Today’s chart stats rely heavily on streaming plays the same way they used to rely exclusively on radio station spins. It’s not really a fair system, because back before about 15 years ago, we had to purchase a record in some format for it to count along with the radio spins. And while there is heavier weight on the purchase of a copy, when you can pay $150 a year for access to almost every song in the world, why would you want to buy a vinyl copy at around $50 – nothing more than a keepsake now really – since three copies of one record cost the same as using a streaming service for a year. Somewhat disproportionate, no? Imagine if there was a way years ago for all of our spins on our stereos at home to have been counted – the charts would have looked quite different!
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 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 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.
Two weeks ago, Tiësto got his highest charting entry with “Beautiful Places” in collaboration with singer/songwriter Brieanna Grace. And now, they’ve got a #1 – my first dance/EDM chart-topper since Dimension & Karen Harding’s “Guardian Angel” earlier this year.
Closing in right behind though is frequent chart leader Conan Gray with “Door” from the deluxe edition of Wishbone, which climbs 5-2.
Texas dance producer MashBit is back in the Top 5 with the tantalyzing, bilingual (French/Farsi) “Embrasse-moi (Mara Beboos)” with vocals by Canadian singer Navan, which moves up 6-4. MashBit’s “Holding On” (with Luke Alexander and sunsett.) also reached #4 earlier in the year.
Bay area dance producer Jay Bird lands in the Top 5 for the third time with the slick and sophisticated “No Exception” rising 7-5.
Sombr is back in the Top 10 for his sixth time in just over a year with “Potential” (above) advancing 14-8. However good that song is, it’s about to be overshadowed by the debut of the stunning “My Body Isn’t Ready” (below), which bows at #23. The song, about male body image, is striking a huge emotional cord with many fans. His show in my city in November can’t come soon enough!
While it didn’t make the cut for his new album When the Lights Turn On, Mico’s “Without Me” (above) climbs 11-9, making it two Top 10’s in a row for the Toronto-area singer/songwriter. You can listen to his latest single “Do it all again”, below.
Hayla gets her sixth Top 10 entry with the gorgeous “Heal” (above) moving up 12-10. You can check out her latest release, “Easier”, below.
To absolutely no surprise, Alexander Stewart’s “Temporary” is the Fastest Riser on the chart, advancing 21-12. Alexander is also my featured artist on this week’s edition of my online all-Canadian radio show, The MAPL Tapes.
The entire EP Love Is Kind is really a solid work by The Chainsmokers and Oaks, but it is “Echo” that is the standout, as it rises 22-17.
One of the unexpected delights of 2026, and more in the pop vein than dance/EDM, is “Repeat It” (above) by Martin Garrix & Ed Sheeran, which climbs 25-18. You can also listen to the previously unreleased 2015 version of the song – held back due to Ed Sheeran’s record contract, which has now ended – below.
Also making swift moves right out of the gate are “lie to me” by UK singer/songwriter HRVY (28-21, above)) and Canadian singer Alex Sampson with his domestic radio hit “Misery” (29-22, below).
Veteran Canadian dance producer and label owner Nick Fiorucci gets his chart debut with “The Promise” at #25, bringing by long-time fave Joée DeSimone after many years without a release. The Canadian singer had six entries on my chart, with “Angel” being #1 on my very first chart dated January 19, 1998! Coincidentally, it’s also Joée’s first chart entry since this very week in 2002!! The record for longest gap between entries is currently 25 years, held by producer Mousse T.
Toronto dance music artist Kinga makes his chart debut along with his veteran collaborator, Sweden’s Stonebridge, with “Just Play the Music” at #28. The song has done well, reaching the Top 10 of the UK dance charts. Its vibrant energy is an ideal tonic for dancing the nights away during the summer months. Kinga recently returned to making music after over 30 years, which you can read about in my blog posts about “Just Play the Music”, “Giorgio” and his other releases.
Rounding out the debuts is another chart returnee, Irish rock group The Script, with the incredibly catchy “Man in the Arena” at #29. It’s the group’s sixth chart entry, and previous songs all charted between 2009 and 2014, their highest charting one being their first, “Before the Worst” (#3).
ONLINE RADIO SHOWS
You can hear me and many of my blog choices on this growing list of online radio stations and features!
The MAPL Tapes offers the best of Canadian music past and present, and can be heard Mondays at 6pm EST as well as on six other stations between Monday and Sunday.
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 New Music Pick of the Week is played both days at 10pm ET, and airs several times during the week on other stations. You can view its schedule by clicking at the following link: Schedule.
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 Retro Pick of the Week also airs on at 12:25 pm ET on Tuesdays on KPHR.
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.
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