DTS, a specialist in next-generation audio and a wholly owned subsidiary of Xperi, has released the Top Most Listened-To Songs In-Vehicle for Q4 2024 in the UK, US and globally, based on data gathered by the DTS AutoStage Broadcaster Portal.

The stand-out trend for the quarter was the staying power of chart-toppers by Shaboozey, Sabrina Carpenter and Benson Boone, whose songs had previously been in the top five in either Q2 or Q3. In Q4, Shaboozey’s Bar Song (Tipsy) was #1 on the UK and global charts, Benson Boone’s Beautiful Things was #2 on the UK chart and Sabrina Carpenter’s Espresso was #2 on the US and global charts.

The popularity of the top four songs on the U.S. list was reinforced with 2025 Grammy nominations for each. In addition, the Post Malone and Morgan Wallen country collaboration I Had Some Help, which placed at #3 on the UK list, also scored a nomination, as did Teddy Swims (for Best New Artist), who regained a spot in the US and the UK top five lists with Lose Control after dropping off the list in Q3. The fourth quarter also saw the return of big-name artists to the top five, including Billie Eilish, Bruno Mars and Lady Gaga.

“It certainly has been an interesting year for in-vehicle listening. From artists crossing genres to the impressive breakouts of TikTok artists almost eclipsing veteran hitmakers, these lists are just a fraction of the range of insights in-car listening data can provide,” said Joe D’Angelo, senior vice president of broadcast at Xperi. “The full range of in-car listening data can be a game-changer for broadcasters with its window into real-time listening patterns, duration and station switching behaviour. It can help broadcasters better understand their listeners’ true preferences during their daily commutes and road trips, enabling them to optimize programming schedules, refine their content mix and deliver more engaging experiences that keep listeners tuned in longer.”

Key trends from Q4 and full year 2024

Genre diversity

The year’s top five US, UK and global lists reinforced that no one genre rules when it comes to in-vehicle listeners. Top songs in 2024 fused genres, from Beyoncé’s country/pop/western/soul hit Texas Hold ‘Em, to Teddy Swims’ soul/rock offering Lose Control, to Tyla’s amapiano/R&B song Water and everything in between.

Solo artists

Solo artists ruled the 2024 top five lists each quarter and for the entire year, with no bands or groups appearing, and just two collaborations making the top five in Q3 and Q4: the Post Malone / Morgan Wallen country hit I Had Some Help and the soft rock song Die With a Smile by Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars. This reflects a key industry trend where social media, branding and promotion, as well as the latest technology advancements in music production, are perhaps most effective for individual artists versus bands and groups.

Newcomers/breakout artists

While songs from megastars Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, Ariana Grande, Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars ranked in the top five lists in 2024, newcomers such as Sabrina Carpenter, Shaboozey and Teddy Swims — all of whom are up for the Best New Artist Grammy — held their spots longer in the top five quarterly lists. For instance, Taylor Swift’s song Cruel Summer broke the top five US and global lists in Q1 only, while Benson Boone’s Beautiful Things and Sabrina Carpenter’s Espresso appeared on the US, UK and/or global top five lists for three consecutive quarters in 2024 (Q2, Q3 and Q4). Carpenter also had the most appearances in Xperi’s 2024 top five quarterly lists, appearing seven times. Additionally, hit songs from Teddy Swims, Shaboozey and Sabrina Carpenter ranked in the top three for the full year in the US and globally.

Crossing genres

Genres did not necessarily confine 2024’s artists. Rappers Post Malone and Shaboozey, as well as cross-genre Queen Bey, made big moves with country hits: Texas Hold ‘Em by Beyoncé, I Had Some Help by Post Malone and Morgan Wallen, and Bar Song (Tipsy) by Shaboozey all ranked in the top five most listened-to songs across various quarters in 2024 with Shaboozey’s song ranking at #2 for the full year in the US and globally. Meanwhile, Luke Combs’ country rendition of Tracy Chapman’s folk/rock Fast Car, and Jelly Roll’s crossover from rap to country with songs like I Am Not Okay and Save Me were key examples of this year’s trend.

Top Five Most Listened-To Songs In-Vehicle US Q4 2024

Top Five Most Listened-To Songs In-Vehicle UK Q4 2024

Top Five Most Listened-To Songs In-Vehicle Global Q4 2024

2024 Top Most Listened-To Songs In-Vehicle (US and Global)

Top Five Most Listened-To Songs In-Vehicle US 2024

Top Five Most Listened-To Songs In-Vehicle Global 2024

Insights from the DTS AutoStage Broadcaster Portal represent data from over 10 million vehicles across 150 countries equipped with the DTS AutoStage platform.

“By combining the range of rich automotive data available from our broadcaster portal with traditional metrics, broadcasters can make smarter decisions about everything from music rotation and talk segments to advertising placements. The result is a more responsive, data-driven approach to broadcasting that better serves both listeners and advertising partners while maintaining the intimate, local connection that makes radio unique,” concluded D’Angelo.

Categories: Articles, Consumer Behaviour, Content, Digital Radio, Research

Tags: beyonce, DTS, Music, Taylor Swift, Xperi