Kicking off the last month of the year is a new BILLCS Top 30, which will be the second last chart that counts towards my year end list. I’ll be working on that and its accompanying online radio special over the next few weeks. November has been a rather quiet month release-wise (December will be quieter), which allows three more indie songs to jump on to the chart, making more than half the chart by indie releases!
Check out information about my ONLINE RADIO SHOWS after the chart commentary below as they are 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.
Reminder: Click on the photos to listen to the songs on Spotify.
Wishing Alexander Stewart a speedy recovery from a bout of pneumonia he contracted while touring in Europe, and had to cancel a few concert dates. The music industry is demanding, and artists must look after their health first. In the meantime, Alexander and Lauren Spencer Smith get a second appearance at #1 with “Friends Don’t” (above). After seeing Alexander’s local show last November 30, apparently I put it out there on social media about how much I’d love to see “Friends Don’t” get a release. And it did, but as a duet rather than a solo track. Following it up from his album What If is “The Way a Heart Breaks” (below).
Closing in again on #1 after a rousing performance of “Vodka Cranberry” (in its last appearance on the chart at #9) at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade last week is Conan Gray with the song that to me anchors his album Wishbone, “Eleven Eleven” (4-2).
TELYKast has had two previous #1’s at year’s end, in 2021 it was “Unbreakable” and in 2024 it was “Surrender Your Love”. Though it has fierce competition ahead, their track with Sweden’s Oaks, “Super Powers”, jumps 9-5.
I’ll tell ya, “Fake It” by Polar Bears & Jay Mason is one hard song to shake. The catchy deep house track rises 8-6.
Spain-based American singer Reigen is now four-for-four on the chart as his Spanish-language dance party track, “Quiero Bailar”, becomes his latest Top 10 entry, moving up 11-7.
Getting his 5th Top 10 entry is Juno Award winning dance producer Felix Cartal with “Summer Rain” (12-10), a collaboration with US singer/songwriter Reo Cragun.
Climbing 15-11 is “Run – Disco”, the unearthed Donna Summer track originally recorded in 2008 and given 2025 lustre by producers Mousse T and Toby Gad.
One of the most irresistible songs out there that deserves more attention is “Night to Night” by The Magician, which creates a new song around the chorus of 1986’s “Tarzan Boy” by Baltimora, and climbs 19-13.
The fastest riser on the chart is the thoughtful “Find a Way” by New Zealand-born alternative rocker Will Swinton, which soars 26-19.
The other debuts from the previous chart also move up respectfully with six point jumps for “Flip the Record” (above), a bluesy rocker by Greyson Chance (27-21) with his second chart entry joining #4 “Summertrain ’25”, and “Addicted” (below) by alternative lo fi pop/hip hop duo N i G H T S (28-22).
Australian rock quintet Moonwood return to the chart with their 3rd entry, “Where Are The Kids?” as the highest debut at #26. The song fleshes out the group’s tight sound with more keyboards this time and an early 2000’s flavour. Their track “Curfew” got to #5 on the BILLCS Top 30 in 2023. Check out the video for “Where Are The Kids?” at the following link: Kids
Next at #27 is a super-cool deep house track that’s full of hooks, “Holding On” by Dallas-based MashBit, NYC’s Luke Alexander, and Montreal producer/vocalist sunsett. (who usually records as Rico 56). MashBit previously appeared on the chart earlier in the year with his VIP remix of Angrybaby’s “Back to Life”, which reached #2. Rico 56 got to #6 in 2023 with fellow Canadians Luis Torres and DLMT (who has since rebranded as Dansyn) with “Wildfire”.
At #28 is the third chart entry for Windsor, Ontario pop/rock multi-talent MELØ, the early 80’s rock-flavoured “New Way of Missing You”. His previous entry, the infectious “I Don’t Speak French”, reached #7 earlier this year. Check out the video for “New Way of Missing You” at the following link: New Way
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. The show also repeats on Saturday evening at 6 pm EST.
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
I’m featured Tuesdays between 7 and 7:30 pm EST with my Retro Pick of the Week on the live online radio show “The 3D Variety Show”, powered by www.xstreamrockradio.com with “The Musicman” James Rogers. I also join occasionally for looks at music from our past through some live segments. The show repeats on Alberta’s www.katpowerhit.ca on Wednesdays at 6pm EST.
Chicago’s Lake Online Radio now anchors Hunter Wilbur’s “Modern Hype” on Sundays at Midnight EST, which airs my New Music Pick of the Week. You can also hear the new music pick on Hunter’s other show Fridays at 8pm EST on “Hot Hits with Hunter” on UK station Dodge Radio.
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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