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The Billboard Hot 100 chart is a weekly measurement of success that draws upon various reporting sources — radio play, streaming, paid downloads — in hopes of capturing what music is truly popular in a given week.
Looking at the chart dated April 19, 2025, there are the obvious heavy hitters: Morgan Wallen, Drake, Sabrina Carpenter, Kendrick Lamar, Billie Eilish, Bruno Mars and so on. But there are also plenty of songs and artists who function outside of the usual fame apparatuses.
Take Locash, the long-running country band. Or Brandon Lake, the Christian worship singer. Or Sleep Token, the alternative metal band. There are songs that are popular on TikTok, and songs used on reality television. And there are some songs that are so popular that they’re practically invisible.
On this week’s Popcast, a deep listen to the songs on the current Hot 100 that might surprise you, along with a conversation on how fame is built (or invented) in the modern era and the discovery of some sleeper gems.
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