A new year means it’s the 27th (!!) year for the BILLCS Top 30. The chart originally began as a bi-weekly Top 10, but then expanded in August 1998 to a Top 30. And with this chart, close to 2,800 songs have come and gone and made BILLCS Top 30 history over the years.
Check out information about my ONLINE RADIO SHOWS after the chart below as they are now directly 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.
NOTE: I will be gradually phasing out the You Tube links for the songs on the chart for accessibility purposes. With this week’s new entries, the links in the photos are now Spotify links.
“Finally” by Swedish House Mafia and Alicia Keys takes over at #1 to kick off a new year of the BILLCS Top 30. And it’s been a long time for both artists to acquire their second chart topper. Swedish House Mafia got there with “Don’t You Worry Child” in late 2012, and Alicia Keys had her first #1 in 2004 with “You Don’t Know My Name”. It’s an amazing collaboration that bears repeating.
Canadian singer/songwriter Dan Talevski climbs 5-3 with “mine”. It joins 2015’s “Guilty As Sin” as his highest ranking single to date. Will it go higher in two weeks?
I can’t get enough of “Somedays” by Sonny Fodera, Jazzy and D.O.D. right now and it makes short work of the Top 10, rising 9-4. Is #1 in its future?
NYC’s Bud Cahill gets a new personal best on the chart with his soaring electronic instrumental “Intergalactic Highway”, rising 6-5.
Following last year’s #2 “Harmless”, New Zealand’s Will Swinton has climbed into the Top 10 again with “Flames”, which moves up 14-9.
In his socials, James Bay seems to be teasing a deluxe edition on the way for his recent album Changes All The Time. “Easy Distraction” climbs 17-10 and becomes his sixth Top 10 entry.
Following his #3 entry with Two Friends, “Wrong Way”, Toronto’s Alexander Stewart is headed towards another Top 10 song with rocking “His Problem Instead”, which leaps 21-14.
“Always Time” by Miguel seems to be a bit of a sleeper track for him, but it’s not one that you should pass up. It’s a heart-wrenching ballad with one of his superlative vocals. It moves up 20-15 and is from his forthcoming album Viscera.
Houston artist NYNE rises 23-16 with “In The Back Of My Cadillac” in an Eric Kupper remix. He’s the musical director for K.C. & The Sunshine Band, which performs on the track. Harry Wayne Casey also co-wrote and co-produced it.
The Fastest Riser on the chart is Crash Adams, soon to be one of Canada’s favourite exports, with their affecting bop “Optimist”, which climbs 27-19.
British dance producer PAWSA teams up with 90’s producer and fellow Brit Stevie V for a revival of The Adventures of Stevie V’s “Dirty Cash (Money Talks)”. This slamming rendition moves up 28-21.
“Born With A Broken Heart” is pretty far away from the hard rock of Italy’s Maneskin, but it suits vocalist Damiano David so well. Sounding nothing like what else is on the radio right now, “Broken Heart” rises 30-23.
The Highest Debut belongs to “without u” at #25 by Gareth Emery and Annabel under Gareth’s LSR/CITY moniker. It’s Gareth’s 5th chart entry and 2nd with Annabel as vocalist/songwriter, their first together was the 2020 #1 “You’ll Be OK”.
At #26 is the 2nd chart entry together for Dutch dance producers Lucas & Steve and British vocalist/songwriter Jordah Shaw with the lovely and winning “Heart First”. Their previous collaboration, “End Of Time”, got to #12 last fall.
Arriving on the chart for the first time at #27 is Belgian dance producer Henri PFR with “Up In The Sky”. It’s a dance bop that doesn’t let up and the uncredited male vocal is memorable too.
The fourth debut at #28 is “On My Mind” by L.A.-based, Israel-born singer/songwriter Mergui in a Sam Feldt edit. Mergui has a great voice and is someone to keep your eyes and ears out for in 2025.
ONLINE RADIO SHOWS
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. JC Legend fills in for The Musicman until April. The show also repeats on Saturday evening at 6 pm EST. You can hear recent episodes of The Big 20 at the following link: The Big 20.
My New Music Pick of the Week debuts each week on The Big 20. It airs more than 25 times during the week and you can view its schedule by clicking at the following link: Schedule.
On Saturdays and Sundays from 8pm to Midnight EST I bring you “Your Weekend New Music Mix”, four hours of commercial-free music from the 2000’s including many song choices from this blog.
My Retro Pick of the Week airs each week on Russ Horton’s “Top 40 Timeline”, Saturdays at 4pm EST. You can view its schedule by going to the lower right corner of the home page of this blog.
The 3D Variety Show by Planet Radio Canada
The 3D Variety Show is on hiatus and will return in April 2025.
Canada’s Party Dog Radio now anchors Hunter Wilbur’s “Modern Hype” on Saturdays at 6pm EST, which airs my New Music Pick of the Week. Party Dog Radio also airs “The Big 20”, where you can also hear my New Music Pick of the Week on Sundays after 9pm EST.
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! Schedules are updated regularly.
BILLCSMUSIC BLOG 
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