There is more Canadian music on my personal chart this year than there has been for a while. While my ear is possibly attuned more to Canadian songs because of my online radio show The MAPL Tapes, I think it’s because most of our domestic superstar performers – The Weeknd, Tate McRae, Shawn Mendes, etc. – do not currently have new music out. My attention anyways is always drawn to developing or new artists, so the class of 2026 is perhaps just a little better than in recent years, which bodes well for these performers in the years to come.
In this chart, the Top 10 shook loose a little earlier than I thought, which means a busy upper part of the chart.
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 The MAPL Tapes and 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.
Conan Gray’s “Door”, from the deluxe edition of Wishbone, made its case and held on to #1 for a second chart appearance. But there is a throng of artists waiting to replace it in two weeks.
Alexander Stewart could get his third #1 on the chart in two weeks with his latest release, the beautiful “Temporary”, which climbs 5-2.
Chomping at the bit right behind is Sombr with the authentic “My Body Isn’t Ready”, which rises 7-3. Could a fifth #1 for him be in the offing?
Johnny Orlando has made it an interesting race as wild card “Charlotte” joins Alexander and Sombr in the Top 5, moving up 9-4.
A song that achieves the right balance between pop and dance is “Repeat It” by Martin Garrix and Ed Sheeran, which jumps into the Top 10, up 13-6. I’m glad they dusted off their 2015 unreleased track and made it fit the 2026 musical landscape, which has resulted in significant North American pop radio play. It’s Martin’s 13th time in the Top 10.
UK rock singer/songwriter Jorge Wilson makes it 2 for 2 as “This Means Nothing (To Me)” follows “Gemini” into the Top 10, up 11-7. “Gemini” peaked at #3 earlier this year.
Moving up 12-8 is Jessie Ware’s “Sauna”, which has been released officially as a single from the album Superbloom. It’s her first Top 10 entry since #1 “Free Yourself” in 2022. There are also two official remixes, one of which is by UK producers Horse Meat Disco, which you can listen to below.
“Casanova” becomes the 2nd Top 10 entry for Australian rock group Moonwood. Their song “Curfew” reached #5 in early 2024.
British Columbia’s Danny Baylen climbs 17-11 with his release “say you need me”, which will be of great interest to Sombr fans. Congratulations to Danny for being named the Fraser Valley Music Awards’ Pop Artist of the Year!
Will Swinton’s latest single “Hate My Guts” is off to a great start as the Fastest Riser on the chart, soaring 26-19.
Don’t look for Siobhan Bodrug’s “Monster” to roost for long in the lower reaches of the chart. The song rises 29-24. Once again, her first name is pronounced “Shi-von”.
The Highest Debut on the chart should be of no surprise to regular followers of the blog, since the song was not only my lead-off song in the BILLCS New Music Report last week but was also my New Music Pick of the Week even before it landed on the chart. It’s Scott Helman’s fun-but-true “Mr. Record Label”, which bows at #22, from his forthcoming album, Pipsqueak. It’s only Scott’s second appearance on the chart – “Pretty” reached #11 in early 2022 – but it signals a strong new era for him.
You’re already familiar with Canadian-Persian singer/songwriter Navan from his current appearance on the chart with dance producer MashBit on “Embrasse-moi (Mara Beboos)”, which sits at #9 after peaking at #3 two weeks ago, as well as being a previous Featured Artist on my show The MAPL Tapes. I dive deeper into Navan’s album Kisses On The Moon with “C’est toi (Bidaram Kon)”, which is sung this time in French and Farsi, and it debuts at #27.
Rounding out the new entries is “Dance with the Sun (Olé Olé)” by two artists from Quebec, dance producer Mike Demero and singer/songwriter Betta Lemme, which arrives at #28. It’s a fun dance track to take you through the summer, and it’s also getting noticed at radio stations across the country. It follows up Mike’s Top 10 radio hit “Calling” in collaboration with UK dance producer Dynoro and Dutch superstar producer Sam Feldt.
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
Note that The 3D Variety Show is on vacation after its July 14 show, and will be back on August 4.
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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