Lil Baby, ‘Sum 2 Prove’
  44. Morgan Wallen, ‘Cowgirls (ft. Ernest)
  45. Tyla, ‘Water’
  46. SZA, ‘Kill bill’
  47. Taylor Swift, ‘Anti-Hero’
  48. Mrs. Green Apple, ‘Qué será será’
  49. Beyoncé, ‘Texas hold em’
  50. Travis Scott, ‘Highest in the room’
  51. Olivia Rodrigo, ‘Empire’
  52. Morgan Wallen, ‘Chasin’ you’
  53. Future, ‘Mask off’
  54. Lil Baby, ‘Low down’
  55. Le Sserafim, ‘Perfect night (for fearnot)
  56. Ado, ‘Show’
  57. Sexyy Red, ‘Get it Sexyy’
  58. Vandy, ‘Kaiju no Hanauta’
  59. Billie Eilish, ‘Wildflower’
  60. Mrs. Green Apple, ‘KLilac’
  61. Miley Cyrus, ‘Flowers’
  62. Chris Brown, ‘Under the influence’
  63. Brysono Tiller, ‘Whatever she wants’
  64. Drake, ‘God’s plan’
  65. The Weeknd, ‘Blinding lights’
  66. Drake, ‘Nonstop’
  67. Zach Bryan, ‘Pink skies’
  68. Morgan Wallen, ‘You proof’
  69. Gunna, ‘fukumean’
  70. Lady Gaga y Bruno Mars, ‘Die with a smile’
  71. Morgan Wallen, ‘Spin you around (1/24)
  72. Chris Stapleton, ‘Tennessee whiskey’
  73. Zach Bryan, ‘Something in the orange’
  74. SZA, ‘Good days’
  75. King Gnu, ‘SpecialZ’
  76. Post Malone y Swae Lee, ‘Sunflower (Spider-Man: Into the spider-verse)
  77. Morgan Wallen, ‘Wasted on you’
  78. Taylor Swift, ‘Down bad’
  79. GloRilla, ‘Yeah Glo!’
  80. Zach Bryan, ‘Oklahoma Smokeshow’
  81. Taylor Swift, ‘You need to calm down’
  82. Taylor Swift, ‘I can do it with a broken heart’
  83. Future, ‘Stick talk’
  84. Drake, ‘First person shooter (ft. J Cole)
  85. Artemas, ‘I like the way you Kiss me’
  86. The Weeknd, ‘Die for you’
  87. Luke Combs, ‘Where the wild things are’
  88. Drake, ‘Passionfruit’
  89. Djo, ‘End of beginning’
  90. Drake, ‘One dance (ft. Wizkid y Kyla)
  91. SZA, ‘Nobody gets me’
  92. Rihanna, ‘Umbrella (ft. Jay-Z)
  93. 21 Savage, ‘Bank account’
  94. Luke Combs, ‘Beautiful crazy’
  95. Frank Ocean, ‘Pink + White’
  96. Future, ‘March Madness’
  97. Ed Sheeran, ‘Shape of you’
  98. Mrs. Green Apple, ‘Soranji’
  99. J Cole, ‘Power Trip (ft. Miguel)’
  100. Ed Sheeran, ‘Perfect’