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iHeartRadio Year in Music 2021_Banner

This Year in Music is Here! Check out iHeartRadio’s Top Played Songs and Artists of 2021

It’s here, music lovers: iHeartRadio’s annual “This Year In Music” list featuring the most played songs and artists of 2021 is out now!

The data is based on total audience spins (TAS) and streams across iHeartRadio broadcast radio and digital stations nationwide, giving a true snapshot of what everyone is listening to in 2021. So without further adieu, let’s see the most played songs and artists of the year!

Music was bigger than ever this year, and iHeartRadio’s top-played artist amid it all was none other than Ariana Grande with more than 2.6 billion spins! The Positions singer also posted the number three iHeartRadio song with her hit single “34+35.” But no song was listened to more than British pop sensation Dua Lipa’s “Levitating” (who is also our number two artist this year), which saw an audience of nearly 1.2 billion!

Following these incredible women to round-out iHeartRadio’s top five played artists this year were After Hours crooner The Weeknd, SOUR sensation Olivia Rodrigo and legendary Brooklyn rapper Pop Smoke. And as for songs? The Weeknd’s synth ballad “Save Your Tears,” Doja Cat and Sza’s hit “Kiss Me More” and Lil Nas X’s devilishly good “MONTERO” also rounded out the top five songs in 2021.

Interested in learning more about the songs and artists that people just couldn’t get enough of across the U.S. this year? Check out iHeartRadio’s full lists below to find out who made the top 10 list in each genre!

Top Overall Songs 2021

  1. “Levitating” Dua Lipa
  2. “Save Your Tears” The Weeknd
  3. “34+35” Ariana Grande
  4. “Kiss Me More” Doja Cat ft. Sza
  5. “MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name)” Lil Nas X
  6. “What You Know Bout Love” Pop Smoke
  7. “good 4 u” Olivia Rodrigo
  8. “Peaches” Justin Bieber ft. Daniel Caesar/Giveon
  9. “Leave The Door Open” Bruno Mars/Anderson .Paak/Silk Sonic
  10. “drivers license” Olivia Rodrigo

Top Overall Artists 2021

  1. Ariana Grande
  2. Dua Lipa
  3. The Weeknd
  4. Olivia Rodrigo
  5. Pop Smoke
  6. Doja Cat
  7. Justin Bieber
  8. Luke Combs
  9. Ed Sheeran
  10. Luke Bryan

Top Country Songs 2021

  1. “Just The Way” Parmalee ft. Blanco Brown
  2. “Lady” Brett Young
  3. “What’s Your Country Song” Thomas Rhett
  4. “Single Saturday Night” Cole Swindell
  5. “Famous Friends” Chris Young & Kane Brown
  6. “Forever After All” Luke Combs
  7. “Better Together” Luke Combs
  8. “Gone” Dierks Bentley
  9. “Made For You” Jake Owen
  10. “One Of Them Girls” Lee Brice

Top Country Artists 2021

  1. Luke Combs
  2. Luke Bryan
  3. Jason Aldean
  4. Thomas Rhett
  5. Blake Shelton
  6. Sam Hunt
  7. Kenny Chesney
  8. Dierks Bently
  9. Lee Brice
  10. Dustin Lynch

Top Hip-Hop Songs 2021

  1. “For The Night” Pop Smoke ft. Lil Baby/DaBaby
  2. “What You Know Bout Love” Pop Smoke
  3. “You’re Mines Still” Yung Bleu ft. Drake
  4. “On Me” Lil Baby
  5. “Time Today” Moneybagg Yo
  6. “Back in Blood” Pooh Shiesty ft. Lil Durk
  7. “Calling My Phone” Lil Tjay Ft. 6LACK
  8. “Beat Box” SpotemGottem
  9. “Late At Night” Roddy Ricch
  10. “Heartbreak Anniversary” Giveon

Top Hip-Hop Artists 2021

  1. Pop Smoke
  2. Drake
  3. Lil Baby
  4. Moneybagg Yo
  5. Roddy Ricch
  6. Yung Bleu
  7. Rod Wave
  8. Megan Thee Stallion
  9. Pooh Shiesty
  10. Lil Tjay

Top Alternative Songs 2021

  1. “Monsters” All Time Low ft. blackbear
  2. “Follow You” Imagine Dragons
  3. “Sofia” Clairo
  4. “my ex’s best friend” Machine Gun Kelly & blackbear
  5. “All My Favorite Songs” Weezer ft. AJR
  6. “Shy Away” Twenty One Pilots
  7. “Therefore I Am” Billie Eilish
  8. “Waiting on a War” Foo Fighters
  9. “Heat Waves” Glass Animals
  10. “Nowhere Generation” Rise Against

Top Alternative Artists 2021

  1. Green Day
  2. Twenty One Pilots
  3. Imagine Dragons
  4. Red Hot Chili Peppers
  5. Linkin Park
  6. Foo Fighters
  7. Weezer
  8. All Time Low
  9. Machine Gun Kelly
  10. Blink-182

Top R&B Songs 2021

  1. “Leave The Door Open” Bruno Mars/Anderson .Paak/Silk Sonic
  2. “Pick Up Your Feelings” Jazmine Sullivan
  3. “Damage” H.E.R.
  4. “Can’t Let It Show” Tank
  5. “He Don’t Know Nothin’ Bout It” Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis Ft. Babyface
  6. “You Made A Fool Of Me” Anthony Hamilton
  7. “Not Another Love Song” Ella Mai
  8. “Look Easy” Robin Thicke
  9. “Complicated” Leela James
  10. “Essence” Wizkid ft. Tems

Top R&B Artists 2021

  1. H.E.R.
  2. Bruno Mars/Anderson .Paak/Silk Sonic
  3. Ella Mai
  4. Chris Brown
  5. Jazmine Sullivan
  6. Mary J. Blige
  7. Wale
  8. Khalid
  9. Tank
  10. Usher