Olivia Rodrigo boasts the biggest song in the world for a sixth week, as “Drivers License” holds at No. 1 in its sixth frame on both the Billboard Global 200 and Billboard Global Excl. U.S. charts.
The song is the first to top both tallies simultaneously for six total weeks, dating to the charts’ September 2020 premieres.
Plus, Lil Tjay’s “Calling My Phone,” featuring 6LACK, launches at No. 2 on the Global 200 and No. 10 on the Global Excl. U.S. chart and Taylor Swift’s “Love Story (Taylor’s Version)” opens at No. 7 on the Global 200.
Billboard’s two global charts (the latest of which are dated Feb. 27) rank songs based on streaming and sales activity culled from more than 200 territories around the world, as compiled by MRC Data. The Billboard Global 200 is inclusive of worldwide data and the Billboard Global Excl. U.S. chart comprises data from territories excluding the U.S.
Chart rankings are based on a weighted formula incorporating official-only streams on both subscription and ad-supported tiers of audio and video music services, as well as download sales, the latter of which reflect purchases from full-service digital music retailers from around the world, with sales from direct-to-consumer (D2C) sites excluded from the charts’ calculations.
‘License’ Extends Longest Global 200 Reign
Olivia Rodrigo’s “Drivers License” holds atop the Billboard Global 200 with 68.5 million streams, the week’s top streaming sum (down 13%), and 16,000 sold (down 31%) worldwide in the Feb. 12-18 tracking week.
The single by the singer-songwriter and actress, initially known for her roles in Disney Channel’s Bizaardvark and Disney+’s High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, extends its mark for the longest Global 200 command yet. Previously, Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You” (December-January) and BTS’ “Dynamite” (nonconsecutively in October-January) led for four weeks each.
Lil Tjay’s “Calling My Phone,” featuring 6LACK, bounds in at No. 2 on the Global 200, with anticipation for the song’s official Feb. 12 release having grown following previews of it in snippets on TikTok. It starts with 57.6 million streams and 4,000 sold globally (the majority domestically; it drew 23.7 million streams and sold 1,000 outside the U.S. in the tracking week).
The Weeknd’s “Save Your Tears” holds at its No. 3 Global 200 high, while his “Blinding Lights” drops to No. 4 from its No. 2 best.
Ariana Grande’s “34+35,” featuring Doja Cat and Megan Thee Stallion, surges 10-5 on the Global 200 after first reaching No. 2 four weeks earlier, when it was sparked by the Jan. 15 release of its remix adding the two featured acts. Now, the song surges following the Feb. 12 premiere of its official video starring all three artists. It ascends with 49.9 million streams (up 41%) and 17,000 sold worldwide (up 589%).
Elsewhere in the Global 200’s top 10, Taylor Swift’s “Love Story (Taylor’s Version)” debuts at No. 7. Released Feb. 12, it starts with 34.1 million streams and 22,000 sold globally.
The original “Love Story” was released from Swift’s second LP, 2008’s Fearless. The new take is from her forthcoming re-recording of the album, Fearless (Taylor’s Version). (Re-recordings of older songs or albums are treated separately from their originals, with independent chart histories for each version.)
As previously reported, the new version launches atop Billboard’s U.S.-based Hot Country Songs chart.
Rodrigo Rules Steady Top 5
Olivia Rodrigo’s “Drivers License” concurrently controls the Billboard Global Excl. U.S. chart for a sixth week, with 47.1 million streams (down 10%) and 7,000 sold (down 9%) in territories outside the U.S. in the Feb. 12-18 tracking week.
It’s the first song to lead the list for six consecutive weeks and trails only BTS’ “Dynamite” (eight total weeks at No. 1, nonconsecutively) for the chart’s longest domination so far.
The songs at Nos. 2 through 5 hold at their respective ranks on the Global Excl. U.S. chart: The Weeknd’s “Blinding Lights” keeps at its highpoint (No. 2), as does his “Save Your Tears” (No. 3), followed by BTS’ “Dynamite” (No. 4) and Bad Bunny and Jhay Cortez’s “Dákiti” (No. 5), after it reigned for five weeks.
The Billboard Global 200 and Billboard Global Excl. U.S. charts (dated Feb. 27) will update on Billboard.com tomorrow (Feb. 23). For both charts, the top 100 titles are available to all readers on Billboard.com, while the complete 200-title rankings are visible on Billboard Pro, Billboard’s subscription-based service. For all chart news, you can follow @billboard and @billboardcharts on both Twitter and Instagram.
