Shaboozey tops the first SiriusXM Galaxy 50 chart, chosen by programmers

It wouldn’t be the end of a calendar year without a series of best-of lists.

But amid the algorithm-driven summaries cultivated by most music streaming platforms, SiriusXM decided to do things a little differently.

The satellite behemoth debuted its Galaxy 50 on Thursday, a list of the top 50 songs of 2024 from its 10 “new music” channels, including Alt Nation (alternative rock), The Highway (country), Hip Hop Nation, The Heat (R&B) and SiriusXM Hits 1 (pop).

In addition to using data, the programmers from each channel took about a month to hash out which songs they believed worthy of year-end kudos, with much discussion and whittling until a few days before unveiling.

The “human side,” as Steve Blatter, SiriusXM's senior vice president and general manager of music programming, refers to it, offers a distinct contrast to strictly numbers-driven decisions.

“Over the past five years we’ve had all of these viral hits coming up through algorithms and those artists did not have sustainable careers,” Blatter said. “So there is a contrast with all of these viral hits and what really broke through in 2024. The rest will be around for many years to come.”

More: 10 best songs of 2024: Kendrick Lamar, Taylor Swift, Beyonce deliver a spectacular year

Who topped the SiriusXM Galaxy 50 chart?

The multi-genre stylings of Shaboozey’s “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” received unanimous praise among the voting programmers, christening it the No. 1 song of the Galaxy 50.

Blatter praised the Nashville-by-way-of-Virginia singer born Collins Chibueze for his “hybrid” sound, as well as being a “real, true artist.”

Shaboozey’s breakthrough hit comes from his fourth album, “Where I’ve Been, Isn’t Where I’m Going,” and recently tied Lil Nas X’s 2019 smash “Old Town Road” as the longest-running No. 1 song of all time on the Billboard Hot 100, with 19 weeks atop the chart.

Where can I listen to the SiriusXM Galaxy 50?

The victory list can currently be heard via the SiriusXM app. Beginning Dec. 27, the roll call will be available on The Countdowns Channel (79) and will also air on SiriusXM Hits 1 on Jan. 1 at noon ET.

What other artists made the SiriusXM Galaxy 50?

Many familiar names – Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, Kendrick Lamar – are unsurprising inclusions, but breakout years for Chappell Roan and Sabrina Carpenter landed them a couple of entries on the chart.

Also earning a double shot is upstart Gracie Abrams, whose “I Love You, I’m Sorry” and “Close to You” both make appearances.

“Three months ago, I don’t know if Gracie would have had two songs on this list,” Blatter said. “Taylor (Swift) has had an impact on her development (Abrams opened 49 shows on the Eras World Tour), but Gracie has been developing her career for many years now in clubs and theaters and now arenas. Taylor certainly helped, but she was already on her way.”

Blatter points to a sustained upswing in female pop singers – evidenced in their strong showing in the 2025 Grammy nominations – and believes pop music is the “healthiest” it’s been in years.

“Obviously Taylor is a music icon I haven’t seen in my lifetime, but move past her and you have Chappell and Charli (XCX) and Sabrina and Billie (Eilish), who I feel has transitioned from superstar to becoming an icon,” Blatter said. “These are not one-hit wonders.”

Did any new artists make the SiriusXM Galaxy 50?

The satellite radio platform has always been a launching pad for upstart artists, and several of them including Coco Jones, Bailey Zimmerman, Good Neighbours and Alex Warren, all appear on the Galaxy 50 chart lineup.

SiriusXM was also an early supporter of Jelly Roll, whose mishmash sound first got him played on hard rock/metal channel Octane, before branching into pop and country playlists.

But, said Blatter, even the newcomers “needed to earn their way onto this list.”

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Here are the top 10 artists on SiriusXM's Galaxy 50

1. Shaboozey, "A Bar Song (Tipsy)"

2. Kenrick Lamar, "Not Like Us"

3. Sabrina Carpenter, "Espresso"

4. Chappell Roan, "Good Luck, Babe!"

5. Post Malone featuring Morgan Wallen, "I Had Some Help"

6. Benson Boone, "Beautiful Things"

7. Hozier, "Too Sweet"

8. Tommy Richman, "Million Dollar Baby"

9. Billie Eilish, "Birds of a Feather"

10. Taylor Swift, "I Can Do it With a Broken Heart"

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Shaboozey tops the SiriusXM Galaxy 50 chart