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Chart Beat
Billboard Canada 2025 Year-End Charts: The Biggest Chart Trends and Stories of the Year
Breaking down the year in charts, including Tate McRae's surge to the top of the charts, Alex Warren's near-historic run on the Canadian Hot 100, the rise of K-pop and Punjabi music and a new slate of Canadian radio breakouts.
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What a year it's been for music in Canada. We saw some huge chart runs, major breakthroughs from Canadian artists and global heavy-hitters keeping their grip on the top spots. Alex Warren’s “Ordinary” had the year’s biggest chart run, with the sentimental ballad challenging for a Billboard Canadian Hot 100 record set by Shaboozey last year. Was he successful?
Internationally, Taylor Swift proved once again she's the queen of album sales, though country music's main man, Morgan Wallen, challenged her for the Top Artist and Canadian Albums crowns. The charts were buzzing with a mix of viral TikTok hits, surging K-pop tracks and Punjabi music hits, showing us how Canadian audiences are finding their tunes.
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This year, Billboard Canada debuted seven Canadian Airplay charts, which you can find on our charts page every week. This year, we’re rolling out year-end versions of all seven, along with the top overall Radio Songs year-end chart. We’re also debuting the Top Canadian Artists chart, which is topped in 2025 by a surprising winner.
We've just dropped the year-end versions of several other key Billboard Canada charts, as well: the Canadian Hot 100, Canadian Albums, Top Artists (which pulls data from both), Canadian Airplay, Canadian Streaming and Canadian Digital Song Sales.
Every chart tells a unique story about the Canadian music landscape in 2025. Check them out below, and then dive into our breakdowns of the year's biggest chart trends.
Explore All of Billboard Canada’s 2025 Year-End Charts
Alex Warren Soars, but Shaboozey Stays ‘Tipsy’ at the Top of the Charts
This year’s song of the year was hotly contested. Towards the end of August, Alex Warren’s anthemic ballad “Ordinary” approached the record for the most weeks at No. 1 on the Canadian Hot 100, reaching 21 weeks. But while the 2025 hit arguably earned the song of the summer title, the song it was chasing still couldn’t be shaken for song of the year: Shaboozey’s “A Bar Song (Tipsy).”
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The country singer’s ditty dominated 2024’s year-end charts, after spending a record 25 weeks at No. 1 — and it’s stayed at the top. The song holds No. 1 on the year-end Canadian Hot 100 chart for 2025, with Warren’s “Ordinary” following at No. 2.
Shaboozey’s 2024 hit clearly has had lasting staying power. “A Bar Song” still holds the record for most weeks at No. 1, and last year Billboard Canada presented the country star with a plaque for his No. 1 achievement at Toronto’s Danforth Music Hall last September. This summer, he performed back-to-back Evenko festivals — Osheaga and Lasso — and performed the hit multiple times at each. Next year, he’s set to headline the first-ever Boots and Hearts festival in Edmonton.
“Ordinary” and “A Bar Song” battled it out for the top spot all year on various Billboard Canada charts, including the year-end Canada Streaming Songs chart and the year-end Canada Radio Songs chart, where Shaboozey came out on top. On the year-end Airplay charts, Warren shines on the 2025 CHR/Top 40 chart, locking in No. 5, while Shaboozey ranks at No. 47. Claiming that top spot is Chappell Roan’s “Pink Pony Club.”
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Despite their chart rivalry, there is no bad blood between the artists. At this year’s Osheaga, the pair met up backstage and shared an embrace.
Tate McRae Surges to the Top of the Canadian Artists Chart
Tate McRae has the world in her hands. After achieving a chart breakthrough in 2023 with her Canadian Hot 100 No. 1 hit “greedy,” the Calgary-born star’s success has since only multiplied.
McRae takes the crown as the 2025 Top Canadian Artist on the new Billboard Canada year-end chart, surpassing seasoned mainstays The Weeknd and Drake, who fall at No. 2 and 3, thanks to the success of her third studio album So Close To What.
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The singer’s year kept on giving, delivering one hit after another. So Close To What soared atop the Billboard Canadian Albums chart and the Billboard 200 upon release, notching her first chart-topping album. “Sports Car” became an inescapable spring and summer hit: it’s the best-performing 2025 song on the CHR/Top 40 radio chart (No. 4) and the second-biggest Canadian Hot 100 hit released this year.
The success didn’t stop with the album. She checked off a major chart milestone with her Morgan Wallen collaboration “What I Want,” earning her first No. 1 on the U.S. Hot 100 (and landing just shy in Canada). McRae also spent six months on the road taking her Miss Possessive tour to Europe, North America and Latin America, which swiftly became her biggest and most successful trek yet.
Tate McRae proved in 2025 that she’s here to stay, but is also keeping her foot on the gas. She rounded out the year with a freshly-released deluxe edition of So Close To What, notching another top 5 hit and Global top 10 with “Tit For Tat” while sending the LP flying up the charts.
Taylor Swift and Morgan Wallen Battle for the Top Spot
It wouldn’t be a year-end list without Taylor Swift. Every year that the pop sensation has put out a project — since 2008 — the album has cracked the top 10 upon release. This year, 2024’s The Tortured Poets Department lands at No. 8 on the 2025 Billboard Canadian Albums chart (it's No. 1 on the equivalent U.S. chart), followed by 2025’s The Life of a Showgirl at No. 9.
While last year, Poets scored the top spot — and Swift was crowned the No. 1 Top Artist — now both highly coveted placements are occupied by country hitmaker Morgan Wallen and his fourth studio album, I’m the Problem.
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While Wallen is often in the spotlight for things outside of his musicianship, he has maintained his position on the charts throughout the year. His top hit on the year-end Canadian Hot 100 is a collaboration with Post Malone on “I Had Some Help,” which ranks at No. 7, and “Love Somebody” sits at No. 11, whereas Swift’s initial placement, “I Can Do It With a Broken Heart,” comes in at No. 105. Of the entire 733 songs that contribute to the year-end Canadian Hot 100, Wallen snatches 40 spots, between features and his solo work, while Swift earns 16 spots.
Swift maintains her dominance in the year-end album sales, however. Only released in October, Showgirl finishes out the year at No. 1, securing 137,877 sales. At No. 2, Swift tops herself, as TTPD comes in with 28,292 sales. Wallen’s sole entry, I’m the Problem, comes in at No. 18.
Viral Songs Travel From For You Pages Onto the Charts
It’s no shock that TikTok has an impact on the charts. Many of today’s biggest songs have struck a chord on the social media platform, as fans make tens of thousands of clips on the app, skyrocketing certain artists into megafame and everyday folk find their tracks to be inescapable. Even songs that are already exploding get a boost on the social media app. Think Benson Boone’s “Beautiful Things,” which landed at No. 5 on this year’s Canadian Hot 100 year-end chart, following its No. 2 placement in 2024.
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Gracie Abrams burst onto the pop scene with “That’s So True,” a frantically upbeat hit about a former flame moving on with someone new. On the year-end Canadian Hot 100 chart, it finishes at No. 6, while The Secret of Us ranked at No. 6 on the year-end Canadian Albums chart and Abrams ranks at No. 12 on the year-end Top Artists chart. From across the pond, Lola Young dominated with “Messy,” hitting No. 9 on the year-end Canadian Hot 100 chart for her complex depiction of youth. Young’s reliability nabbed her a spot in the top 30, coming in at No. 27 on Top Artists.
While Chappell Roan’s joyful queer banger “Pink Pony Club” was released in 2020, it comes in at No. 8 on the year-end Canadian Hot 100. Its resurgence proves its powerful message, cementing Roan’s position at No. 10 on Top Artists. Singer-songwriter Gigi Perez’s tender queer folk tune “Sailor Song” landed her at No. 22 on the 2025 Streaming Songs chart and No. 33 on the 2025 Canadian Hot 100.
Listeners clearly wanted to shake it, as Moliy’s dance hit “Shake It to the Max (Fly)” hit No. 61 on the year-end Canadian Hot 100, and No. 62 on the Streaming Songs chart. Back in June, the Ghanaian-American singer reached a peak on the Canadian Hot 100 and became a serious contender for song of the summer. The Disco Lines remix of Tinashe’s “No Broke Boys” also made a big impact, coming in at No. 52 on the 2025 Hot 100 and No. 49 on Streaming Songs after a viral surge onto the charts.
Multiple tracks from Sombr made waves this year, including “Undressed” and “Back to Friends,” which ranked at No. 36 and 37, respectively, on the 2025 Canadian Hot 100. “Love Me Not” from R&B singer Ravyn Lenae (No. 27) and “The Days” from British artist Chrystal (No. 85) also landed on the year-end chart, despite both being chart first-timers in 2025.
Vancouver rapper bbno$, meanwhile, lives on the internet — but his viral track “Check” also spread to the airwaves, finishing at No. 50 on the 2025 Radio Songs chart.
While they didn’t all score top 5 placements, they all captured the hearts of the internet, which isn’t always easy.
The Punjabi Wave Continues To Crest
Punjabi music continued its ascent in Canada in 2025, with Karan Aujla, Shubh and Sukha each marking distinct chart milestones that reflect both scale and diversity within the sound’s growing footprint.
Leading the group is Karan Aujla, who finishes the year at No. 8 on the 2025 Top Canadian Artists chart and No. 56 on the Top Artists chart, positioning him among the most-consumed artists nationally in 2025. His album P-Pop Culture also appears on the Year-End Canadian Albums chart at No. 111, underlining the project’s continued presence across streaming platforms through the year. Aujla made an explicit crossover push, including a historic performance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.
Beyond audience-driven charts, Aujla further marked a rare crossover onto Canadian airplay: “Tell Me,” the artist’s cross-cultural collaboration with producer Ikky and American pop hitmakers OneRepublic reached No. 67 on the Canadian Radio Songs chart, a notable achievement for a Punjabi artist a national airplay ecosystem still largely dominated by English and French-language pop.
Shubh follows closely behind, placing at No. 15 on the Top Canadian Artists chart. His year-end ranking reflects consistent nationwide engagement and reinforces his standing as one of the most prominent Punjabi artists within Canada’s broader music landscape. Earlier this year, Shubh’s sophomore album Sicario debuted at No. 24 on the Billboard Canadian Albums chart, while the single “Supreme” entered the Canadian Hot 100 at No. 54. His earlier breakout “King Shit” remained his peak Canadian Hot 100 performance, having reached No. 13, and continued to drive streaming engagement into 2025. The year also saw Shubh become only the second Indian artist, after Diljit Dosanjh, to land a solo Billboard Canada cover.
Rounding out the trio, Toronto-based Sukha secured the No. 31 position on the Top Canadian Artists chart, marking a significant milestone for a newer-generation Punjabi-leaning artist operating from within Canada. His placement highlights the growing space being carved out by emerging acts alongside more established names.
Taken together, these year-end chart performances illustrate how Punjabi music continues to extend its footprint as some of Canada’s most popular music — not only through superstar releases, but through sustained artist presence and expanding audience reach.
The Kpop Demon Hunters Soundtrack Is a Hit — And so is K-pop
A big chart breakthrough this year was the KPop Demon Hunters soundtrack. Released in June, the Netflix animated film — which features some core Canadian creators, including director Maggie Kang and “Free”/”What It Sounds Like” songwriters Jenna Andrews and Stephen Kirk — took over the charts. The full soundtrack lands at No. 15 on the 2025 Canadian Albums chart, surpassing major albums like Tate McRae’s So Close to What (No. 17) and The Weeknd’s Hurry Up Tomorrow (No. 19).
The love for KPop Demon Hunters exploded with several tracks also ending up on the year-end Canadian Hot 100 Songs chart. “Golden,” sung by the film’s fictional girl group, HUNTR/X, comes in at No. 19, while “How It’s Done” ranks at No. 56, and two spots down is “What It Sounds Like.” At No. 70 is “Takedown.” Saja Boys, the movie’s fictional boy group, ranks on the year-end chart too, with “Soda Pop” scoring No. 46 and “Your Idol” at No. 48. HUNTR/X hit No. 22 on the Top Artists chart, while Saja Boys claim No. 46. Not bad for a bunch of cartoons.
With the addition of KPop Demon Hunters, the genre cemented its presence on the year-end charts. BLACKPINK member Rosé wraps up a year of solo achievements, coming in at No. 26 on the Top Artists chart, thanks to hits like her Bruno Mars collab “APT.” at No. 3 on the 2025 Canadian Hot 100. Fellow Blackpink member JENNIE claims No. 68 on the Top Artists chart, while her song, “Like Jennie,” came in at No. 123 on the year-end songs chart. BLACKPINK did that while managing a popular world tour, which came to Toronto’s Rogers Stadium this summer, and the release of their Diplo-produced track “JUMP,” which comes in at No. 97 on the 2025 Canadian Hot 100.
Canadian Radio Boosts Homegrown Female Artists
The Beaches were the Billboard Canada Women of the Year 2025 — and it’s clear to see why they were deserving of the accolade — the first given to a group in the award’s history, might we add.
The beloved Toronto-based band has kept their hold on their home country, becoming a mainstay on the Modern Rock chart, securing four spots on the year-end ranking, including their hit “Last Girls At the Party,” which held the No. 1 on the chart earlier this year for 11 weeks, and comes in at No. 3 on the year-end chart. “Takes One to Know One” sits at No. 13, while “Can I Call You in the Morning?” nabs No. 104 and “Edge of the Earth” claims No. 125. The former three songs have spots on the year-end Mainstream Rock chart, too (No. 51, 72 and 110) while “Last Girls At the Party” sits at No. 131 on the year-end Hot AC, and “Takes One to Know One” wraps up the year at No. 50 on CHR/Top 40. On the year-end Radio Songs chart, that song nabs No. 74.
Elsewhere on the year-end Modern Rock chart, Vancouver twin sisters Fionn secure No. 12 with their anti-mansplaining hit “Blow.” A couple of months ago, after 31 weeks, the track reached No. 1 on the Oct. 25 chart, where it remained for just shy of a month. Ontario native JJ Wilde notched the No.1 spot at the top of the year with “Mess to Make,” claiming No. 2 on the year-end roster. The rock singer’s track claims a spot on the year-end Mainstream Rock chart, too, at No. 83, while “Best of Me” sits at No. 94.
Emerging pop singer Sofia Camara has had a major year. She released two acclaimed EPs, performed sold-out shows across the globe and had a brief opening stint for rock icon Stevie Nicks. Her track “Girls Like You,” from her second Universal Music Canada EP, Hard to Love, made a splash on the Airplay charts and marked her debut entry on the Canadian Hot 100. It’s at No. 89 on the year-end Radio Songs chart, plus No. 55 on Hot AC, No. 69 on CHR/Top 40 and No. 88 on AC.
A flood of homegrown artists are getting a boost on local radio stations. These success stories come amidst the music industry’s debates about the benefits of supporting CanCon amidst the CRTC’s rollout of the Online Streaming Act. Many artists stand their own, as Devon Cole’s “I Got You” finishes at No. 34 and Billianne’s “Crush” is at No. 56. Rising Cree and Salish R&B/pop singer Tia Wood claims No. 73 with “Sky High,” while Alex Porat’s “Face Like Yours” is at No. 84.
Big Shiny CanRock Bands from the 90s and 2000s Dominate the Mainstream Rock Chart
The 2025 Billboard Canada Mainstream Rock Airplay chart is a blast from the alt-rock past.
Three Days Grace take the top spot with “Mayday,” a song featuring the return of their original lead singer Adam Gontier to form the new dual lead singer lineup. Hits from their 2025 album Alienation have been all over active rock radio in Canada, with “Apologies” also landing in the top 10 at No. 9. In the U.S., meanwhile, the 2000s rock juggernauts have become only the second band with 20 Mainstream Rock No. 1s, and are now second of all time behind Shinedown. Not bad for a band that started at the very beginning of the 21st century.
Fellow Canadians Finger Eleven, who released Last Night on Earth, their first album in over a decade this year, claimed the No. 3 spot with “Adrenaline.” Longtime CanRock heavies Our Lady Peace, The Trews and The Headstones also bring ‘90s and 2000s flavour to the top 10, though their hits are all new. Big Wreck, too, had a big radio surge with their song “Believer,” which became one of their biggest hits in decades.
Even Canada’s band The Tragically Hip have a 2025 chart hit, with “Wait So Long” finishing at No. 12. An unearthed track originally recorded in 1989, the song hit the charts this year after finding its way onto a reissue of the band’s debut, Be Here Now.
The trend transcended Canada, with bands like Evanescence, Papa Roach, Linkin Park and Deftones all bringing heavy riffs and angsty post-grunge or nu-metal vocals back to the airplay charts and major stages throughout the summer. Fans were in their feelings again.
Québec Artists Reach New Highs on the Billboard Canada Charts in 2025
Québec artists continued to build national momentum in 2025, with several homegrown acts turning regional recognition into strong performances across the Billboard Canada charts, spanning albums, singles and radio airplay.
JF Pauzé of Quebec favourites Les Cowboys Fringants hit a career milestone with his first solo album, Les amours de seconde main, which debuted at No. 10 on the Billboard Canadian Albums chart in April 2025. Its lead single “Ballon-sonde” also charted on the Billboard Canadian Hot 100 at No. 94, marking his first solo appearance on the national singles chart. It lifted him all the way to No. 25 on the 2025 Top Canadian Artists list and No. 102 on the 2025 Radio Songs chart as well as No. 43 on the year-end Adult Contemporary Airplay chart.
Charlotte Cardin launched her next era with a solid return to radio, as her French-language single “Tant pis pour elle” debuted at No. 28 on the Billboard Canada AC Airplay chart (Nov. 8, 2025), which finished in the lower end of the 2025 Canadian Hot 100 chart. Though she sings in English and French, it's her French language music that performed the best on the charts this year, including “Une peu trop” from her 2023 francophone EP Une semaine à Paris finished at No. 44 on the 2025 AC chart, just behind Pauzé.
On the pop side, Billie du Page and Alicia Moffet posted notable gains. Billie du Page’s “Fake Friends” was a long-running hit on the Billboard Canada Hot AC Airplay chart, and finished at No. 47 for the year on that chart and even higher, at No. 36, on the 2025 Radio Songs chart.
Meanwhile, fresh from an UP NEXT showcase at Billboard Canada THE STAGE at NXNE to the charts, Montréal’s Alicia Moffet finished at No. 23 on the 2025 Top Canadian Artists chart and No. 62 on the Radio Songs chart with her hit “Lay Your Light,” which also showed up on multiple 2025 Canadian Airplay charts including CHR/Top 40 and Hot AC.
Canadian Country Is Red Hot
Country is a hot genre right now, and that was evident on the Canadian charts. As mentioned earlier, Morgan Wallen came in at No. 1 on the Top Artists and Canadian Albums year-end charts, while American stars like Jelly Roll, Jessie Murph, Russell Dickerson, Thomas Rhett, Ella Langley and others also made an impact.
Having a look at the Billboard Canada 2025 Country Airplay chart, though, and you can see plenty of Canadian stars also emerging. That includes Josh Ross, who lands in the top 10 at No. 9 on the Top Canadian Artists chart, as well as multiple entries on the 2025 Canada Country and Radio Songs charts. The Universal Music Canada-signed artist tied Tate McRae for most Juno nominations this year, and is clearly an artist on the rise.
Canadian artists Morgan Griffiths, James Barker Band, Jade Eagleson, Thelma & James (the viral duo of Canadian country star MacKenzie Porter and her husband Jake Etheridge), Madeline Merlo, Hailey Benedict and Cameron Whitcomb — who skirts the line of country, and was a juggernaut across genre charts — all charted in prime spots on the year-end Canada Country chart.
With or without CanCon requirements, there are plenty of Canadian country stars to fill the airwaves.
Check out all of Billboard Canada's 2025 Year-End Charts here.
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