Happy 2024 to you all! I don’t really know what to expect from this year, so I’ll take that as a good thing and expect the unexpected. Aside from indie releases, which must continue through the holidays, December was a slower month in general than usual for other releases. I’m not sure if this will affect turnover on the BILLCS Top 30 in January, as I almost always find something new to sate my appetite for discovery!
Here’s the link to the online version of the chart: BILLCS Top 30
Here’s the link to my Spotify playlist of the chart: BILLCS Top 30 Chart Playlist
Check out my ONLINE RADIO SHOWS below as they are increasingly tied in with this blog. As most of you know, I host 3 online radio shows – The Big 20 and two iterations of Your Weekend New Music Mix – and produce 2 online radio segments – my new music and retro picks of the week – that are all pre-recorded. The Big 20 and the picks of the week are happily being syndicated and you can find the current schedule for all at the bottom of the home page of this blog.
If you had told me three months ago that my first number one song of 2024 would be by Jack Harlow, I would have asked if that somehow came to you in a dream. While I’ve appreciated his talent on previous releases, his style of hip hop, let’s say, is not in my go-to genres of music. So even after I enjoyed his collaboration with Jung Kook on “3D” (which just peaked at #12), even I couldn’t have been prepared for the 2:18 of infectious business that is “Lovin On Me”, which climbs 3-1, a rarity because it has also been #1 in both the US and the UK. The last song to do this for me was “Rain On Me” by Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande nearly four years ago, which was also my #1 song of 2020.
Rising 6-3 is “Feels Like Us”, a warm slice of dance/pop by Miami’s Gt_ofice, Maryland’s ALWZ SNNY, and frequent chart visitor and NYC singer/songwriter Robbie Rosen. It becomes Robbie’s 6th Top 5 entry.
Soaring up through the Top 10 from 10-4 is “Rock The Party” by British dance producers WH0, who get their second Top 5 entry following the #1 “What You Need” with Steve Angello, which is appearing in its last chart at #23 having reached the 10 chart maximum.
Moving up 7-5 is “Real Love” by Martin Garrix with South African singer Lloyiso, which becomes Martin’s 8th visit to the Top 5.
I’m enjoying the brand of indie rock offered by Australia’s Moonwood on their EP Curfew Hours. Songs like “Curfew”, which climbs 11-7, would sound just great played live in concert.
Getting his third Top 10 entry is Benson Boone with a ballad that just drips with emotion, “To Love Someone”, which rises 15-8.
Spain’s The Boy From The South lands in the Top 10 for a second time, following last year’s sheer delight “Amazing-Man” (which peaked at #3) with “Man Down” (14-10).
“Memento” by MELØ (18-12) is showing signs of being an enduring song on the chart. The 80’s new wave flavour combined with its story of moving on after profound loss is unique as you will see in its extended video clip above.
The Fastest Riser on the chart is the powerful, foreboding sound of UK’s Nero with their comeback release “Truth”, which rises 26-16.
“What You Do” (27-18) is a slamming slice of house by the master himself, Todd Terry, who transformed a minor Gene Chandler release, 1966’s “You Can’t Hurt Me No More”, allowing Gene’s voice to breathe life into a really fun track.
The Highest Debut at #26 is the third song from Matoma’s recent Love For The Beat album to reach the chart. Featuring UK vocalist/songwriter JP Cooper, it’s the very catchy “Sound of Shadows”, which is an album track though it really should be promoted as a single as it deserves club and festival play.
On the chart with his 2nd entry is indie Welsh singer/songwriter Ben Ellis with “Guys That Look Like Me”. His first appearance on the chart was the jaunty “Ed’s House”, which got to #8. “Guys That Look Like Me” was a similar relatable story and a breezy melody which makes it all go down easy.
Jung Kook gets his second entry on the chart with the soulful KPOP track “Standing Next To You” at #28. It’s no wonder that people like Justin Timberlake and Usher have climbed aboard the KPOP train with their contributions to Jung Kook releases – JT on an alternate version of “3D” and Usher on another version of this one.
You can hear me and many of my blog choices on this growing list of online radio stations and features!
Listen to The Big 20 from 10pm to Midnight EST on Wednesdays as “The Musicman” James Rogers and I bring you the latest in new songs. The show also repeats on Saturday mornings at 10 a.m. EST and Sunday mornings at 2:00 AM EST. You can hear recent episodes of The Big 20 at this link.
On Saturdays and Sundays from Noon to 6pm EST I bring you “Your Weekend New Music Mix” six hours of commercial-free music from the 2000’s including many song choices from this blog.
At Midnight EST on Saturdays, you can also hear my Retro Pick of the Week on Russ Horton’s amazing “Top 40 Timeline” oldies show.
“Your Weekend Music Mix” has a second home on Saturday and Sunday evenings from 8pm to Midnight EST! It’s a different mix from Radio GTA’s show, and like that one it is also commercial free.
“The Big 20” also airs on this station at 6pm EST Saturdays, and my Retro Pick of the Week plays on Russ Horton’s “Top 40 Timeline” at 4pm EST.
The 3D Variety Show by Planet Radio Canada
I’m featured Tuesdays between 7 and 7:30 pm EST with my New Music Pick of the Week which debuts every week on “The 3D Variety Show” with “The Musicman” James Rogers, and I also join occasionally for looks at music from our past through some live segments. A repeat of “The 3D Variety Show” airs on Wednesdays at 7pm EST on Radio GTA. My pick of the week airs nearly 30 times during the week and you can view its schedule by clicking here. You can hear recent episodes of The 3D Variety Show at this link.
Energy885 in Miramichi, New Brunswick’s Energy885 now anchors Hunter Wilbur’s “Addictive Energy” shows, which airs my New Music Pick of the Week. Energy885 is also airing my Retro Pick Of The Week as well on Wednesday and Friday mornings at 9:30 AM EST. You can hear recent episodes of Addictive Energy at this link.
You can also listen to my Retro Pick of the Week on Russ Horton’s “Top 40 Timeline” on this station at 6pm EST Saturdays.
For other details about all of the shows, such as dates and times of broadcasts, go to my home page and scroll down to the bottom right side! The schedules are up-to-date.
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