Can you believe it’s almost the end of 2023?

And boy, it’s been a big one for music, as usual. We had pop princesses with record-breaking tours, Rihanna’s iconic Superbowl performance, and arguably the biggest pop culture moment of the year - Barbie fever, with crowds in luminous pink crying to Billie Eilish. Who runs the world, right? 

Taking a look back at 2023, we revisit the songs and albums that topped the charts, made us dance at the traffic lights, smile on the boring tube commute, and push through that last set in the gym. Crucially, we dive headfirst into what made these songs connect with people so well, using our team’s musical expertise and behavioural science know-how to understand what made them tick. 

After all, music curation is both an art and a science - the success of these songs isn’t a coincidence. Whether it’s cultural, music, or marketing-led, we’re here to spill the beans.

It’s been a long year. So sit back, relax, and enjoy us leading you through the standout moments in music from the last 12 months.