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Chart Beat

B.C. Singer Cameron Whitcomb Debuts on the Billboard Canadian Hot 100 with 'Quitter'

The former American Idol contestant has made his chart debut at No. 96, while BLACKPINK's Jennie and Charli XCX also notch new entries for the week dated Oct. 26.

Cameron Whitcomb

Cameron Whitcomb

Ryan Simmons

Canadian singer Cameron Whitcomb won't be quitting anytime soon.

The folk-country artist has made his debut on the Billboard Canadian Hot 100 this week at No. 96 with "Quitter."


The young musician from Nanaimo, B.C. first rose to attention as a contestant on American Idol in 2022, where he placed in the top 20. His Idol success led him to put aside his pipeline job in Kamloops, B.C. and decide to pursue music. He's since signed with Atlantic Records and amassed over a million TikTok followers.

(He's not the first Nanaimo singer to use Idol as a launching pad — Lauren Spencer Smith followed the same trajectory.)

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"Quitter" marks Whitcomb's first time on the chart. He gets there with an anthemic folk track in the mould of Noah Kahan powered by a kick-clap beat and Whitcomb's growling vocal. ("She can't take my calls when I'm too drunk to dial," Whitcomb sings, possibly echoing Kahan's "Dial Drunk").

That big folk-rock sound is strikingly popular, common amongst chart first-timers this year like Alex Warren and Max McNown, both of whom are also on the Canadian Hot 100 this week.

As for Cameron Whitcomb, his current Quitter Tour will take him throughout the U.S. in October and November followed by a string of dates in Canada in December including Toronto, London, Montreal and Ottawa. Find the full dates on his website.

Elsewhere on the Billboard Canadian Hot 100, Shaboozey is holding onto the No. 1 spot for the 21st week with "A Bar Song (Tipsy)." With his song now solely holding the record for most weeks at No. 1, every week sets a new record.

BLACKPINK's Jennie has a new solo entry with the sassy "Mantra" at No. 46, 52 spots higher than its No. 98 placement on the U.S. Hot 100. Charli XCX has several new entries with the release of her Brat remix album, the highest being her Ariana Grande collab "Sympathy Is a Knife" at No. 37.

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Whitcomb isn't the only Canadian having a good week on the chart. Devon Cole climbs 19 spots to No. 60 with her friendship ode "I Got You," and Mike Demero & Zagata move up 100-89 with dance track "Take Me Away."

Other Canadians are mostly maintaining their positions: The Weeknd drops 10-12 with "Timeless" featuring Playboi Carti, but climbs 28-25 with "Dancing In the Flames." Tate McRae drops two spots 25-27 with "It's Ok I'm Ok," Josh Ross goes from 61-64 with "Single Again," and Shawn Mendes from 63-67 with "Why Why Why." Jamie Fine moves up 84-81 with "You're Like."

Over on the Billboard Canadian Albums chart, Sabrina Carpenter holds onto the top spot, while Charli's Brat rises to No. 2 thanks to the remixes. Jelly Roll's Beautifully Broken, which claims the top spot in the U.S. this week, debuts at No. 3 in Canada. Rod Wave, who holds the No. 2 spot in the U.S., arrives at No. 34 in Canada with Last Lap.

Check out the full charts here.

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Coco Love Alcorn
Courtesy Photo

Coco Love Alcorn

FYI

Music News Digest: Music Community Rallies to Support Coco Love Alcorn Through Cancer Journey

Also this week: more trouble for the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Toronto scene veteran Paul James turns 75 with a free hometown show at The Phoenix and a date is set for the first Canadian Blues Music Awards.

Canadian pop and jazz singer-songwriter and choir leader Coco Love Alcorn has just revealed that she is fighting an aggressive form of cancer. This will involve a long period of chemotherapy, immunotherapy and further surgery. Alcorn explains that "I have had to cancel all my touring, teaching, and performances for 2026 and my local choir is on hiatus till further notice. I also had 3 trips planned to BC this winter/spring to record my new album and that project is also on hold."

A GoFundMe campaign to assist her has been set up. Donate here. The rapid and generous response to her campaign reaffirms the peer respect she enjoys.

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