Music

Karol G and Shakira’s “TQG” launches as the biggest song in the world, debuting at No. 1 on both the Billboard Global 200 and Billboard Global Excl. U.S. charts (dated March 11).

The song is each Colombian superstar’s first No. 1 on the rankings.

Plus, The Weeknd and Ariana Grande’s “Die for You” bounds 19-2 on the Global 200 and 28-3 on Global Excl. U.S., after Grande joined for its remix; Morgan Wallen’s “Last Night” lifts 12-10 on the Global 200; and Yandel and Feid’s “Yandel 150” rises 11-10 on Global Excl. U.S.

The Billboard Global 200 and Billboard Global Excl. U.S. surveys, which began in September 2020, rank songs based on streaming and sales activity culled from more than 200 territories around the world, as compiled by Luminate. The Global 200 is inclusive of worldwide data and the Global Excl. U.S. chart comprises data from territories excluding the United States.

Chart ranks are based on a weighted formula incorporating official-only streams on both subscription and ad-supported tiers of audio and video music services, as well as download sales, the latter of which reflect purchases from full-service digital music retailers from around the world, with sales from direct-to-consumer (D2C) sites excluded from the charts’ calculations.

Karol G & Shakira Reign, Wallen Reaches Top 10

Karol G and Shakira’s “TQG” soars in at No. 1 on the Billboard Global 200, with 158.4 million streams and 10,000 sold worldwide in the Feb. 24-March 2 tracking week. The collaboration is from Karol G’s new album Mañana Será Bonito, which debuts at No. 1 on the U.S.-based Billboard 200, becoming the first all-Spanish-language leader by a woman in the chart’s history.

Notably, the song starts with the ninth-best streaming week since the Global 200 began (with seven of the top 10 such frames by female acts).

Biggest Worldwide Streaming Weeks in Global 200 History:
289.2 million, “Butter,” BTS, June 5, 2021
217.1 million, “Flowers,” Miley Cyrus, Feb. 4, 2023
212.1 million, “Pink Venom,” BLACKPINK, Sept. 3, 2022
185.6 million, “Flowers,” Miley Cyrus, Feb. 11, 2023
179.1 million, “Flowers,” Miley Cyrus, Jan. 28, 2023
178.2 million, “Easy on Me,” Adele, Oct. 30, 2021
170.8 million, “Permission To Dance,” BTS, July 24, 2021
169.8 million, “Butter,” BTS, June 12, 2021
158.4 million, “TQG,” Karol G & Shakira, March 11, 2023
152.8 million, “Shut Down,” BLACKPINK, Oct. 1, 2022

Karol G claims her first Global 200 No. 1 among four top 10s, following “Provenza” (No. 6, May 2022); “MAMIII,” with Becky G (No. 4, March 2022); and “Bichota” (No. 7, January 2021).

Shakira also scores her first Global 200 leader since the list began, after her and Bizarrap’s “Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53” debuted at its No. 2 peak (where it ranked for three weeks) in January, marking her first top 10; it slips 5-7 on the latest list.

Karol G and Shakira are the third and fourth artists from Colombia to top the Global 200; Carolina Gaitán and Mauro Castillo are among the seven credited acts on Disney’s Encanto smash “We Don’t Talk About Bruno,” which led for three weeks beginning in February 2022.

The Weeknd and Ariana Grande’s “Die for You” roars 19-2 on the Global 200, up 250% to 109.1 million streams and 984% to 15,000 sold worldwide, after Grande was added on its remix, released Feb. 24. The song was originally released by The Weeknd solo in 2016 on his album Starboy and has resurged sparked by interaction on TikTok (which does not presently contribute directly to Billboard’s charts). That buzz helped lead to the song’s current label promotion.

The Weeknd adds his ninth Global 200 top 10 and Grande achieves her fifth. They led together for a week in May 2021 with “Save Your Tears,” also after Grande joined for a remixed version.

Miley Cyrus’ “Flowers” drops to No. 3 on the Global 200 after spending its first six weeks on the chart at No. 1. Still, it logs its seventh consecutive week of over 100 million global streams (101.5 million, down 8%) – extending its unprecedented run for the most frames above that threshold from a song’s debut chart week. Overall, the track boasts the best such streak since The Kid LAROI and Justin Bieber’s “Stay” linked nine weeks over 100 million globally in 2021.

SZA’s “Kill Bill” retreats 2-4 on the Global 200, after two weeks on top in January, and PinkPantheress and Ice Spice’s “Boy’s a Liar, Pt. 2” falls to No. 5 from its No. 3 high.

Elsewhere in the Global 200’s top 10, Morgan Wallen’s “Last Night” pushes 12-10, with 33 million streams (up 7%) and 18,000 sold (up 51%) worldwide. The song is the country star’s first top 10 among 32 chart entries. It’s from his album One Thing at a Time, released Friday (March 3).

‘TQG’ on Top, ‘Yandel 150’ = 10

As on the Global 200, Karol G and Shakira’s “TQG” debuts at No. 1 on the Billboard Global Excl. U.S. chart, with 129.7 million streams and 3,000 sold outside the U.S. Feb. 24-March 2. It’s likewise each act’s first Global Excl. U.S. leader, among five and three top 10s, respectively.

Karol G and Shakira are the second and third acts from Colombia to command Global Excl. U.S.; Maluma led, with The Weeknd, on “Hawái,” the week that the chart began in 2020.

Miley Cyrus’ “Flowers” descends to No. 2 on Global Excl. U.S. after reigning in its first six weeks on the chart; The Weeknd and Ariana Grande’s “Die for You” charges 28-3, up 286% to 77.7 million streams and 2,086% to 5,000 sold, becoming the acts’ seventh and fifth top 10s, respectively; Bizarrap and Shakira’s “Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53” recedes to No. 4 after six weeks at its No. 2 high; and SZA’s “Kill Bill” falls 3-5, after reaching No. 2.

Also in the Global Excl. U.S. top 10, Yandel and Feid’s “Yandel 150” climbs 11-10, powered by 36.8 million streams (up 8%) beyond the U.S. Yandel, from Puerto Rico, and Feid, from Colombia, each earn their first top 10 placement on the survey.

The Billboard Global 200 and Billboard Global Excl. U.S. charts (dated March 11, 2023) will update on Billboard.com tomorrow (March 7). For both charts, the top 100 titles are available to all readers on Billboard.com, while the complete 200-title rankings are visible on Billboard Pro, Billboard‘s subscription-based service. For all chart news, you can follow @billboard and @billboardcharts on both Twitter and Instagram.

Luminate, the independent data provider to the Billboard charts, completes a thorough review of all data submissions used in compiling the weekly chart rankings. Luminate reviews and authenticates data. In partnership with Billboard, data deemed suspicious or unverifiable is removed, using established criteria, before final chart calculations are made and published.

The Weeknd and Ariana Grande’s “Die for You” bounds from No. 6 to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, after Grande joined for its remix. The song reigns after it was originally released on The Weeknd’s album Starboy in 2016, before it was revived in recent months thanks in part to interaction on TikTok, which helped spark new promotion to radio and streaming services.

The team-up marks each artist’s seventh Hot 100 No. 1 – and their second together, after “Save Your Tears” led in 2021, for two weeks, also after Grande was added on a remixed version.

Plus, Karol G and Shakira’s “TQG” soars onto the Hot 100 at No. 7, marking the former’s first top 10 and the latter’s sixth – and second this year, following a nearly 16-year break from the region. The collaboration is from Karol G’s new album Mañana Será Bonito, which debuts at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart, becoming the first all-Spanish-language leader by a woman in the list’s history.

The Hot 100 blends all-genre U.S. streaming (official audio and official video), radio airplay and sales data. All charts (dated March 11, 2023) will update on Billboard.com tomorrow (March 7). For all chart news, you can follow @billboard and @billboardcharts on both Twitter and Instagram.

Here’s a look at the coronation for “Die for You,” which becomes the 1,146th No. 1 since the Hot 100 began in August 1958.

Airplay, streams & sales: “Die for You,” released on XO/Republic Records, drew 81.1 million radio airplay audience impressions (up less than 1%) and 32.4 million streams (up 181%) and sold 14,000 (up 1,170%) Feb. 24-March 2, according to Luminate. It doubles up with the Hot 100’s top Streaming Gainer and Sales Gainer weekly awards.

The track blasts from No. 22 to No. 1 on the Streaming Songs chart (where it becomes Grande’s fourth leader and The Weeknd’s third); debuts at No. 3 on Digital Song Sales; and holds at No. 3 on Radio Songs, after two weeks on top.

The song was originally released by The Weeknd solo in 2016 on his album Starboy, with its recent resurgence sparked by interaction on TikTok (which does not presently contribute directly to Billboard’s charts). That buzz helped lead to the song’s current promotion to radio and streaming services. On Feb. 24, the song’s remix with Grande was released, with that version and an instrumental mix, both billed as by the tandem, discounted to 69 cents through March 2. Late on March 1, an a cappella version by the pair arrived, also for 69 cents. Those versions joined The Weeknd’s original solo version and its sped-up and instrumental mixes, also priced at 69 cents during the tracking week. (The instrumental versions, one billed as by The Weeknd and the other by The Weeknd and Grande, share audio and differ only in digital artwork; they were available during the tracking week only in the acts’ webstores.)

“Die” wouldn’t: As Starboy opened atop the Billboard 200 dated Dec. 17, 2016, “Die for You” concurrently debuted at No. 43 on the Hot 100. The song spent three weeks on the chart that month (and, promoted as a single to R&B/hip-hop and rhythmic radio, reached the Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay, Adult R&B Airplay and Rhythmic Airplay charts in 2017-18). It returned to the Hot 100 dated Sept. 3, 2022. In October, it reached the Hot 100’s top 40 and this January it hit the top 10. It also topped the Pop Airplay chart for two weeks and reached a new No. 2 best on Rhythmic Airplay in January-February.

The song completes the second-longest trip to No. 1 on the Hot 100 in terms of time from a debut to scaling the summit – and the longest among non-holiday songs. Notably, The Weeknd and Grande claim two of the six longest such journeys.

Most Time to No. 1 on Hot 100, from Chart Debut:
19 years, 11 months, 2 weeks, “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” Mariah Carey (2000-19; originally released in 1994, the carol ultimately first led 25 years after its release)
6 years, 2 months, 3 weeks, “Die for You,” The Weeknd & Ariana Grande (2016-23)
5 years, 8 months, 2 weeks, “When I’m With You,” Sheriff (1983-89)
4 years, 8 months, 2 weeks, “Red Red Wine,” UB40 (1984-88; the pop/reggae classic and Sheriff’s love song above were revived, in part, by adventurous radio exec Guy Zapoleon)
1 year, 2 months, “Heat Waves,” Glass Animals (2021-22)
1 year, 1 month, “Save Your Tears,” The Weeknd & Ariana Grande (2020-21)
(Additional research by Billboard senior charts and social manager Xander Zellner)

Meanwhile, “Die for You” tops the Hot 100 in its 31st total week on the tally, the fourth-longest such climb. “Heat Waves” reigned when it wrapped a record 59-week ascent.

The Weeknd & Grande’s No. 1s: The Weeknd and Grande earn a seventh Hot 100 No. 1 each. Here’s a recap of their leaders.

The Weeknd’s Hot 100 No. 1s:
“Can’t Feel My Face,” three weeks at No. 1, beginning Aug. 22, 2015
“The Hills,” six weeks, Oct. 3, 2015
“Starboy,” feat. Daft Punk, one week, Jan. 7, 2017
“Heartless,” one week, Dec. 14, 2019
“Blinding Lights,” four weeks, April 4, 2020
“Save Your Tears,” with Ariana Grande, two weeks, May 8, 2021
“Die for You,” with Grande, one week to-date, March 11, 2023

Notably, Starboy now boasts two Hot 100 leaders, as “Die for You” joins the set’s title cut after over six years – a record for the longest time between No. 1 songs both originally released on a single album.

Ariana Grande’s Hot 100 No. 1s:
“Thank U Next,” seven weeks at No. 1, beginning Nov. 17, 2018
“7 Rings,” eight weeks, Feb. 2, 2019
“Stuck With U,” with Justin Bieber, one week, May 23, 2020
“Rain on Me,” with Lady Gaga, one week, June 6, 2020
“Positions,” one week, Nov. 7, 2020
“Save Your Tears,” with The Weeknd, two weeks, May 8, 2021
“Die for You,” with The Weeknd, one week to-date, March 11, 2023

Grande simultaneously adds her milestone 20th Hot 100 top 10. “Die for You” became The Weeknd’s 16th top 10 – his first such hit was also with Grande, as their “Love Me Harder” reached No. 7 in November 2014.

Dominant duet partners: The Weeknd and Grande become the latest pair of solo acts that have teamed up for multiple Hot 100 No. 1s. Here’s a look at the acts that might want to consider making their collaborations more frequent, given their repeat success rates. (Drake and Rihanna have achieved the feat thanks to two pairings apiece.)

Acts That Have Teamed for Multiple Hot 100 No. 1s:
The Weeknd & Ariana Grande: “Save Your Tears,” 2021; “Die for You,” 2023
Drake & Future: “Way 2 Sexy” (Drake feat. Future & Young Thug), 2021; “Wait for U” (Future feat. Drake & Tems), 2022
Rihanna feat. Drake: “What’s My Name?,” 2010; “Work,” 2016
Eminem feat. Rihanna: “Love the Way You Lie,” 2010; “The Monster,” 2013-14
Nelly Furtado & Timbaland: “Promiscuous” (Furtado feat. Timbaland), 2006; “Give It to Me” (Timbaland feat. Furtado & Justin Timberlake), 2007
Jennifer Lopez feat. Ja Rule: “I’m Real,” 2001; “Ain’t It Funny,” 2002

‘Die for You’ deconstructed: Hit Songs Deconstructed, which analyzes the compositional traits of Hot 100 top 10s, notes that despite the 2016 arrival of “Die for You,” the song “fits in with the recent uptick of synth-heavy top 10s, which doubled between 2020 and 2022 to nearly one-quarter of such songs, and the continued popularity of R&B, which has held steady in half of all top 10s over the past two years.”

Speaking of R&B …

No. 1 R&B/hip-hop: “Die for You” concurrently hits No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and Hot R&B Songs charts, which use the same methodology as the Hot 100. On Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, The Weeknd adds his eighth leader and Grande achieves her first. On Hot R&B Songs, The Weeknd claims his record-extending 11th No. 1 (dating to the chart’s 2012 start) and Grande notches her first.

Miley Cyrus’ “Flowers” descends to No. 2 after spending its first six weeks on the Hot 100 at No. 1. Still, it tops Radio Songs for a third week, up 7% to 102.1 million in audience. It’s the first song to draw over 100 million in reach since Adele’s “Easy on Me” (101.2 million; Jan. 22, 2022) and logs the highest sum since The Weeknd’s “Blinding Lights” posted six such weeks (reaching a high of 114.6 million) in April-May 2020.

SZA’s “Kill Bill” slips to No. 3 on the Hot 100 after seven weeks at its No. 2 high – although it takes top Airplay Gainer honors, up 13% to 81 million in audience.

PinkPantheress and Ice Spice’s “Boy’s a Liar, Pt. 2” retreats to No. 4 on the Hot 100 from its No. 3 best; Morgan Wallen’s “Last Night” holds at No. 5, after reaching No. 3, as it leads the multi-metric Hot Country Songs chart for a fourth week; and Metro Boomin, The Weeknd and 21 Savage’s “Creepin’” backtracks 4-6, after hitting No. 3.

Karol G and Shakira’s “TQG” charges onto the Hot 100 at No. 7, with 29 million streams, 4.6 million in airplay audience and 7,000 sold. The song is from Karol G’s album Mañana Será Bonito, which debuts at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, making history as the first all-Spanish-language leader by a woman.

The track is Karol G’s first Hot 100 top 10 and Shakira’s sixth – and second this year, after her and Bizarrap’s “Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53” debuted at its No. 9 peak in January, following her nearly 16-year absence from the region, since “Beautiful Liar,” with Beyoncé, rose to No. 3 in April 2007.

While Shakira’s lengthy break from the Hot 100’s top 10 only to return with two such hits in relatively quick succession is rare, it’s not unprecedented: Elton John went over 24 years after 1998 before revisiting the tier with “Cold Heart (Pnau Remix),” with Dua Lipa (No. 7, 2021), and “Hold Me Closer,” with Britney Spears (No. 6, 2022). Plus, Billboard deputy editor Andrew Unterberger shouts out Santana’s wait of over 28 years after 1971 before bounding back with two No. 1s in 1999-2000 – “Smooth,” featuring Rob Thomas, and “Maria Maria,” featuring The Product G&B – along with two more top 10s in 2002-03. (All such examples reflect acts teaming with artists who followed in their footsteps, capitalizing on multi-generational appeal.)

“TQG” concurrently launches at No. 1 on the multi-metric Hot Latin Songs chart, where it’s Karol G’s sixth leader, all since 2018, and fellow Colombian Shakira’s 13th, with her run having begun in 1998.

Elsewhere in the Hot 100’s top 10, Sam Smith and Kim Petras’ “Unholy” falls 7-8, after it ruled for a week in October; Taylor Swift’s “Anti-Hero” dips 8-9, following a personal-best eight weeks at No. 1 in November-December; and Beyoncé’s “Cuff It” falls 9-10, after hitting No. 6.

Again, for all chart news, you can follow @billboard and @billboardcharts on both Twitter and Instagram and all charts (dated March 11), including the Hot 100 in its entirety, will refresh on Billboard.com tomorrow (March 7).

Luminate, the independent data provider to the Billboard charts, completes a thorough review of all data submissions used in compiling the weekly chart rankings. Luminate reviews and authenticates data. In partnership with Billboard, data deemed suspicious or unverifiable is removed, using established criteria, before final chart calculations are made and published.