Xperi In-Car Listening Report: Radio Listeners Favor Solo Artists and Genre-Hopping Musicians
- Teddy Swims' hit single "Lose Control" takes control of the top five in U.S. and U.K. during Q4; secures #1 spot in U.S. and globally for the entire year
- Shaboozey's "Bar Song (Tipsy)" lands the #1 spot in the U.S. and globally for Q4; ranks #2 for the entire year
- Key trends include the dominance of solo and breakout artists, multiple genres and genre crossovers
DTS, Inc., a global leader in next-generation audio and a wholly owned subsidiary of Xperi Inc. (NYSE:XPER), today released the Top Most Listened-To Songs In-Vehicle for Q4 2024* in the U.S., U.K. and globally, based on data gathered by the DTS AutoStage Broadcaster Portal.
The stand-out trend for the quarter was the staying power of chart-toppers by Shaboozey, Sabrina Carpenter and Benson Boone, whose songs had previously been in the top five in either Q2 or Q3. In Q4, Shaboozey's "Bar Song (Tipsy)" was #1 on the U.K. and global charts, Benson Boone's "Beautiful Things" was #2 on the U.K. chart and Sabrina Carpenter's "Espresso" was #2 on the U.S. and global charts.
Not surprisingly, the popularity of the top four songs on the U.S. list was reinforced with 2025 Grammy nominations for each. In addition, the Post Malone and Morgan Wallen country collaboration "I Had Some Help," which placed at #3 on the U.K. list, also scored a nomination, as did Teddy Swims (for Best New Artist), who regained a spot in the U.S. and the U.K. top five lists with "Lose Control" after dropping off the list in Q3. The fourth quarter also saw the return of big-name artists to the top five, including Billie Eilish, Bruno Mars and Lady Gaga.
Xperi also highlighted the top five most listened-to songs in-vehicle for the year overall, which underscored the year's key trends:
- Genre diversity – no one genre dominated the 2024 top five lists
- Solo artists – bands and groups were nowhere to be seen in the top five rankings, reflecting a broader industry trend
- Newcomers/breakout artists – powerful presences almost eclipsed veteran hitmakers like Swift and Beyoncé
- Crossing genres – multiple artists fluidly transitioned between genres, especially between rap and country
"It certainly has been an interesting year for in-vehicle listening. From artists crossing genres to the impressive breakouts of TikTok artists almost eclipsing veteran hitmakers, these lists are just a fraction of the range of insights in-car listening data can provide," said Joe D'Angelo, senior vice president of broadcast at Xperi. "The full range of in-car listening data can be a game-changer for broadcasters with its window into real-time listening patterns, duration and station switching behavior. It can help broadcasters better understand their listeners' true preferences during their daily commutes and road trips, enabling them to optimize programming schedules, refine their content mix and deliver more engaging experiences that keep listeners tuned in longer."
Key trends from Q4 and full year 2024
Genre diversity
The year's top five U.S., U.K. and global lists reinforced that no one genre rules when it comes to in-vehicle listeners. Top songs in 2024 fused genres, from Beyoncé's country/pop/western/soul hit "Texas Hold ‘Em," to Teddy Swims' soul/rock offering "Lose Control," to Tyla's amapiano/R&B song "Water" and everything in between.
Solo artists
Solo artists ruled the 2024 top five lists each quarter and for the entire year, with no bands or groups appearing, and just two collaborations making the top five in Q3 and Q4: the Post Malone / Morgan Wallen country hit "I Had Some Help" and the soft rock song "Die With a Smile" by Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars. This reflects a key industry trend where social media, branding and promotion, as well as the latest technology advancements in music production, are perhaps most effective for individual artists versus bands and groups.
Newcomers/breakout artists
While songs from megastars Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, Ariana Grande, Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars ranked in the top five lists in 2024, newcomers such as Sabrina Carpenter, Shaboozey and Teddy Swims — all of whom are up for the Best New Artist Grammy — held their spots longer in the top five quarterly lists. For instance, Taylor Swift's song "Cruel Summer" broke the top five U.S. and global lists in Q1 only, while Benson Boone's "Beautiful Things" and Sabrina Carpenter's "Espresso" appeared on the U.S., U.K. and/or global top five lists for three consecutive quarters in 2024 (Q2, Q3 and Q4). Carpenter also had the most appearances in Xperi's 2024 top five quarterly lists, appearing seven times. Additionally, hit songs from Teddy Swims, Shaboozey and Sabrina Carpenter ranked in the top three for the full year in the U.S. and globally.
Crossing genres
Genres did not necessarily confine 2024's artists. Rappers Post Malone and Shaboozey, as well as cross-genre Queen Bey, made big moves with country hits: "Texas Hold ‘Em" by Beyoncé, "I Had Some Help" by Post Malone and Morgan Wallen, and "Bar Song (Tipsy)" by Shaboozey all ranked in the top five most listened-to songs across various quarters in 2024* with Shaboozey's song ranking at #2 for the full year in the U.S. and globally. Meanwhile, Luke Combs' country rendition of Tracy Chapman's folk/rock "Fast Car," and Jelly Roll's crossover from rap to country with songs like "I Am Not Okay" and "Save Me" were key examples of this year's trend.
Top Five Most Listened-To Songs In-Vehicle U.S. Q4 2024
Artist |
Song |
1. Shaboozey |
"Bar Song (Tipsy)" |
2. Sabrina Carpenter |
"Espresso" |
3. Lady Gaga / Bruno Mars |
"Die With a Smile" |
4. Billie Eilish |
"Birds of a Feather" |
5. Teddy Swims |
"Lose Control" |
Top Five Most Listened-To Songs In-Vehicle U.K. Q4 2024
Artist |
Song |
1. Myles Smith |
"Stargazing" |
2. Benson Boone |
"Beautiful Things" |
3. Post Malone / Morgan Wallen |
"I Had Some Help" |
4. Noah Kahan |
"Stick Season" |
5. Teddy Swims |
"Lose Control" |
Top Five Most Listened-To Songs In-Vehicle Global Q4 2024
Artist |
Song |
1. Shaboozey |
"Bar Song (Tipsy)" |
2. Sabrina Carpenter |
"Espresso" |
3. Lady Gaga / Bruno Mars |
"Die With a Smile" |
4. Myles Smith |
"Stargazing" |
5. Sabrina Carpenter |
"Taste" |
2024 Top Most Listened-To Songs In-Vehicle (U.S. and Global)
Top Five Most Listened-To Songs In-Vehicle U.S. 2024
Artist |
Song |
1. Teddy Swims |
"Lose Control" |
2. Shaboozey |
"Bar Song (Tipsy)" |
3. Sabrina Carpenter |
"Espresso" |
4. Doja Cat |
"Agora Hills" |
5. Benson Boone |
"Beautiful Things" |
Top Five Most Listened-To Songs In-Vehicle Global 2024
Artist |
Song |
1. Teddy Swims |
"Lose Control" |
2. Shaboozey |
"Bar Song (Tipsy)" |
3. Sabrina Carpenter |
"Espresso" |
4. Dua Lipa |
"Houdini" |
5. Tate McRae |
"Greedy" |
Insights from the DTS AutoStage Broadcaster Portal represent data from over 10 million vehicles across 150 countries equipped with the DTS AutoStage platform. These insights further Xperi's mission to support the broadcast community by empowering broadcasters to forge deeper connections with their audiences.
"By combining the range of rich automotive data available from our broadcaster portal with traditional metrics, broadcasters can make smarter decisions about everything from music rotation and talk segments to advertising placements. The result is a more responsive, data-driven approach to broadcasting that better serves both listeners and advertising partners while maintaining the intimate, local connection that makes radio unique," concluded D'Angelo.
The DTS AutoStage Broadcaster Portal provides radio broadcasters worldwide with analytics about where their audiences are listening, when they are listening, how long they are listening and the content they enjoy the most. Radio stations can access the DTS AutoStage Broadcaster Portal at no cost, whether they are broadcasting digitally or via analog by registering through the DTS AutoStage Broadcaster Portal.
For more information about DTS, visit dts.com.
*Data from vehicles equipped with DTS AutoStage
About Xperi Inc.
Xperi invents, develops, and delivers technologies that enable extraordinary experiences. Xperi technologies, delivered via its brands (DTS®, HD Radio™, TiVo®), are integrated into billions of consumer devices and media platforms worldwide, powering smart devices, connected cars and entertainment experiences, including IMAX® Enhanced, a certification and licensing program operated by IMAX Corporation and DTS, Inc. Xperi has created a unified ecosystem that reaches highly engaged consumers, driving increased value for partners, customers and consumers.
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About DTS, Inc.
Since 1993, DTS has been dedicated to making the world sound better. Through its pioneering audio solutions for mobile devices, home theater systems, cinema and beyond, DTS provides incredibly high-quality, immersive and engaging audio experiences to listeners everywhere. Now, DTS is also powering imaging and sensing technologies as well. For more information, please visit www.dts.com.
SOURCE: Xperi Inc.
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Xperi Media:
Allyse Sanchez, Xperi
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