One year ago, a rising teenage artist named Sombr debuted on the BILLCS Top 30 with “Back to Friends”. That song went on to be my #1 of 2025, and a year to the date of his chart debut, “Homewrecker” becomes his fourth #1. He joins an impressive group of 10 who now have the most #1’s on my chart to date:
7 BRIGHT LIGHT BRIGHT LIGHT
7 SIMON CURTIS
5 DARREN HAYES
5 SAM SMITH
4 CONAN GRAY
4 DARIN
4 HAYLA
4 JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE
4 MATTHEW KOMA
4 SOMBR
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 4 online radio shows – The Big 20, the all-Canadian The MAPL Tapes, 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, The MAPL Tapes, 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.
The Top 10 is particularly busy this week with all but one song moving up, with new peaks within the Top 5 for “Ever After” (above) by Toronto Juno Award nominee Mico and American-Asian vocalist eaJ, French dance producer Kungs with US vocalist Theophilus London, and L.A.-based, New Zealand born Will Swinton.
I wish there was an extended version of “Tha Rizzla” by Italian dance producer Filippide, which climbs 8-5. We need more of the kettle drum drop that happens 2/3 of the way through.
Zayn’ gets his first solo Top 10 entry on the chart with the dramatic but relatable “Die for Me” (above) as the Fastest Riser climbing 17-8. We’ll find out in the next few weeks if Zayn’s new album Konnakol is better than Harry Styles’ latest! His new single “Sideways” (below) is also impressive.
Next rising 12-9 is “All the Things She Said” by UK dance producer Harrison, being revived four years after its release through its feature in TV’s “Heated Rivalry”.
UK singer and violinist Holly Humberstone makes short work of the chart with “To Love Somebody” jumping 18-10 from her second album Cruel World.
Alexander Stewart’s “The Boy I Almost Was” may have left #1 after 3 appearances (6 weeks) at the top, but his recent single “Every Lifetime” is well on its way to the Top 10, climbing 21-14.
One of the most memorable dance songs of the year so far is “Turn the Lights Off” by Danish artists Justé, Jaxstyle and Jon, which rises 23-15.
Tyler Hilton’s new solo single “Texas” is off to a good start, climbing 25-19.
Also getting a big lift on the chart 28-20 is “Perfect’s Overrated” by Czech artist Nicola Nicoletti from his debut album Gilded.
Leading the five debuts is the infectious “Beautiful Places” by Tiësto with American vocalist Brieanna Grace, which arrives at #25. Continuing with his return to an early 2000’s style like with the recent #5 “Bring Me To Life”, “Beautiful Places” becomes Tiësto’s ninth chart entry.
It’s odd that Timmins, Ontario-born Lights has only appeared on the chart four times thus far in collaborations. But her rollicking single “Come and Get Your Girl” arrives at #26 as her first solo entry. It’s from the extended edition of her recent album A6.
Hot out of the gate is Conan Gray’s “The Best” at #28, which leads off the release of the deluxe edition of his amazing album Wishbone. It’s Conan’s 9th entry on the chart.
Mico gets a concurrent second entry on the chart with his subsequent bop “Without Me” at #29.
Rounding out the debuts at #30 is Georgetown, Ontario mysterious rockers Mountain Head with the intriguing “For Those Who Play the Game”. The group is known for its live shows, and I have it on good authority that some are coming soon! You can also hear the song in this week’s edition of The MAPL Tapes!
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.
The MAPL Tapes offers the best of Canadian music past and present, and can be heard Mondays at 6pm 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.
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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