x

75% of people globally want unbiased news (Pew Research) but are concerned they're not getting that.

Get balanced coverage with Symby. See how stories are covered across diverse outlets and spot when one side covers a story the other skips.

PODCAST

Hits of Our Lives

Can Cihan and Murat Çolakoğlu

Welcome to Hits of Our Lives (HooL) — your weekly breakdown of the Billboard charts and the data driving the hits. We’re Can and Murat, two chart nerds following the numbers, trends, and surprises behind the Hot 100 and Billboard 200. If you"re into stats, shifts, and everything in between — you’re in the right place. New episodes every week. 🎧📊

music music commentary

All Episodes

00:33:22

Too Close to Call: Three-Way Battles At The Top

Hits of Our Lives ·

2026/01/22

Charts turn into a multi-way battle as Bruno Mars’ "I Just Might" debuts at the top, colliding with "Golden" and "The Fate of Ophelia". With YouTube now removed from the formula, the balance shifts fast — and Olivia Dean quietly enters the race with momentum that suddenly matters more than ever. We break down how the math is changing, why the #1 spot is no longer locked, and how this could be her clearest path yet.On the Billboard 200, Zach Bryan debuts at #1, but the

en

00:47:07

Full Throttle: The Charts Are So Back

Hits of Our Lives ·

2026/01/15

After a quiet start to the year, the charts are finally shifting gears — and moving back into full-throttle mode.As new rules begin to reshape the Hot 100 and early-year releases pick up momentum, The Fate of Ophelia reaches a major milestone with its 10th week at #1, marking Taylor Swift’s first double-digit Hot 100 leader. Elsewhere, Olivia Dean quietly dominates the chart with seven simultaneous entries, raising real questions about her #1 potential under the updated chart formula.Meanwhile,

en

00:35:43

The Charts at the End of the Beginning

Hits of Our Lives ·

2026/01/08

With a completely refreshed Hot 100, The Fate of Ophelia returns to #1 for another week as Golden and Ordinary follow close behind. Low point totals and softer streaming numbers spark a conversation around whether the charts are entering a January hangover phase — but new peaks quickly began to surface. Ella Langley lands her first Top 5 with Choosin’ Texas, Kehlani’s Folded and sombr’s back to friends hit new highs, and Olivia Dean continues her steady surge with six songs now charting

en

00:29:22

The Last Christmas Push, Then Everything Changes

Hits of Our Lives ·

2025/12/28

Christmas signs off with one final surge — and it does not go quietly.Mariah Carey extends her historic run at #1 as “All I Want for Christmas Is You” locks in another record-setting week, pushing her career total past 100 weeks at the summit and stretching the song’s reign to 21 weeks (with 22 looking very probable). Holiday classics dominate the charts for the last time this season, as Last Christmas, Underneath the Tree, and Jingle Bell Rock all close out their strongest runs yet — with Wham!’s

en

00:30:47

Records Broken, Rules Rewritten, 2026 Wide Open

Hits of Our Lives ·

2025/12/18

Christmas tightens its grip on the charts as records fall, rules shift, and the road into 2026 opens up.Mariah Carey breaks the all-time Hot 100 record with a 20th week at #1 for “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” pushing her career total to 99 weeks at the summit with more still in play. Holiday classics dominate the Hot 100 and Billboard 200, and competition remains fiercer than ever as multiple songs fight for position at the very top.We also break down Billboard’s upcoming rule changes,

en

00:30:37

The Race to Rule Christmas: New Peaks & Record Chases

Hits of Our Lives ·

2025/12/11

"The Fate of Ophelia" steps aside this week as Christmas officially takes over — and the race for the holiday crown is fiercer than ever. Mariah hits her 19th week at #1 with “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” tying the all-time Hot 100 record, while Wham! finally pushes “Last Christmas” to a brand-new peak at #2 and Brenda Lee surges right behind them.Kelly Clarkson and Ariana Grande are both making strategic playlist moves, and we break down which holiday classics still have a shot at

en

00:41:05

Charts Wrapped Around Christmas

Hits of Our Lives ·

2025/12/05

Spotify Wrapped is here, and so are the year-end lists — so we look at how 2025 really shook out across Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube. Bad Bunny tops Spotify’s global ranking, Drake leads Apple Music, and we compare which songs and albums each platform pushes to the front.On the Hot 100, “The Fate of Ophelia” is still holding #1 while the Christmas pack tightens: “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree,” “Last Christmas,” “Underneath the Tree” and “Santa Tell Me” all

en

00:47:46

Ophelia vs. Christmas, AI vs. Everyone

Hits of Our Lives ·

2025/11/26

Taylor Swift’s “The Fate of Ophelia” extends its run at No. 1 for a seventh week — but with Christmas tracks returning earlier than ever, the countdown to a seasonal takeover has officially begun. Mariah Carey is already back in the Top 10 with “All I Want For Christmas Is You,” Brenda Lee and WHAM! are gaining fast, and December is shaping up to be a three-way chart battle.We also dive into the AI controversy around HAVEN’s “I Run,” which earned enough points to chart but was blocked by Billboard —

en

00:33:59

Ophelia Towering, Christmas Rising, Grammys Confusing

Hits of Our Lives ·

2025/11/12

Taylor Swift’s The Fate of Ophelia holds firm at No. 1 as the season shifts. Michael Jackson is back in the Top 10 with “Thriller,” while Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You” re-enters early at #31 — a signal that the holiday wave is arriving ahead of schedule.We break down the early Christmas surge, the confusing Grammy nominations, and Sombr’s push for the Top 10 on both the Hot 100 and Billboard 200. Plus: Olivia Dean’s continued rise, Billie Eilish’s "Wildflower" finally leaving the

en

00:33:41

No.1 War Still On As Rap Steps Back, R&B Steps Up

Hits of Our Lives ·

2025/11/05

Taylor Swift and HUNTR/X go head-to-head again this week as “Golden” benefits from Halloween momentum, but “The Fate of Ophelia” still holds the crown for now — with Taylor’s possible drops possibly securing another week at No.1.Meanwhile, rap tries to come back on charts with Megan Thee Stallion as R&B steps into the space — with Kehlani scoring her breakthrough Top 10 with “Folded,” Leon Thomas inside the Top 10, and Olivia Dean rising into the Top 5.We also cover the arrival of new AI artist

en

00:30:05

It’s Time: Ophelia vs. Golden Showdown

Hits of Our Lives ·

2025/10/28

“The Fate of Ophelia” still holds at #1, but “Golden” has suddenly closed the gap with a major airplay surge. Predictions have them neck-and-neck — and with Halloween week ahead, this is shaping up to be one of the most suspenseful chart races of the year.We break down how this happened so quickly, what might come next, and how seasonal returns could disrupt everything. We also look at Olivia Dean and Leon Thomas earning their first Top 10 hits, Olivia’s rising momentum in the U.S., Kehlani’s Folded

en

00:42:15

Billboard Gets a Reset — and New Voices Rise

Hits of Our Lives ·

2025/10/26

Billboard just hit refresh — and it’s already changing the game.In this week’s episode, we dive into the new recurrent rule reshaping the Hot 100, the songs finally making their exits, and the fresh faces stepping into the spotlight. Taylor Swift’s “The Fate of Ophelia” still reigns supreme, but the “Golden” showdown we’ve been waiting for hasn’t arrived… yet.We talk Olivia Dean and Leon Thomas finally breaking into the Top 10 and Kehlani’s steady climb with Folded. Plus, the inevitable rise of

en

00:31:50

Taylor's "Ophelia" Reigns as "Golden" Waits

Hits of Our Lives ·

2025/10/19

Taylor Swift’s “The Fate of Ophelia” continues its historic run, holding the No.1 spot and extending The Life of a Showgirl’s dominance for a second week — but the countdown to a “Golden” showdown is officially on. With K-Pop Demon Hunters ramping up their promo ahead of Halloween and aiming for a November takeover, the next Hot 100 battle could be one of the year’s biggest.We break down the sustainability of Taylor’s numbers, how long this era can keep the top spot locked, and why “Golden” is

en

00:44:33

Showgirl Week: Taylor’s 12 for 12 with 4M+ Units

Hits of Our Lives ·

2025/10/12

Taylor Swift rewrites the record books: The Life of a Showgirl storms past 4M+ first-week units (and sets a new pure-sales mark) while “The Fate of Ophelia” logs the biggest streaming week ever. We break down the sales math, platform records, and the looming Hot 100 sweep (12-for-12)— plus how Taylor stands up for her work vibrantly despite the variants strategy and the criticism around her album.Elsewhere, sombr shines in New York; HUNTR/X step further into the spotlight off “Golden”; Olivia Dean

en

00:48:06

Taylor Swift and The Life of a Record-Breaker

Hits of Our Lives ·

2025/10/05

Taylor Swift’s The Life of a Showgirl has turned release week into a global spectacle — breaking streaming and sales records across every platform and setting sights on Adele’s all-time debut. But behind the glitter and the variants, we ask: is this pure dominance or a perfectly engineered record-breaking machine?This week, Can and Murat don’t entirely see eye to eye — diving into the balance between artistry and strategy, authenticity and ambition. Murat reports live from New York, sharing his

en

00:32:42

Female Power Takes Over The Charts

Hits of Our Lives ·

2025/09/28

The divas are here — and they’re running the charts. 🎤 Cardi B storms back with Am I the Drama? debuting at #1 on the Billboard 200, Doja Cat experiments with an ‘80s-inspired vibe, and Mariah Carey makes a triumphant return with Here For It All. Olivia Dean drops a new album as Man I Need conquers streaming, while Kehlani sparks a career resurgence with two singles climbing fast.Plus: K-Pop Demon Hunters extend Golden’s reign as the longest-running soundtrack #1 in over a decade, Tate McRae scores

en

00:39:07

Cardi B Is the "Drama" and the Mastermind

Hits of Our Lives ·

2025/09/21

Cardi B storms back with Am I the Drama?, a savvy rollout mixing new tracks with past hits that’s powering her toward a #1 debut on the Billboard 200 and a flood of Hot 100 entries. K-Pop Demon Hunters extend their dominance as both Golden and the soundtrack album reign at the top, while Olivia Dean and sombr keep climbing with fresh peaks. We also touch on Ed Sheeran’s Play bowing modestly in the U.S. despite a U.K. #1 — and look ahead to a massive release week, with Doja Cat, Mariah, Olivia Dean,

en

00:28:14

KPop Hunts the Charts with a Golden Season

Hits of Our Lives ·

2025/09/14

K-Pop Demon Hunters make history as the soundtrack rises to No. 1 on the Billboard 200 while “Golden” is to hold strong on the Hot 100, scoring a rare double crown. We look at how long Golden can reign before Taylor Swift arrives, and what this moment means for the soundtrack’s legacy.We also dive into Sabrina Carpenter’s second week as “Tears” slips behind “Manchild,” and why timing matters so much for a No. 1 hit. Plus sombr’s steady climb with “12 to 12,” Olivia Dean’s breakthrough, and Ed

en

00:33:25

Justin Bieber Reloads Swag II in a Three-Way Race

Hits of Our Lives ·

2025/09/07

Justin Bieber reloads with Swag II and enters a three-way fight for the Billboard 200 crown against Sabrina Carpenter and K-Pop Demon Hunters. We look at Sabrina’s No. 1 debut and why, despite strong reviews, it feels less impactful than her breakout year. We also dig into the “changing” VMAs and what this shift says about the state of music videos. Plus Taylor Swift’s Target midnight rollout, Olivia Dean’s rise, fresh moves from Gunna and Burna Boy, and the Song of the Summer debate: was Ordinary

en

00:35:24

Sabrina’s New Album Shines, But Is ‘Tears’ Outshined?

Hits of Our Lives ·

2025/08/31

Sabrina Carpenter storms in with Man’s Best Friend, breaking records and securing her biggest week yet — but the glow comes with cracks. Her single Tears opens at No. 1 before quickly slipping, and the album itself is met with mixed reviews. At the same time, K-Pop Demon Hunters extend their golden run with four simultaneous Top 10 hits, while Morgan Wallen looks to hold on through a crowded fall release season. We also dive into the ripple effects of Taylor Swift’s engagement news and upcoming

en

39 results

Similar Podcasts

Pasquale Maassen Soundcloud

Pasquale Maassen

Marian Klose

Marian Klose

sevenism

sevenism

Dean Delray"s LET THERE BE TALK

Cactus Radio Network

Word In Your Ear

Mark Ellen, David Hepworth and Alex Gold