2018 Music Hits: Top Songs, Radio Favorites, and Pop Classics 

2018 music was a streaming-era mix of pop, hip-hop, country crossover, Latin music, EDM, alternative pop, movie soundtracks, and viral favorites. Ed Sheeran, Drake, Camila Cabello, Post Malone, Cardi B, Dua Lipa, Travis Scott, Maroon 5, Imagine Dragons, Ariana Grande, and Kendrick Lamar helped define a year where radio, streaming, YouTube, and social media were all pulling hits in different directions.

This PopCultureMadness guide starts with PCM’s Top 10 songs of 2018, then groups more 2018 music hits by style so you can browse the year by sound, mood, and memory. It was a year of massive rap singles, polished pop hooks, country-pop breakthroughs, Latin crossover hits, superhero soundtrack moments, and enough Post Malone to make the playlist grow facial hair.

Quick Answer: What Music Was Popular in 2018?

Popular music in 2018 included pop, hip-hop, trap, country crossover, Latin pop, EDM, alternative rock, R&B, and movie soundtrack songs. Songs like Perfect, In My Feelings, Havana, Sicko Mode, The Middle, Meant to Be, and This Is America helped define 2018 music.

Top 10 Songs of 2018

1. Perfect – Ed Sheeran
2. In My Feelings – Drake
3. Havana – Camila Cabello featuring Young Thug
4. Girls Like You – Maroon 5 featuring Cardi B
5. Sicko Mode – Travis Scott
6. Psycho – Post Malone featuring Ty Dolla $ign
7. The Middle – Zedd, Maren Morris & Grey
8. Meant to Be – Bebe Rexha & Florida Georgia Line
9. Better Now – Post Malone
10. New Rules – Dua Lipa

2018 Music Hits by Style

Beyond the Top 10, 2018 music gets more interesting when grouped by style. The year had rap dominance, dance-pop polish, Latin crossover, country-pop momentum, alternative radio, EDM, R&B, and soundtrack songs that helped shape the larger pop culture conversation.

2018 Pop, Dance-Pop, and Big Radio Hits

Pop music in 2018 was polished, catchy, and built for repeat listening. Ed Sheeran, Camila Cabello, Maroon 5, Dua Lipa, Ariana Grande, Taylor Swift, Shawn Mendes, Selena Gomez, Charlie Puth, Demi Lovato, and Bebe Rexha all helped keep the year bright and radio-friendly. These songs lived comfortably on playlists, radio countdowns, and in the background of stores where nobody admitted they knew every word.

Perfect – Ed Sheeran
Havana – Camila Cabello featuring Young Thug
Girls Like You – Maroon 5 featuring Cardi B
The Middle – Zedd, Maren Morris & Grey
New Rules – Dua Lipa
Youngblood – 5 Seconds of Summer
Shape of You – Ed Sheeran
Eastside – Benny Blanco, Halsey & Khalid
Delicate – Taylor Swift
Finesse – Bruno Mars
Never Be the Same – Camila Cabello
Bad at Love – Halsey
I Like Me Better – Lauv
No Tears Left to Cry – Ariana Grande
In My Blood – Shawn Mendes
Back to You – Selena Gomez
Sorry Not Sorry – Demi Lovato
Wait – Maroon 5
Breathin’ – Ariana Grande
I’m a Mess – Bebe Rexha
God Is a Woman – Ariana Grande
IDGAF – Dua Lipa
Thank U, Next – Ariana Grande

2018 Hip-Hop, Rap, Trap, and Pop-Rap Favorites

Hip-hop was one of the strongest forces in 2018. Drake, Post Malone, Travis Scott, Cardi B, Kendrick Lamar, Childish Gambino, Juice WRLD, Migos, Nicki Minaj, Offset, Tyga, and XXXTENTACION helped shape the year’s streaming-heavy rap sound. Some songs were chart monsters, some were cultural moments, and some practically came with their own meme department.

In My Feelings – Drake
Sicko Mode – Travis Scott
Psycho – Post Malone featuring Ty Dolla $ign
Rockstar – Post Malone featuring 21 Savage
I Like It – Cardi B, Bad Bunny & J Balvin
God’s Plan – Drake
Nice for What – Drake
This Is America – Childish Gambino
Lucid Dreams – Juice WRLD
Bodak Yellow (Money Moves) – Cardi B
Look Alive – BlocBoy JB featuring Drake
All the Stars – Kendrick Lamar & SZA
Motorsport – Migos, Nicki Minaj & Cardi B
Ric Flair Drip – Offset & Metro Boomin
Nonstop – Drake
Freaky Friday – Lil Dicky featuring Chris Brown
Taste – Tyga featuring Offset
Changes – XXXTENTACION
Sad! – XXXTENTACION

2018 R&B, Soul-Pop, and Smooth Vocal Hits

R&B and soul-pop gave 2018 a smoother, moodier side. Khalid, Normani, SZA, Ella Mai, Sam Smith, H.E.R.-adjacent radio trends, and Maroon 5’s R&B-leaning collaborations helped fill the year with emotional hooks and slow-burn production. This section is where the lights got lower and the playlists got more dramatic.

Young Dumb & Broke – Khalid
Love Lies – Khalid & Normani
Lights Down Low – MAX featuring Gnash
What Lovers Do – Maroon 5 featuring SZA
Mine – Bazzi
Alone – Halsey
Too Good at Goodbyes – Sam Smith
Boo’d Up – Ella Mai
Growing Pains – Alessia Cara
Pray for Me – The Weeknd & Kendrick Lamar

2018 Country, Country-Pop, and Crossover Hits

Country crossover had a major year in 2018. Bebe Rexha and Florida Georgia Line scored one of the year’s biggest genre-blending hits, while Jason Aldean, Dan + Shay, Chris Stapleton, and country-friendly pop production helped bring Nashville sounds to a wider audience. Country was not just sitting in its own lane; it was changing lanes with the blinker off.

Meant to Be – Bebe Rexha & Florida Georgia Line
You Make It Easy – Jason Aldean
Tequila – Dan + Shay
Say Something – Justin Timberlake featuring Chris Stapleton
Speechless – Dan + Shay

2018 Latin, Global Pop, and International Hits

Latin and global pop were highly visible in 2018. Camila Cabello, Bad Bunny, J Balvin, Daddy Yankee, Ozuna, Selena Gomez, Cardi B, and DJ Snake helped push multilingual collaborations into the mainstream. These songs showed how American pop was becoming more global, more collaborative, and less interested in old format borders.

Havana – Camila Cabello featuring Young Thug
I Like It – Cardi B, Bad Bunny & J Balvin
Taki Taki – DJ Snake featuring Selena Gomez, Ozuna & Cardi B
Con Calma – Daddy Yankee & Katy Perry featuring Snow

2018 Alternative, Indie Pop, Rock, and Modern Rock Hits

Alternative and modern rock had a strong presence in 2018, especially through Imagine Dragons, Panic! at the Disco, Portugal. The Man, Foster the People, Alice Merton, lovelytheband, AJR, Bleachers, Twenty One Pilots, Muse, Chvrches, and O.A.R. The year’s alternative side was polished, festival-ready, and often just one handclap away from a commercial sync.

Africa – Weezer
Broken – lovelytheband
Sit Next to Me – Foster the People
Thunder – Imagine Dragons
No Roots – Alice Merton
High Hopes – Panic! at the Disco
Natural – Imagine Dragons
Feel It Still – Portugal. The Man
Say Amen (Saturday Night) – Panic! at the Disco
Whatever It Takes – Imagine Dragons
Sober Up – AJR featuring Rivers Cuomo
Don’t Take the Money – Bleachers
Connection – OneRepublic
Jumpsuit – Twenty One Pilots
One Foot – Walk the Moon
Whatever You Want – Pink
Miracle – Chvrches
Pressure – Muse
Miss You All the Time – O.A.R.

2018 Dance, EDM, Club, and Electronic Hits

Dance and electronic music stayed important in 2018, with Zedd, Marshmello, Calvin Harris, Dua Lipa, Diplo, Silk City, David Guetta, Martin Garrix, Fisher, Alison Wonderland, and Loud Luxury helping shape the year’s club and festival sound. Some songs were pop records with dance production, while others were built for the part of the night when the bass does most of the talking.

The Middle – Zedd, Maren Morris & Grey
Happier – Marshmello & Bastille
Friends – Marshmello & Anne-Marie
One Kiss – Calvin Harris & Dua Lipa
Close to Me – Ellie Goulding, Diplo & Swae Lee
Wolves – Selena Gomez x Marshmello
Electricity – Silk City & Dua Lipa featuring Diplo & Mark Ronson
Like I Do – David Guetta, Martin Garrix & Brooks
Losing It – Fisher
Body – Loud Luxury featuring Brando
Church – Alison Wonderland

2018 Movie, Soundtrack, and Pop Culture Favorites

Soundtracks mattered in 2018, especially through Black Panther and *A Star Is Born*. Kendrick Lamar, SZA, The Weeknd, Lady Gaga, and Bradley Cooper helped turn movie songs into major pop culture moments. This is where the year became cinematic, emotional, and occasionally wearing superhero armor.

All the Stars – Kendrick Lamar & SZA
Pray for Me – The Weeknd & Kendrick Lamar
Shallow – Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper

2018 Viral Hits, Streaming Favorites, and Social Media Songs

Streaming and social media shaped 2018 in a big way. Drake’s In My Feelings became tied to a dance challenge, while songs from Post Malone, Cardi B, Juice WRLD, Dua Lipa, and Marshmello kept moving through playlists, clips, and online conversation. The year’s hits did not just chart; they circulated.

In My Feelings – Drake
God’s Plan – Drake
Lucid Dreams – Juice WRLD
I Like It – Cardi B, Bad Bunny & J Balvin
New Rules – Dua Lipa
Happier – Marshmello & Bastille
Rockstar – Post Malone featuring 21 Savage
Freaky Friday – Lil Dicky featuring Chris Brown

How PopCultureMadness Looks at 2018 Music

PopCultureMadness looks at 2018 music through chart activity, radio presence, streaming momentum, social media impact, soundtrack importance, pop culture memory, and long-term trivia value. Some songs dominated official charts, some became viral moments, some crossed genres, and some captured the sound of a year when streaming was firmly steering the bus.

PCM’s 2018 Top 100 Music Hits Chart

1. Perfect – Ed Sheeran
2. In My Feelings – Drake
3. Havana – Camila Cabello featuring Young Thug
4. Girls Like You – Maroon 5 featuring Cardi B
5. Sicko Mode – Travis Scott
6. Psycho – Post Malone featuring Ty Dolla $ign
7. The Middle – Zedd, Maren Morris & Grey
8. Meant to Be – Bebe Rexha & Florida Georgia Line
9. Better Now – Post Malone
10. New Rules – Dua Lipa
11. Africa – Weezer
12. Rockstar – Post Malone featuring 21 Savage
13. Youngblood – 5 Seconds of Summer
14. I Like It – Cardi B, Bad Bunny & J Balvin
15. Shape of You – Ed Sheeran
16. Broken – lovelytheband
17. God’s Plan – Drake
18. Sit Next to Me – Foster the People
19. Happier – Marshmello & Bastille
20. Thunder – Imagine Dragons
21. No Roots – Alice Merton
22. Eastside – Benny Blanco, Halsey & Khalid
23. Taki Taki – DJ Snake featuring Selena Gomez, Ozuna & Cardi B
24. High Hopes – Panic! at the Disco
25. Natural – Imagine Dragons
26. Feel It Still – Portugal. The Man
27. Delicate – Taylor Swift
28. Finesse – Bruno Mars
29. Young Dumb & Broke – Khalid
30. Friends – Marshmello & Anne-Marie
31. Say Amen (Saturday Night) – Panic! at the Disco
32. Nice for What – Drake
33. One Kiss – Calvin Harris & Dua Lipa
34. Close to Me – Ellie Goulding, Diplo & Swae Lee
35. Whatever It Takes – Imagine Dragons
36. Never Be the Same – Camila Cabello
37. This Is America – Childish Gambino
38. Sober Up – AJR featuring Rivers Cuomo
39. Bad at Love – Halsey
40. I Like Me Better – Lauv
41. Lucid Dreams – Juice WRLD
42. Love Lies – Khalid & Normani
43. Bodak Yellow (Money Moves) – Cardi B
44. Look Alive – BlocBoy JB featuring Drake
45. You Make It Easy – Jason Aldean
46. All the Stars – Kendrick Lamar & SZA
47. No Tears Left to Cry – Ariana Grande
48. In My Blood – Shawn Mendes
49. Lights Down Low – MAX featuring Gnash
50. I Hope You’re Happy – Blue October
51. Tequila – Dan + Shay
52. How Long – Charlie Puth
53. Back to You – Selena Gomez
54. Sorry Not Sorry – Demi Lovato
55. Motorsport – Migos, Nicki Minaj & Cardi B
56. Don’t Take the Money – Bleachers
57. Wait – Maroon 5
58. Wolves – Selena Gomez x Marshmello
59. Ric Flair Drip – Offset & Metro Boomin
60. Breathin’ – Ariana Grande
61. Say Something – Justin Timberlake featuring Chris Stapleton
62. Praying – Kesha
63. Nonstop – Drake
64. All I Ever Wanted – The Rua
65. I’m a Mess – Bebe Rexha
66. What Lovers Do – Maroon 5 featuring SZA
67. Freaky Friday – Lil Dicky featuring Chris Brown
68. Mine – Bazzi
69. Connection – OneRepublic
70. Jumpsuit – Twenty One Pilots
71. No Excuses – Meghan Trainor
72. God Is a Woman – Ariana Grande
73. Shallow – Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper
74. Pray for Me – The Weeknd & Kendrick Lamar
75. One Foot – Walk the Moon
76. IDGAF – Dua Lipa
77. Whatever You Want – Pink
78. Electricity – Silk City & Dua Lipa featuring Diplo & Mark Ronson
79. Slow Hands – Niall Horan
80. Lay It on Me – Vance Joy
81. Taste – Tyga featuring Offset
82. Losing It – Fisher
83. Joy – For King & Country
84. Miracle – Chvrches
85. Might Not Like Me – Brynn Elliott
86. Thank U, Next – Ariana Grande
87. Younger – A Great Big World
88. Body – Loud Luxury featuring Brando
89. Alone – Halsey
90. Too Good at Goodbyes – Sam Smith
91. Nothing Breaks Like a Heart – Mark Ronson featuring Miley Cyrus
92. Like I Do – David Guetta, Martin Garrix & Brooks
93. Love Someone – Lukas Graham
94. Boo’d Up – Ella Mai
95. Growing Pains – Alessia Cara
96. Changes – XXXTENTACION
97. Celebrate – Dirty Heads featuring The Unlikely Candidates
98. Church – Alison Wonderland
99. Miss You All the Time – O.A.R.
100. Sad! – XXXTENTACION