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Top 40 Songs Right Now Across Genres: September 2026

Last updated: September 24, 2026

Key Takeaways From September’s Cross-Genre Chart

  • The September 2026 Top 40 blends Billboard Global 200, Spotify, Apple Music, and radio data to show how Latin, country, pop, and hip-hop now share mainstream space.
  • Karol G’s “BbY WOW” leads globally with three weeks at No. 1 on both Billboard Global 200 and Spotify Weekly, while country artists Ella Langley and Morgan Wallen dominate U.S. streaming charts.
  • Emerging acts like ADÉLA and Malcolm Todd are breaking through, with ADÉLA becoming the first Slovak artist on the Billboard Hot 100 and Malcolm Todd reaching Spotify’s global No. 1.
  • R&B/Hip-Hop remains the most-streamed U.S. genre, and Dance/Electronic posted the largest year-over-year growth while Latin music hit record casual listenership in 2026.
  • OnesToWatch continues to spotlight the next wave of artists crossing from independent pipelines into mainstream chart success.

See Which Artists Are Climbing the Charts on OnesToWatch

How This Cross-Genre Top 40 Comes Together

This list pulls from four major charts, each capturing a different slice of listening behavior.

Chart What It Measures Update Cadence Cross-Genre Signal
Billboard Global 200 Weighted streams and download sales from 200+ territories, compiled by Luminate. A weekly chart that updates each Tuesday morning, except during weeks with Monday holidays, when it updates on Wednesdays. Strong, because it surfaces Latin, K-pop, and catalog titles that U.S. radio often misses.
Spotify Weekly Global Worldwide on-demand streams across subscription and ad-supported tiers. Uses a formula that protects chart integrity, so not every stream is chart-eligible. Published after the charting week ends globally. The charting week runs Friday 12:00 AM to Thursday 11:59 PM UTC. Separate daily charts typically publish before 6 PM EST (10 PM UTC) the next day. Very strong, because it reflects real-time global listening and tends to favor pop and Latin.
Apple Music US Top 100 The most-played songs in the United States on Apple Music, updated every day. Daily and weekly views. Strong for the domestic picture. According to ChartStats’ Apple Music US Top 100 data for September 16, 2026, hip-hop/rap and country combined accounted for 61 of the 100 chart slots (Hip-Hop/Rap 29, Rap 7, Hip-Hop 2, Country 23).
American Top 40 U.S. radio airplay. Its current chart source is unpublished mainstream Top 40 and hot adult contemporary airplay charts compiled by Mediabase. Weekly. Moderate, because radio programmers filter for format, which reduces genre diversity at the top.

Streaming charts weight global or U.S. streams and sales, so they capture what listeners actually choose. Radio-format Top 40 weights U.S. airplay, which reflects what programmers push. Together, they create the fullest cross-genre picture available for September 2026. With that framework in mind, here is the resulting Top 40.

The Top 40 Songs This Week Across Genres

This week’s cross-genre Top 40 shows Latin, country, pop, hip-hop, and catalog songs sharing the same tier, with global hits and U.S.-focused smashes sitting side by side.

  1. "BbY WOW" by Karol G, Judeline & rusowsky (Latin/Global) — Spent a third consecutive week at No. 1 on the Billboard Global 200 and was No. 1 on Spotify’s Weekly Global chart for a third consecutive week with 42,545,078 streams during the September 11–17, 2026 tracking period. It also jumped 16–10 on the Billboard Hot 100.
  2. "Earrings" by Malcolm Todd (Pop) — Peaked at No. 1 on Spotify’s Weekly Global chart with 26,242,881 streams, a remarkable position for an emerging independent act.
  3. "Beauty and a Beat" by Justin Bieber feat. Nicki Minaj (Pop) — Reached No. 3 on Spotify’s Weekly Global chart, after previously peaking at No. 1 on the Global chart. Justin Bieber headlined Coachella in April 2026 and co-headlined the first-ever FIFA World Cup 2026 Final Halftime Show on July 19, 2026.
  4. "Dai Dai (FIFA World Cup Official Song 2026)" by Shakira X Burna Boy (Latin/Afrobeats) — Has spent 10 weeks at No. 1 on Billboard’s Global Excl. U.S. chart, becoming just the seventh song to rule the chart for 10 or more weeks since it launched in September 2020. It was the summer’s top global song outside the U.S.
  5. "Ain’t In LA" by ADÉLA (Pop) — Peaked at No. 5 on Spotify’s Weekly Global chart with 20,446,503 streams during the week of 2026/09/17. It also made her the first Slovak artist to chart on the Billboard Hot 100.
  6. "Last Thing You Need" by Morgan Wallen (Country/Pop) — No. 1 on the Apple Music US Top 100 chart dated September 23, 2026, according to Top1Trend and iCharts, though other Apple Music US chart trackers showed a different song at No. 1 around that time. It anchors a country-dominated domestic streaming chart.
  7. "Choosin’ Texas" by Ella Langley (Country) — Broke the all-time Billboard Hot 100 record with a 23rd week at No. 1, surpassing Mariah Carey’s "All I Want for Christmas Is You," which held the previous record of 22 weeks. It also finished as the 2026 Songs of the Summer No. 1 on the U.S. chart.
  8. "hate that i made you love me" by Ariana Grande (Pop) — No. 1 on Billboard’s Global 200 Songs of the Summer 2026 recap, which covers the weekly charts dated June 6 through September 12, 2026. It is the lead single from her album petal, which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 on the Aug. 15, 2026-dated chart with 295,000 equivalent album units.
  9. "So Good" feat. Kendrick Lamar by Jhené Aiko (R&B) — No. 9 on the Apple Music US Top 100 as of September 23, 2026, after previously peaking at No. 3. In September 2026, the highest-charting R&B/Soul act in the domestic streaming top 10 was Michael Jackson with "Billie Jean," which held the No. 1 position on Billboard’s R&B Streaming Songs chart.
  10. "the cure" by Olivia Rodrigo (Pop/Rock) — Ranked No. 9 on Billboard’s Global 200 Songs of the Summer for 2026.
  11. "Dracula" by Tame Impala & JENNIE (Alternative/Pop) — Reached a peak of No. 10 on Billboard’s Songs of the Summer chart (as of August 4, 2026) and climbed to No. 5 on the Global Excl. U.S. chart. It is a rare rock-electronic-K-pop crossover that charted globally all summer.
  12. "SWIM" by BTS (K-pop) — No. 6 on the Billboard Global 200 Songs of the Summer and No. 2 on the Global Excl. U.S. summer tally.
  13. "Janice STFU" by Drake (Hip-Hop/Rap) — Debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s inaugural Songs of the Summer chart for 2026. It comes from his album ICEMAN, which rose to No. 6 on the Billboard 200 the week of September 26, 2026.
  14. "Billie Jean" by Michael Jackson (Catalog Pop) — No. 24 on Spotify’s daily global chart, with 2,331,236 daily streams, according to Kworb’s Spotify Daily Chart – Global. The blockbuster Michael biopic, which opened in theaters on April 24, 2026, pushed the song from 53.9 million to 130.4 million monthly Spotify plays and back to No. 1 on Spotify’s Daily Global chart.
  15. "Nicole Kidman" by ADÉLA (Pop) — Surged 59 positions to No. 16 on Spotify’s Weekly Global chart during the September 11–17, 2026 tracking week, gaining nearly seven million streams.
  16. "Self Aware" by Temper City (Alternative) — Peaked at No. 6 on the Billboard Global Excl. U.S. chart (dated Sept. 5, 2026), after debuting at No. 140 on April 18, 2026. It is an alternative breakthrough with genuine global reach.
  17. "back to friends" by sombr (Indie Pop) — At No. 13 on Spotify’s Weekly Global Chart for the September 11–17 tracking period, with 18,939,413 weekly streams, placing it just outside the Top 10.
  18. "I Knew It, I Knew You" by Taylor Swift (Pop/Soundtrack) — Featured on Apple Music’s official "Today’s Hits" playlist, as listed on Apple Music’s Top Charts page in 2026. The single from the Toy Story 5 soundtrack shows how film releases enter streaming charts alongside standalone singles.
  19. "Risk It All" by Bruno Mars (R&B/Pop) — Holds a sustained chart presence following his album The Romantic, the only other R&B album to reach No. 1 on the Billboard 200 in 2026 besides Jhené Aiko’s Westside Whimsy.
  20. "Iris" by The Goo Goo Dolls (Catalog Rock) — A catalog staple that has re-entered the global streaming conversation, with one of the longest climbs in the chart’s history for a song originally released in 1998.
  21. "drop dead" by Olivia Rodrigo (Pop/Rock) — Tracks from her album you seem pretty sad for a girl so in love have drawn editorial playlist attention. The song reflects album-level streaming momentum.
  22. "Mr. Know It All" by Teddy Swims (Soul/Pop) — Appeared intermittently on Spotify’s US daily chart in September 2026, maintaining continued but sporadic U.S. streaming chart presence.
  23. "Ahí" by KAROL G feat. Drake (Latin/Hip-Hop) — A Latin-hip-hop crossover that reflects the broader Latin momentum on global charts.
  24. "Man I Need" by Olivia Dean (Pop/Soul) — Peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Global 200. It is also one of the longest-charting titles on the Apple Music US Top 100.
  25. "Great Expectation" by SIENNA SPIRO (Pop) — A rising title on the Apple Music US Top 100, with mid-chart positions in mid-September 2026.
  26. "iloveitiloveitiloveit" by Bella Kay (Pop) — A breakout streaming title that signals clear emerging-artist crossover momentum.
  27. "September" by Earth, Wind & Fire (Catalog R&B) — Reached a highest position of No. 82 on the Apple Music Chart (as of December 15, 2019). It resurges each year during the annual September streaming spike.
  28. "Money In The Grave" feat. Rick Ross by Drake (Hip-Hop/Rap) — Rose 2 positions to No. 53 on the Apple Music US Top 100, according to the most recent chart data available.
  29. "Sweater Weather" by The Neighbourhood (Alternative) — A 2012 track, released as a single on December 3, 2012, and the lead single from their debut studio album I Love You. It resurged on U.S. streaming in September 2026.
  30. "Mexico Honey" by Kacey Musgraves (Country/Pop) — A 2026 release that adds a third distinct country voice to the cross-genre top tier.
  31. "Babydoll" by Dominic Fike (Pop/Alternative) — No. 9 on the Billboard Global Excl. U.S. Songs of the Summer.
  32. "Loser" by Tame Impala (Alternative/Rock) — Reached No. 10 on Spotify’s daily global chart with 2,794,940 streams, per Kworb’s Global Daily chart.
  33. "The One That Got Away" by Katy Perry (Pop) — Reached No. 7 on Spotify’s Weekly Global chart for the September 11–17, 2026 tracking period, a rise of 4 positions with 22,393,533 streams.
  34. "He Belongs" by Jhené Aiko (R&B) — Reached No. 4 on the Apple Music US Top 100 (chart dated 16 Sep 2026). The song extends her album’s multi-track streaming momentum.
  35. "Been By Now" by Morgan Wallen (Country) — Peaked at No. 1 on the Apple Music US Top 100 and was most recently ranked around No. 4. Wallen has multiple titles charting simultaneously on the chart.
  36. "Jaded" by Ella Langley feat. Koe Wetzel (Country) — A 2026 country collaboration that reinforces country’s dominant domestic streaming presence.
  37. "new trick" by ROSÉ (K-pop/Pop) — Part of a multi-slot K-pop presence on major editorial playlists in 2026.
  38. "Orbiter" by Noah Kahan (Indie/Folk) — Kahan’s The Great Divide held at No. 5 on the Billboard 200 the week of September 26, 2026.
  39. "petal" by Ariana Grande (Pop) — The album’s title track reflects album-level streaming dominance alongside "hate that i made you love me."
  40. "My Body Isn’t Ready" by sombr (Indie Pop) — A second 2026 release from sombr that extends the indie pop act’s breakout year.

Explore the Top 30 Artists to Watch in 2026

The Top 10 At A Glance: What The Leaders Reveal

The top 10 entries from this list show how global Latin hits, U.S. country smashes, and pop blockbusters now share the same tier of attention.

  1. "BbY WOW" by Karol G, Judeline & rusowsky (Latin/Global)
  2. "Earrings" by Malcolm Todd (Pop)
  3. "Beauty and a Beat" by Justin Bieber feat. Nicki Minaj (Pop)
  4. "Dai Dai (FIFA World Cup Official Song 2026)" by Shakira X Burna Boy (Latin/Afrobeats)
  5. "Ain’t In LA" by ADÉLA (Pop)
  6. "Last Thing You Need" by Morgan Wallen (Country/Pop)
  7. "Choosin’ Texas" by Ella Langley (Country)
  8. "hate that i made you love me" by Ariana Grande (Pop)
  9. "So Good" feat. Kendrick Lamar by Jhené Aiko (R&B)
  10. "the cure" by Olivia Rodrigo (Pop/Rock)

Most Popular Genres On The Charts Right Now

Luminate’s 2026 Midyear Report confirms that R&B/Hip-Hop remains the most-streamed genre in the U.S., accounting for approximately 1 in every 4 on-demand audio streams, or roughly 180.3 billion U.S. streams in the first half of 2026. Dance/Electronic recorded the biggest year-over-year growth of any U.S. genre in the first half of 2026, gaining +0.51 share points in on-demand audio share. It is the fastest-growing genre, though not the largest by total volume.

"Most popular" and "fastest-growing" describe different outcomes. The September 2026 cross-genre Top 40 illustrates this directly. Drake’s "Janice STFU" and Jhené Aiko’s "So Good" represent hip-hop and R&B’s streaming dominance. Ella Langley’s "Choosin’ Texas" and Morgan Wallen’s "Last Thing You Need" show country’s domestic streaming strength. Karol G’s "BbY WOW" demonstrates Latin’s global reach. Luminate’s 2026 Midyear Report ranks the most on-demand-streamed U.S. genres in H1 2026 as R&B/hip-hop, rock, pop, country, and Latin, in that order by volume, with R&B/hip-hop accounting for nearly one in four streams. Dance/Electronic is separately the top U.S. growth genre by share-point change and sits outside the top five by volume.

Genres Gaining Momentum In 2026

The September 2026 chart reflects a genuinely multi-genre mainstream. Four distinct momentum stories stand out.

Country’s Crossover Moment: Ella Langley’s "Choosin’ Texas" broke the all-time Billboard Hot 100 record with a 23rd week at No. 1, surpassing Mariah Carey’s "All I Want for Christmas Is You," which held the previous record of 22 weeks. This is a historic result for country music. Luminate’s 2026 Midyear Report, released July 15, 2026, identified Ella Langley as a prime example of country music’s growing audience of younger, streaming-forward fans, according to Luminate’s Marconette. Country generated 63.8 billion U.S. streams in H1 2026.

Latin’s Mainstream Surge: Nearly 1 in 10 U.S. on-demand audio and video streams (9.4%) was in Spanish in H1 2026, and casual U.S. monthly listenership of Latin music hit an all-time high of 54% in Q1 2026. Karol G’s "BbY WOW" at No. 1 on the Billboard Global 200 for a third consecutive week is the clearest single-song expression of that momentum.

Dance/Electronic’s Growth Story: As noted earlier, Dance/Electronic is the fastest-growing U.S. genre. John Summit generated 295.1 million U.S. on-demand streams in H1 2026, a 59% year-over-year increase. According to Luminate’s 2026 Midyear Report, Disco Lines’ remix of Tinashe’s "No Broke Boys" was the top Dance/Electronic song of 2026 to date, generating 120.6 million U.S. on-demand audio streams.

Gen Z’s Genre-Fluid Reality: According to a YouGov survey conducted in the United States in March 2023, Pop was the top favorite music genre among Gen Z, followed by Rap/Hip-Hop and Rock. The generation, however, is defined by genre fluidity rather than loyalty to a single format. Spotify’s 2026 Culture Next Gen Z Report identifies Brazilian Funk as the fastest-growing genre among Gen Z globally, with its subgenre Brazilian Phonk seeing streams accelerate between +21% and +26% year over year across all Gen Z cohorts. K-pop, Afrobeats, and hyperpop also index heavily with younger listeners.

Biggest Movers On This Week’s Top 40

Chart movement from the September 2026 tracking period highlights which songs are building momentum versus which are holding steady.

Emerging Artists To Watch From This Week’s Chart

The September 2026 chart features several artists who represent the next wave of mainstream names. These acts are crossing from independent pipelines into widely visible chart territory. OnesToWatch has tracked this pipeline for over a decade, and this week’s chart offers clear signals of who is breaking through.

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