The Most Listened To In-Vehicle Songs Are..

According to DTS, the most popular songs listened to in vehicles during 2023 and Q1 2024 were pulled from its in-car AutoStage platform. These measurements include songs listened to over AM/FM and streamed through digital providers over the car stereo. One notable hit that gained traction was Luke Combs’ cover of Tracy Chapman’s 1988 hit “Fast Car”. 

Let’s dive into the details:

Luke Combs’ Cover of “Fast Car”: Initially aired in March 2023, it started at the 10,000th spot for in-vehicle radio listeners. Swiftly ascending the charts, it cracked the top 100 within five weeks. By the week of July 24, it secured the number one position. The cover amassed over 650,000 in-vehicle plays and featured on over 1,100 U.S. stations. It remained in the top 10 for 23 weeks in 2023, with four million plays, ranking as the fifth most-played song in the U.S. that year.

In 2024, “Fast Car” continued to perform strongly, receiving over 1.6 million plays in the first quarter following Combs and Chapman’s Grammys performance.

Tracy Chapman’s Original “Fast Car”: Following her live Grammy performance, the original “Fast Car” saw a resurgence. Initially ranked at 1,544 in in-vehicle listens, it soared to the 292nd spot by February 5.

Additionally, here are some other top songs that resonated with car listeners:

Top Songs In-Car in the United States – Q1 2024:

1. Jack Harlow – “Lovin on Me”
2. Tate McRae – “Greedy”
3. Doja Cat – “Agora Hills”
4. Taylor Swift – “Cruel Summer”
5. Tyla – “Water”

Top Songs In-Car Globally – Q1 2024:

1. Dua Lipa – “Houdini”
2. Tate McRae – “Greedy”
3. Taylor Swift – “Cruel Summer”
4. Jack Harlow – “Lovin on Me”
5. Tyla – “Water”

Xperi SVP of Broadcast Joe D’Angelo said, “These lists chart actual sessions by in-vehicle radio listeners and are just the opening salvo of our data insights for broadcasters, which go deep into where, when, and what in-vehicle listeners are enjoying, including listener heat maps and the songs, ads, and program segments listeners enjoy the most.”

“And, because we can track radio plays for songs across all our global radio station partners, we’re able to analyze specific scenarios and trends. For example, how a song might be breaking and how the audience is responding.”