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2017 Music Hits: Top Songs, Radio Favorites, and Pop Classics

2017 music was a major streaming-era year, with pop, hip-hop, Latin crossover, EDM, country-pop, R&B, alternative rock, and soundtrack-adjacent hits all competing for space. Ed Sheeran, Luis Fonsi, Daddy Yankee, Justin Bieber, Bruno Mars, The Weeknd, Migos, Kendrick Lamar, Taylor Swift, Rihanna, Dua Lipa, and Imagine Dragons helped define a year where radio hits and streaming momentum were no longer playing by the same old rules.

This PopCultureMadness guide starts with PCM’s Top 10 songs of 2017, then groups more 2017 music hits by style so you can browse the year by sound, mood, and memory. It was a year of Latin-pop breakthrough, rap dominance, dance-pop polish, emotional ballads, country crossover, and enough collaborations to make the artist credits need their own parking lot.

Quick Answer: What Music Was Popular in 2017?

Popular music in 2017 included pop, hip-hop, trap, Latin pop, EDM, R&B, country-pop, alternative rock, and singer-songwriter ballads. Songs like Shape of You, Despacito, That’s What I Like, Bad and Boujee, Believer, Humble, and Body Like a Back Road helped define 2017 music.

Top 10 Songs of 2017

  1. Shape of You – Ed Sheeran
  2. Despacito – Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee featuring Justin Bieber
  3. That’s What I Like – Bruno Mars
  4. Something Just Like This – The Chainsmokers & Coldplay
  5. 24K Magic – Bruno Mars
  6. I Feel It Coming – The Weeknd featuring Daft Punk
  7. Bad and Boujee – Migos featuring Lil Uzi Vert
  8. Castle on the Hill – Ed Sheeran
  9. Paris – The Chainsmokers
  10. Stay – Zedd & Alessia Cara

2017 Music Hits by Style

Beyond the Top 10, 2017 music gets more interesting when grouped by style. The year had huge pop singles, trap breakthroughs, Latin crossover, electronic hits, country-pop records, emotional singer-songwriter songs, alternative radio staples, and viral tracks that lived far beyond traditional radio.

2017 Pop, Dance-Pop, and Big Radio Hits

Pop music in 2017 was polished, hook-heavy, and built for global playlists. Ed Sheeran, Bruno Mars, The Weeknd, Charlie Puth, Shawn Mendes, Sia, Pink, Taylor Swift, Kesha, Lady Gaga, Lorde, Dua Lipa, and Ariana Grande gave the year a strong mix of romance, confidence, heartbreak, and dance-ready production. This was pop with emotional range and excellent Wi-Fi.

Shape of You – Ed Sheeran
That’s What I Like – Bruno Mars
24K Magic – Bruno Mars
I Feel It Coming – The Weeknd featuring Daft Punk
Castle on the Hill – Ed Sheeran
Attention – Charlie Puth
Say You Won’t Let Go – James Arthur
The Greatest – Sia
What About Us – Pink
There’s Nothing Holdin’ Me Back – Shawn Mendes
Praying – Kesha
Bad Things – Machine Gun Kelly x Camila Cabello
Slow Hands – Niall Horan
Look What You Made Me Do – Taylor Swift
Issues – Julia Michaels
Treat You Better – Shawn Mendes
How Long – Charlie Puth
This Town – Niall Horan
Million Reasons – Lady Gaga
Bad Liar – Selena Gomez
Green Light – Lorde
…Ready for It? – Taylor Swift
Mercy – Shawn Mendes
Strip That Down – Liam Payne
New Rules – Dua Lipa
Side to Side – Ariana Grande featuring Nicki Minaj
Too Good at Goodbyes – Sam Smith
Sorry Not Sorry – Demi Lovato
Malibu – Miley Cyrus

2017 Hip-Hop, Rap, Trap, and Pop-Rap Favorites

Hip-hop was one of the dominant forces in 2017, especially through trap, pop-rap, and streaming-first hits. Migos, Kendrick Lamar, Drake, Future, Post Malone, Cardi B, Big Sean, 21 Savage, Kodak Black, French Montana, and Lil Uzi Vert helped shape the year’s sound. Rap was not just charting in 2017; it was steering the whole car.

Bad and Boujee – Migos featuring Lil Uzi Vert
Black Beatles – Rae Sremmurd featuring Gucci Mane
Humble – Kendrick Lamar
Goosebumps – Travis Scott
1-800-273-8255 – Logic featuring Alessia Cara & Khalid
Congratulations – Post Malone featuring Quavo
Mask Off – Future
Unforgettable – French Montana featuring Swae Lee
iSpy – KYLE featuring Lil Yachty
Bodak Yellow (Money Moves) – Cardi B
Fake Love – Drake
Bounce Back – Big Sean
Passionfruit – Drake
Bank Account – 21 Savage
T-Shirt – Migos
Rake It Up – Yo Gotti featuring Nicki Minaj
Tunnel Vision – Kodak Black
Rockstar – Post Malone featuring 21 Savage
DNA – Kendrick Lamar

2017 R&B, Soul-Pop, and Smooth Vocal Hits

R&B and soul-pop helped give 2017 a smoother and more emotional lane. Rihanna, The Weeknd, Khalid, Childish Gambino, SZA-adjacent collaborations, Sam Smith, Maroon 5, and Halsey brought a mix of groove, atmosphere, and sharp pop production. These were the songs for late-night drives, headphones, and pretending a text did not bother you.

Love on the Brain – Rihanna
I Feel It Coming – The Weeknd featuring Daft Punk
Location – Khalid
Redbone – Childish Gambino
Wild Thoughts – DJ Khaled featuring Rihanna & Bryson Tiller
What Lovers Do – Maroon 5
Young Dumb & Broke – Khalid
Now or Never – Halsey
Too Good at Goodbyes – Sam Smith
Bad at Love – Halsey
Cold – Maroon 5

2017 Latin, Global Pop, and International Hits

Latin crossover was one of the biggest stories in 2017. Despacito became a global phenomenon, while Mi Gente pushed reggaeton and Latin pop even deeper into mainstream pop culture. Luis Fonsi, Daddy Yankee, Justin Bieber, J Balvin, Willy William, and Beyoncé helped make the year feel more global and multilingual.

Despacito – Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee featuring Justin Bieber
Mi Gente – J Balvin & Willy William featuring Beyoncé
Wild Thoughts – DJ Khaled featuring Rihanna & Bryson Tiller
Rockabye – Clean Bandit featuring Sean Paul & Anne-Marie

2017 EDM, Dance, Club, and Electronic Hits

EDM and dance-pop remained very strong in 2017. The Chainsmokers, Zedd, Alessia Cara, Kygo, Selena Gomez, Calvin Harris, DJ Snake, Clean Bandit, Cheat Codes, and Dua Lipa helped keep electronic production in the center of pop. The year’s dance hits worked on radio, in clubs, at festivals, and in any car with one speaker slightly buzzing.

Something Just Like This – The Chainsmokers & Coldplay
Paris – The Chainsmokers
Stay – Zedd & Alessia Cara
Rockabye – Clean Bandit featuring Sean Paul & Anne-Marie
Let Me Love You – DJ Snake featuring Justin Bieber
It Ain’t Me – Kygo x Selena Gomez
Starving – Hailee Steinfeld & Grey featuring Zedd
Feels – Calvin Harris featuring Pharrell Williams, Katy Perry & Big Sean
No Promises – Cheat Codes featuring Demi Lovato
Slide – Calvin Harris featuring Frank Ocean & Migos

2017 Country, Country-Pop, and Roots Crossover Hits

Country and country-pop had a strong place in 2017, especially through Sam Hunt, Keith Urban, Carrie Underwood, Brett Young, and country-friendly pop songwriting. Body Like a Back Road became one of the year’s biggest crossover country songs, while softer romantic tracks kept country radio highly visible.

Body Like a Back Road – Sam Hunt
The Fighter – Keith Urban featuring Carrie Underwood
In Case You Didn’t Know – Brett Young
Take It All Back – Judah & The Lion
Cleopatra – The Lumineers

2017 Alternative, Indie Pop, Rock, and Modern Rock Hits

Alternative and modern rock stayed active in 2017 through Imagine Dragons, Portugal. The Man, Bleachers, The Revivalists, AJR, Lorde, Beck, The Head and the Heart, Foster the People, The 1975, MISSIO, and The Lumineers. The year’s alternative side leaned catchy, festival-ready, and sometimes just weird enough to keep things interesting.

Believer – Imagine Dragons
Feel It Still – Portugal. The Man
Don’t Take the Money – Bleachers
Take It All Back – Judah & The Lion
Thunder – Imagine Dragons
Wish I Knew You – The Revivalists
Priceless – For King & Country
Down – Marian Hill
White Flag – Joseph
Fire and Lies – The Rua
Weak – AJR
Green Light – Lorde
Up All Night – Beck
Human – Rag’n’Bone Man
All We Ever Knew – The Head and the Heart
Somebody Else – The 1975
Doing It for the Money – Foster the People
Fresh Eyes – Andy Grammer
Middle Fingers – MISSIO

2017 Movie, Soundtrack, and Pop Culture Favorites

Soundtrack and pop culture-adjacent songs also mattered in 2017. I Don’t Wanna Live Forever came from Fifty Shades Darker, while several hits became deeply tied to online culture, dance challenges, and streaming-era moments. The year’s music did not just sit on the radio; it moved through movies, memes, playlists, and social feeds.

I Don’t Wanna Live Forever – Zayn & Taylor Swift
Black Beatles – Rae Sremmurd featuring Gucci Mane
Rolex – Ayo & Teo
1-800-273-8255 – Logic featuring Alessia Cara & Khalid
Look What You Made Me Do – Taylor Swift

2017 Viral Hits, Streaming Favorites, and Social Media Songs

Streaming and social media played a major role in 2017. Songs could jump quickly through memes, challenges, playlists, and video platforms. This was the era where “popular song” increasingly meant more than radio spins — it meant cultural circulation, which is a fancy way of saying everyone heard it everywhere.

Black Beatles – Rae Sremmurd featuring Gucci Mane
Rolex – Ayo & Teo
Bad and Boujee – Migos featuring Lil Uzi Vert
Humble – Kendrick Lamar
Bodak Yellow (Money Moves) – Cardi B
Despacito – Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee featuring Justin Bieber
Mi Gente – J Balvin & Willy William featuring Beyoncé

How PopCultureMadness Looks at 2017 Music

PopCultureMadness looks at 2017 music through chart activity, radio presence, streaming momentum, social media impact, cultural memory, soundtrack importance, and long-term trivia value. Some songs dominated official charts, some crossed languages, some became viral moments, and some simply captured the sound of a year when streaming was changing how hits were made.

PCM’s 2017 Top 100 Music Hits Chart

  1. Shape of You – Ed Sheeran
  2. Despacito – Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee featuring Justin Bieber
  3. That’s What I Like – Bruno Mars
  4. Something Just Like This – The Chainsmokers & Coldplay
  5. 24K Magic – Bruno Mars
  6. I Feel It Coming – The Weeknd featuring Daft Punk
  7. Bad and Boujee – Migos featuring Lil Uzi Vert
  8. Castle on the Hill – Ed Sheeran
  9. Paris – The Chainsmokers
  10. Stay – Zedd & Alessia Cara
  11. Attention – Charlie Puth
  12. Say You Won’t Let Go – James Arthur
  13. I’m the One – DJ Khaled featuring Justin Bieber, Quavo, Chance the Rapper & Lil Wayne
  14. Believer – Imagine Dragons
  15. Feel It Still – Portugal. The Man
  16. The Greatest – Sia
  17. Rockabye – Clean Bandit featuring Sean Paul & Anne-Marie
  18. Don’t Wanna Know – Maroon 5 featuring Kendrick Lamar
  19. Let Me Love You – DJ Snake featuring Justin Bieber
  20. What About Us – Pink
  21. There’s Nothing Holdin’ Me Back – Shawn Mendes
  22. Praying – Kesha
  23. Body Like a Back Road – Sam Hunt
  24. Don’t Take the Money – Bleachers
  25. Bad Things – Machine Gun Kelly x Camila Cabello
  26. Love on the Brain – Rihanna
  27. Take It All Back – Judah & The Lion
  28. Slow Hands – Niall Horan
  29. Black Beatles – Rae Sremmurd featuring Gucci Mane
  30. Look What You Made Me Do – Taylor Swift
  31. Thunder – Imagine Dragons
  32. It Ain’t Me – Kygo x Selena Gomez
  33. Humble – Kendrick Lamar
  34. Rolex – Ayo & Teo
  35. Wish I Knew You – The Revivalists
  36. Goosebumps – Travis Scott
  37. Issues – Julia Michaels
  38. Priceless – For King & Country
  39. Chained to the Rhythm – Katy Perry featuring Skip Marley
  40. 1-800-273-8255 – Logic featuring Alessia Cara & Khalid
  41. Down – Marian Hill
  42. White Flag – Joseph
  43. Treat You Better – Shawn Mendes
  44. Fire and Lies – The Rua
  45. Starving – Hailee Steinfeld & Grey featuring Zedd
  46. How Long – Charlie Puth
  47. This Town – Niall Horan
  48. Congratulations – Post Malone featuring Quavo
  49. Feels – Calvin Harris featuring Pharrell Williams, Katy Perry & Big Sean
  50. Mask Off – Future
  51. Million Reasons – Lady Gaga
  52. Unforgettable – French Montana featuring Swae Lee
  53. Bad Liar – Selena Gomez
  54. Wild Thoughts – DJ Khaled featuring Rihanna & Bryson Tiller
  55. Redbone – Childish Gambino
  56. iSpy – KYLE featuring Lil Yachty
  57. Location – Khalid
  58. What Lovers Do – Maroon 5
  59. Bodak Yellow (Money Moves) – Cardi B
  60. Weak – AJR
  61. Fake Love – Drake
  62. Green Light – Lorde
  63. …Ready for It? – Taylor Swift
  64. Mercy – Shawn Mendes
  65. Bounce Back – Big Sean
  66. Strip That Down – Liam Payne
  67. Passionfruit – Drake
  68. No Promises – Cheat Codes featuring Demi Lovato
  69. Slide – Calvin Harris featuring Frank Ocean & Migos
  70. Now or Never – Halsey
  71. Young Dumb & Broke – Khalid
  72. I Don’t Wanna Live Forever – Zayn & Taylor Swift
  73. New Rules – Dua Lipa
  74. Water Under the Bridge – Adele
  75. Bank Account – 21 Savage
  76. Up All Night – Beck
  77. Mi Gente – J Balvin & Willy William featuring Beyoncé
  78. Human – Rag’n’Bone Man
  79. T-Shirt – Migos
  80. Side to Side – Ariana Grande featuring Nicki Minaj
  81. All We Ever Knew – The Head and the Heart
  82. Too Good at Goodbyes – Sam Smith
  83. Rake It Up – Yo Gotti featuring Nicki Minaj
  84. Cleopatra – The Lumineers
  85. The Fighter – Keith Urban featuring Carrie Underwood
  86. Cold – Maroon 5
  87. Tunnel Vision – Kodak Black
  88. Love So Soft – Kelly Clarkson
  89. Bad at Love – Halsey
  90. Lay It on Me – Vance Joy
  91. In Case You Didn’t Know – Brett Young
  92. Sorry Not Sorry – Demi Lovato
  93. Rockstar – Post Malone featuring 21 Savage
  94. Somebody Else – The 1975
  95. Caroline – Aminé
  96. Doing It for the Money – Foster the People
  97. Fresh Eyes – Andy Grammer
  98. Malibu – Miley Cyrus
  99. DNA – Kendrick Lamar
  100. Middle Fingers – MISSIO