Pop's Comeback Continues With Shawn Mendes, But Hip-Hop Still Rules Streaming: Chart Beat Podcast

Haley Jones & Jon Miller from Nielsen break down the numbers.

Welcome to the Billboard Chart Beat Podcast, where each week co-hosts Gary Trust and Trevor Anderson, from the Billboard charts department, discuss why what's on the charts … is on the charts, while also looking at current chart action in a historical context for even greater insights.

This week, we recap Shawn Mendes' launch at a career-best No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100's with "If I Can't Have You." His new chart heights mark the latest milestone for a star pop act in 2019, following Jonas Brothers' first Hot 100 No. 1, "Sucker"; Ariana Grande's second and longest-leading No. 1, "7 Rings"; BTS' highest-charting hit, "Boy With Luv," featuring Halsey, and more.

Still, hip-hop continues to dominate streaming, and Haley Jones, director of radio, Nielsen Music, and Jon Miller, vp of audience insights, Nielsen Audio, join in to analyze just how far ahead of other genres hip-hop has grown. Among topics discussed: What hip-hop acts radio might want to consider playing more based on their impressive streaming stats; what percentage of all hip-hop music streamed is current vs. catalog; and, will today's hip-hop hits be remembered as classics years from now?

Gary, Trevor, Haley and Jon also muse about the state of the rhythmic radio format (the middle ground between pop and hip-hop) and why many radio owners program classic rock over new alternative hits.

Enjoy the latest Billboard Chart Beat Podcast and check back for additional upcoming episodes with artists, label executives, radio programmers and personalities, songwriters, producers and more. And, to receive every episode automatically in your inbox, subscribe to (and rate) the Billboard Chart Beat Podcast on iTunes! Plus, the Billboard Chart Beat Podcast is also available on Acast, Spotify, iTunes, Google Play, Overcast, PocketCast, Podbean, Stitcher and TuneIn.