Popular music is ever evolving. Looking back on the decades of the 20th century, each one has a standout popular musical genre, from big band swing in the ‘40s to British invasion rock in the ‘60s, disco in the ‘70s, and alternative/grunge in the ‘90s. (For music history buffs, these are the 40 best pop albums ever made.)
Although we’ve just entered the third decade of the 21st century, a clear trend is emerging, and it’s plain to see that the popular music of the modern age is decidedly not rock and roll. 24/7 Tempo has compiled the most popular hit singles of the 21st century, which mostly span the genres of rap, R&B, soul, dance, and electropop. No matter the genre, one thing almost all of these hits have in common is a danceable electronic beat.
Click here to see the most popular hit singles of the 21st century
To identify the most popular hit singles of the 21st Century, 24/7 Tempo reviewed the singles with the highest certifications from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Artist and release date information also came from the RIAA.
Of all the most popular songs, four are from pop singer Bruno Mars, with three each from Katy Perry, Ed Sheeran, Post Malone, and rapper Eminem. An outlier on the list is the children’s song “Baby Shark” released under the name Pinkfong, a Korean educational brand for kids.
Two country songs made the cut — one released by the duo Florida Georgia Line and another by Bebe Rexha, featuring that same duo. Some would add a third song in the country category, the crossover megahit “Old Town Road” by Lil Nas X and Billy Ray Cyrus, even though Billboard pulled it from its country charts. These are the 50 most popular country music stars right now.
Call Me Maybe
> Artist: Carly Rae Jepsen
> Release date: March 1, 2012
> Certification: 10X multi-platinum
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Low (Feat. T-Pain)
> Artist: Flo Rida
> Release date: Oct. 9, 2007
> Certification: 10X multi-platinum
Not Afraid
> Artist: Eminem
> Release date: June 5, 2010
> Certification: 10X multi-platinum
Lose Yourself
> Artist: Eminem
> Release date: Sept. 5, 2002
> Certification: 10X multi-platinum
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Sorry
> Artist: Justin Bieber
> Release date: Oct. 28, 2015
> Certification: 10X multi-platinum
Stay With Me
> Artist: Sam Smith
> Release date: April 9, 2014
> Certification: 10X multi-platinum
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Roar
> Artist: Katy Perry
> Release date: Aug. 12, 2013
> Certification: 10X multi-platinum
I’m Yours
> Artist: Jason Mraz
> Release date: Feb. 12, 2008
> Certification: 10X multi-platinum
Rockstar (Feat. 21 Savage)
> Artist: Post Malone
> Release date: Sept. 15, 2017
> Certification: 10X multi-platinum
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Sicko Mode
> Artist: Travis Scott
> Release date: Aug. 3, 2018
> Certification: 10X multi-platinum
Poker Face
> Artist: Lady Gaga
> Release date: Sept. 23, 2008
> Certification: 10X multi-platinum
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Meant To Be (Feat. Florida Georgia Line)
> Artist: Bebe Rexha
> Release date: Aug. 11, 2017
> Certification: 10X multi-platinum
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I Gotta Feeling
> Artist: Black Eyed Peas
> Release date: June 9, 2009
> Certification: 10X multi-platinum
Bodak Yellow
> Artist: Cardi B
> Release date: June 16, 2017
> Certification: 10X multi-platinum
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Royals
> Artist: Lorde
> Release date: March 19, 2013
> Certification: 10X multi-platinum
All About That Bass
> Artist: Meghan Trainor
> Release date: June 30, 2014
> Certification: 10X multi-platinum
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Thrift Shop (Feat. Wanz)
> Artist: Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
> Release date: Aug. 28, 2012
> Certification: 10X multi-platinum
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Radioactive
> Artist: Imagine Dragons
> Release date: March 6, 2012
> Certification: 10X multi-platinum
Party Rock Anthem
> Artist: Lmfao
> Release date: June 21, 2011
> Certification: 10X multi-platinum
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Stressed Out
> Artist: Twenty One Pilots
> Release date: April 28, 2015
> Certification: 10X multi-platinum
Shape Of You
> Artist: Ed Sheeran
> Release date: Jan. 6, 2017
> Certification: 10X multi-platinum
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Perfect
> Artist: Ed Sheeran
> Release date: March 3, 2017
> Certification: 10X multi-platinum
Hey, Soul Sister
> Artist: Train
> Release date: Aug. 11, 2009
> Certification: 10X multi-platinum
We Are Young (Feat. Janelle Monae)
> Artist: Fun.
> Release date: Sept. 20, 2011
> Certification: 10X multi-platinum
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Party In The U.S.A.
> Artist: Miley Cyrus
> Release date: Aug. 11, 2009
> Certification: 10X multi-platinum
Blurred Lines
> Artist: Robin Thicke
> Release date: March 21, 2013
> Certification: 10X multi-platinum
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That’s What I Like
> Artist: Bruno Mars
> Release date: Nov. 18, 2016
> Certification: 10X multi-platinum
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Grenade
> Artist: Bruno Mars
> Release date: Oct. 5, 2010
> Certification: 10X multi-platinum
Pumped Up Kicks
> Artist: Foster The People
> Release date: March 14, 2011
> Certification: 10X multi-platinum
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Shake It Off
> Artist: Taylor Swift
> Release date: Aug. 18, 2014
> Certification: 10X multi-platinum
Counting Stars
> Artist: One Republic
> Release date: March 26, 2013
> Certification: 10X multi-platinum
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Trap Queen
> Artist: Fetty Wap
> Release date: April 22, 2014
> Certification: 10X multi-platinum
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Baby Shark
> Artist: Pinkfong
> Release date: June 18, 2016
> Certification: 11X multi-platinum
Sunflower (Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse)
> Artist: Post Malone & Swae Lee
> Release date: Oct. 18, 2018
> Certification: 11X multi-platinum
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Dark Horse
> Artist: Katy Perry
> Release date: Oct. 4, 2013
> Certification: 11X multi-platinum
Congratulations
> Artist: Post Malone
> Release date: Dec. 9, 2016
> Certification: 11X multi-platinum
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Bad Romance
> Artist: Lady Gaga
> Release date: Oct. 26, 2009
> Certification: 11X multi-platinum
Happy
> Artist: Pharrell Williams
> Release date: Dec. 18, 2013
> Certification: 11X multi-platinum
See You Again (Feat. Charlie Puth)
> Artist: Wiz Khalifa
> Release date: March 10, 2015
> Certification: 11X multi-platinum
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Uptown Funk Feat. Bruno Mars
> Artist: Mark Ronson
> Release date: Nov. 10, 2014
> Certification: 11X multi-platinum
When I Was Your Man
> Artist: Bruno Mars
> Release date: Dec. 3, 2012
> Certification: 11X multi-platinum
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The Hills
> Artist: The Weeknd
> Release date: May 27, 2015
> Certification: 11X multi-platinum
God’s Plan
> Artist: Drake
> Release date: Jan. 19, 2018
> Certification: 11X multi-platinum
Cruise
> Artist: Florida Georgia Line
> Release date: April 10, 2012
> Certification: 11X multi-platinum
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Love The Way You Lie (Feat. Rihanna)
> Artist: Eminem
> Release date: June 21, 2011
> Certification: 12X multi-platinum
Baby (Feat. Ludacris)
> Artist: Justin Bieber
> Release date: March 23, 2010
> Certification: 12X multi-platinum
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Firework
> Artist: Katy Perry
> Release date: Oct. 26, 2010
> Certification: 12X multi-platinum
Thinking Out Loud
> Artist: Ed Sheeran
> Release date: Sept. 24, 2014
> Certification: 12X multi-platinum
Just The Way You Are
> Artist: Bruno Mars
> Release date: July 20, 2010
> Certification: 12X multi-platinum
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Despacito
> Artist: Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee
> Release date: Jan. 13, 2017
> Certification: 13X multi-platinum
All Of Me
> Artist: John Legend
> Release date: Sept. 3, 2013
> Certification: 13X multi-platinum
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Closer
> Artist: The Chainsmokers
> Release date: July 29, 2016
> Certification: 13X multi-platinum
Somebody That I Used To Know
> Artist: Gotye
> Release date: July 5, 2011
> Certification: 14X multi-platinum
Old Town Road (Feat. Billy Ray Cyrus)
> Artist: Lil Nas X
> Release date: April 5, 2019
> Certification: 14X multi-platinum
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