why is this song no. 1?

Music

Drake’s Latest No. 1 Was a Foregone Conclusion. Is There Anything Left for Him to Prove?

“God’s Plan” set a one-day streaming record. But in a pop world he remade in his own image, it’s getting harder for Drake to stand out.

Chris Molanphy

Music

Jan. 26 2018 8:15 PMAmerica’s New No. 1 Song Is the “Crazy in Love” of Its MomentWith “Havana,” Camila Cabello emerges as a solo artist on her own terms.Chris Molanphy

Brow Beat

Oct. 27 2017 2:11 PMThe Man Behind the New No. 1 Song in America Is the Kid Rock of the 2010sChris Molanphy

Brow Beat

Sept. 8 2017 12:56 PMWhy Taylor Swift’s New No. 1 Is Her “Ballad of John and Yoko”Chris Molanphy

Brow Beat

May 26 2017 7:33 AMWhy America’s First Spanish-Language No. 1 in Decades Is Likely to Be the Song of the SummerChris Molanphy

Brow Beat

May 5 2017 10:41 AMBruno Mars’ New No. 1 Proves He’s the Canniest Hit-Maker of the DecadeChris Molanphy

Hit Parade

April 28 2017 7:03 AMHit Parade: The Rogue DJ EditionA new podcast about how that song you love—or hate—became a smash. Chris Molanphy

Brow Beat

Jan. 16 2017 6:00 AMWhat the New No. 1 Song in America Shares in Common With Both “Kokomo” and “In Da Club”Chris Molanphy

Brow Beat

Aug. 26 2016 1:25 PMWho Are the Chainsmokers, and Why Is Their Song “Closer” the Biggest Hit in the Country?Chris Molanphy

Brow Beat

May 23 2016 12:57 PMWhy Justin Timberlake Said Bye Bye Bye to R&B and Went Back to the Top of the ChartsChris Molanphy

Brow Beat

May 2 2016 7:32 AMThe New No. 1 Song in the Country Might Herald a New Era of Hit-MakingChris Molanphy

Brow Beat

Feb. 8 2016 4:51 PMWhat “Love Yourself” Songwriter Ed Sheeran Has in Common With Bob Dylan and Bruce SpringsteenChris Molanphy

Brow Beat

Nov. 6 2015 8:02 AMHow Adele’s “Hello” Was Perfectly Formulated to Make You Play It Again and Again and AgainChris Molanphy

Brow Beat

Sept. 25 2015 11:10 AMWhy Is the Weeknd’s Dark, Radio-Unfriendly “The Hills” No. 1?Chris Molanphy

Brow Beat

Aug. 14 2015 1:21 PMAn Alt-R&B Hero Goes Full Michael Jackson—and Hits No. 1Chris Molanphy

Culturebox

July 16 2015 12:54 PMWithout the BeatlesThe three strange Lennon-McCartney hits that went to No. 1 without Lennon or McCartney—and what they tell us about the secret to recording a smash.Chris Molanphy

Brow Beat

Dec. 15 2017 1:30 PMWhy Beyoncé Needed Ed Sheeran to Score Her First No. 1 Hit in Nine YearsChris Molanphy

Brow Beat

Sept. 29 2017 3:29 PMWhat America’s New No. 1 Song Has in Common With J. Lo’s First, and Taylor Swift’s LastChris Molanphy

Brow Beat

Aug. 24 2017 7:33 AM“Despacito” Is the Most Dominant Song of the Summer Ever. Could It Become the Biggest Hit, Period?Chris Molanphy

Brow Beat

May 12 2017 1:38 PMAmerica’s New No. 1 Song Is the Triumph of DJ Khaled, Hip-Hop’s Jay GatsbyChris Molanphy

Brow Beat

April 29 2017 8:03 AMKendrick Lamar’s New No. 1 Proves He’s as Much a Rival to Ed Sheeran as He Is to DrakeChris Molanphy

Brow Beat

Jan. 23 2017 5:45 AMWhy the New Song From Ed Sheeran, the Ned Flanders of Pop, Is the Biggest in the CountryChris Molanphy

Brow Beat

Nov. 22 2016 8:18 AMWhy Rae Sremmurd’s “Black Beatles” Is No. 1 (Hint: It’s Not Just the Mannequin Challenge)Chris Molanphy

Brow Beat

Aug. 1 2016 12:49 PMHow Sia Beat Rihanna at Her Own Game to Score Her First No. 1Chris Molanphy

Brow Beat

May 16 2016 10:59 AMCould the New No. 1 Song in the Country Herald a New Era of Pop-Music Doldrums?Chris Molanphy

Brow Beat

March 3 2016 8:02 AMCould Rihanna Beat the Beatles’ Most Unbeatable Record?Chris Molanphy

Brow Beat

Jan. 25 2016 1:47 PMJustin Bieber Is More Popular Than He’s Ever Been. Like, Beatles-Level Popular. Here’s Why.Chris Molanphy

Brow Beat

Oct. 27 2015 3:34 PMHow Adele, Apple Music, and the Weeknd Robbed Drake of His First No. 1Chris Molanphy

Brow Beat

Sept. 14 2015 5:34 AMHow Justin Bieber Bypassed the Radio to Score the Biggest Hit of His CareerChris Molanphy

Brow Beat

July 20 2015 1:45 PMAmerica’s New No. 1 Makes It Official: This Is the Summer of the RemixChris Molanphy

Brow Beat

June 3 2015 8:32 AMWhy Taylor Swift’s “Bad Blood” Is the Avengers: Age of Ultron of PopChris Molanphy