During the spring of 2021, I tracked the top 10 songs on the Billboard Hot 100 week by week, as well as giving a short blurb about each artist that performs the songs. I will be returning to the regular format in a couple of weeks, but I decided to dedicate this week to all the songs that I have not tracked. It has been 5 months since I last tracked the Hot 100, meaning that most of the songs in the top 10 back in the spring have been replaced by newer and more trendy songs. Many songs have entered the top 10 within the last 5 months, so I will only be tracking the top 10 songs that have peaked the highest during the summer:

1: Butter- Pk. 1

Artist: BTS (Ft: Megan Thee Stallion)

On Peak Date (6/5/21):

Sales: 242.8k 

Streams: 32.2m

Airplay: 18.1m

“Butter,” by BTS and Megan Thee Stallion is arguably the most successful song of the summer. It lasted a whopping 10 weeks at the number 1 position, of which 7 of them were consecutive weeks. For the entirety of June and July, BTS ruled the Billboard Hot 100, which set the bar high for any competitors, as well as themselves in the future. BTS is a South Korean Boy Band that had their first song, “Fake Love,” reach the top 10 in 2018. Their success only grew from there, with their first number one song being “Dynamite,” which peaked last fall. “Butter” is BTS’s 4th song to reach number one in the US, as well as their 9th song to reach the top 10. It is also Megan Thee Stallion’s 3rd number one song in the US, as well as her 4th top 10 song. 

2: Stay- Pk. 1

Artist: The Kid Laroi (Ft: Justin Bieber)

On Peak Date (8/14/21):

Sales: 14.8k

Streams: 30.7m

Airplay: 31.83m

“Stay,” by The Kid Laroi and Justin Bieber, was almost as successful as “Butter,” which stayed at the number one spot for 7 weeks. The Kid Laroi released “Stay” on July 9th, 2021, and remains relevant to this day (currently charting at number 2). This accomplishment is admirable because The Kid Laroi is only 18 years old! He gained fame this year with his song “Without You,” peaking at number 8. This is his first number one song in the US, as well as his second to peak in the top 10. It is Justin Bieber’s 8th number one song, as well as his 26th to peak in the top 10.

3: Permission to Dance- Pk. 1

Artist: BTS

On Peak Date (7/24/21):

Sales: 140.1k

Streams: 15.9m

Airplay: 1.1m

“Permission to Dance” is BTS’s second most successful song this summer, peaking at number one for one week. Unfortunately, its success is underestimated due to “Butter” dominating at number one for 9 extra weeks. “Permission to Dance” is BTS’s 5th song to peak at number one in the US. It is also their 10th song to peak in the top 10.

4: Way 2 Sexy- Pk. 1

Artist: Drake (Ft. Future and Young Thug)

On Peak Date (9/18/21):

Sales: 6.8k

Streams: 65.8m

Airplay: 6.7m

“Way 2 Sexy,” by Drake, Future and Young Thug, didn’t debut on the charts until the last week of summer. Drake is no stranger to success, and his debut at number one only emphasizes his popularity in the music industry. Thanks to constantly high streaming, Drake is able to create hit after hit and stay relevant. “Way 2 Sexy” is his 10th song to peak at number one and his 44th song to peak in the top 10. It is Young Thug’s 3rd song to reach number one and 5th song to peak in the top 10. It is Future’s 1st number one song and his 4th song to peak in the top ten. 

5: Industry Baby- Pk. 1

Artist: Lil Nas X (Ft: Jack Harlow)

Peak Date (10/23/21):

Sales: 34.3k

Streams: 23.2m

Airplay: 64m

“Industry Baby,” by Lil Nas X and Jack Harlow, debuted on the Hot 100 on August 7, 2021 at number 2. Lil Nas X is also no stranger to success, with his debut song “Old Town Road” currently holding the record for longest time spent at number one (19 weeks). Although his more recent songs haven’t been as successful, he still remains a dominant force in the music industry and strong competition popularity wise. “Industry Baby” is Lil Nas X’s 3rd number one song in the US and his 4th song to peak in the top 10. It is Jack Harlow’s 1st number one song in the US and his 2nd song to peak in the top ten.

6: Good 4 U- Pk. 1

Artist: Olivia Rodrigo

On Peak Date (5/29/21):

Sales: 12.0k 

Streams: 43.2m

Airplay: 3.8m

“Good 4 U,” by Olivia Rodrigo, debuted at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 on May 29, 2021. Although only being at number one for one week, it managed to stay in the top ten for almost 5 months, which is why it is so high on the list. Rodrigo became a powerhouse in the music industry when her debut single, “Driver’s License,” debuted at number one and stayed there for 8 weeks. “Good 4 U” is Rodrigo’s 2nd number one song in the US, as well as her 3rd to peak in the top ten.

7: Bad Habits- Pk: 2

Artist: Ed Sheeran

On Peak Date (8/28/21):

Sales: 14.3k

Streams: 16.9m

Airplay: 71.90m

“Bad Habits” by Ed Sheeran is relatively new compared to some of the other songs on this list. It debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 on July 10th, 2021. Sheeran is also no stranger to success. He had had Hot 100 hits dating back to 2011. Some of his most popular songs include: “Shape of You,” “Castle on the Hill,” “Thinking out Loud” and “The A Team.” “Shape of You” has become his most successful song, staying at number one for 12 weeks back in 2017. “Bad Habits” is Sheeran’s 8th song to peak in the top ten in the US.

8: Girls Want Girls- Pk. 2

Artist: Drake (Ft: Lil Baby)

On Peak Date (9/18/21):

Sales: 2.9k

Streams: 56.9m

Airplay: 0.1m

“Girls Want Girls,” by Drake and Lil Baby, is the 2nd second single off of Drake’s new album, “Certified Lover Boy.” Funny enough, “Girls Want Girls” was blocked from reaching number one by “Way 2 Sexy,” which is another Drake song. “Girls Want Girls” pretty much certifies that Drake is the dominant force in the music industry, with his streaming crushing his competitors every single time. “Girls Want Girls” Is Drake’s 45th song and Lil Baby’s 6th song to peak in the top ten in the US.

9: Levitating- Pk. 2

Artist: Dua Lipa

On Peak Date (5/22/21):

Sales: 27k

Streams: 21.8m

Airplay: 57.4m 

“Levitating” by Dua Lipa has become her biggest hit to date, which rose all the way to the number two spot, as well as only leaving the top ten twice since the beginning of the year. Dua Lipa first became popular in the US with her breakout hit, “New Rules,” rising to number 6 on the Hot 100 back in 2017. She has released other top 20 hits, such as “Don’t Start Now” and “Break My Heart” in 2020. “Levitating” is Dua Lipa’s 3rd song to peak in the top ten in the US.

10: Kiss Me More- Pk. 3

Artist: Doja Cat (Ft: SZA)

On Peak Date (7/10/21):

Sales: 8k

Streams: 22.7m

Airplay: 70.1m

“Kiss Me More,” by Doja Cat and SZA, is unique because it is both a spring and summer hit, debuting on the Hot 100 on April 22nd, 2021, and it remains popular to this day. Doja Cat and SZA are both rookies in the music industry, with Doja Cat becoming famous with her 2020 hit “Say So,” and SZA with her early 2021 hit, “Good Days.” “Kiss Me More” is Doja Cat’s 2nd top ten hit, as well as SZA’s 4th.