December 21, 2022 – Drum roll, please! As the year draws to a close, we’re looking back at the music and artists who have been lighting things up over the past 12 months. The new tracks that received the most non-interactive streams make up the SoundExchange Top 22 Tracks of 2022, and there is no argument that there are a lot of great songs that made this list of what we’ve been listening to all year.
We also decided to take a look at those who began to take hold this year. These fill out the SoundExchange Top 22 Breakout Creators of 2022, a list filled to the brim with the next big things in music and comedy that we’ll be paying attention to in the coming year.
SoundExchange Top 22 Tracks of 2022
It’s been quite a year for Lil Nas X who takes the top spot on the SoundExchange list of Top 22 Tracks of 2022 with “That’s What I Want,” and appears at No. 17 with “Industry Baby,” his collaboration with Jack Harlow. It’s hard to believe that Lil Nas X has only been part of our collective consciousness for a few short years, when “Old Town Road” became a smash hit in 2019.
Pulling in at No. 2 is “Big Energy” from Latto, the lead single from her second studio album, 777. The Atlanta-based creator has come a long way from winning The Rap Game in 2016, and she’s been heavily nominated for song, album, and video awards this year. She turned heads touring North America with Lizzo this year and will do it again in 2023, and it makes perfect sense that she finds “Big Energy” near the top of our list.
Sitting at No. 3 is Adele with “Easy On Me,” from her fourth studio album 30, while Justin Bieber takes the No. 4 spot with “Ghost,” and Ed Sheeran posts “Shivers” at No. 5. Rounding out our top 10 are “Need To Know” from Doja Cat (No. 6), “Stay” by The Kid LAROI & Justin Bieber (No. 7), “One Right Now” from Post Malone & The Weeknd (No. 8), “As It Was” from Harry Styles (No. 9) and “Heat Waves” by Glass Animals (No. 10).
Doja Cat shows up more than any other artist, notching three tracks in our Top 22 – “Need To Know” (No. 6), “Woman” (No. 11),” and “You Right,” her collaboration with The Weeknd (No. 20).
In addition to Bieber, creators pulling doubles on the SoundExchange Top 22 Tracks of 2022 list include Harlow (“Industry Baby” and “First Class” (No. 12)), Sheeran (“Shivers” and “Bad Habits” (No. 14)), and The Weeknd (“One Right Now” and “You Right” (No. 20)).
SoundExchange Top 22 Tracks of 2022
- “That’s What I Want” – Lil Nas X
- “Big Energy” – Latto
- “Easy On Me” – Adele
- “Ghost” – Justin Bieber
- “Shivers” – Ed Sheeran
- “Need To Know” – Doja Cat
- “Stay” – The Kid LAROI & Justin Bieber
- “One Right Now” – Post Malone & The Weeknd
- “As It Was” – Harry Styles
- “Heat Waves” – Glass Animals
- “Woman” – Doja Cat
- “First Class” – Jack Harlow
- “About Damn Time” – Lizzo
- “Bad Habits” – Ed Sheeran
- “I Hate U” – SZA
- “abcdefu” – GAYLE
- “Industry Baby” – Lil Nas X & Jack Harlow
- “Smokin Out The Window” – Silk Sonic (Bruno Mars & Anderson .Paak)
- “Boyfriend” – Dove Cameron
- “You Right” – Doja Cat & The Weeknd
- “Do It To It” – Acraze featuring Cherish
- “Light Switch” – Charlie Puth
SoundExchange Top 22 Breakout Creators of 2022
Fans are always wondering who the next big thing will be, so we took a close look at creators making moves and getting noticed this year.
It should come as no surprise to see GAYLE topping the SoundExchange Top 22 Breakout Creators of 2022. The Plano, Texas native broke through this year with “abcdefu,” which featured at No. 16 on the SoundExchange Top 22 Tracks of 2022 list. Released as a single, the viral TikTok hit topped charts around the world and was later included on her six-song EP A Study of the Human Experience Volume One. Look for more big things from GAYLE, who will be among the opening acts on Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour in 2023.
Em Beihold, who we featured and amplified in Volume 1 of SoundExchange Breakthrough Beats in 2022, took the second spot on the Breakout Creators list. Her “Numb Little Bug” from the Egg in the Backseat EP was a hit in multiple countries, and she toured with the likes of Anson Sebra and King Princess this year.
Lauren Spencer-Smith is another Breakthrough Beats alumni and finds herself at No. 3 on the list, followed by Nicky Youre at No. 4 and Muni Long at No. 5.
Check out the full list of SoundExchange Top 22 Breakout Creators of 2022 below and discover the artists who were turning heads with their music this year and will likely be heard from quite a bit in the new year and beyond.
SoundExchange Top 22 Breakout Creators of 2022
- GAYLE
- Em Beihold
- Lauren Spencer-Smith
- Nicky Youre
- Muni Long
- Bailey Zimmerman
- Jnr Choi
- Sam Tompkins
- Benson Boone
- Avery Anna
- Stephen Sanchez
- Emmy Meli
- Georgia Harmer
- Corey Kent
- Chencho Corleone
- Jackson Dean
- Alingon Mitra
- Catch Your Breath
- SleazyWorld Go
- Seamus D
- Windser
- Sadie Jean
Lists are based on a 12-month period spanning November 1, 2021, through November 30, 2022.