Sabrina Carpenter continues her reign over the 2025 pop landscape, with her hit single “Busy Woman” being named one of BBC Radio 1’s biggest songs of the year, as the station officially kicks off its annual countdown of the Top 100 tracks. The ranking, voted on by Radio 1 DJs, celebrates the songs that defined the year across streaming, radio airplay, cultural impact, and fan response.
The countdown is being hosted live by Matt and Mollie, who are leading listeners through the year’s biggest records, airing from London on Thursday afternoon. Fans are tuning in live as each track is revealed, with Sabrina’s placement sparking excitement, especially amid her massive international success this year.
A Surprising Entry That Caught Listeners Off Guard
The countdown opened with “Sally, When the Wine Runs Out”, followed by notable early appearances from YUNGBLUD’s “Zombie” and Tate McRae’s “Just Keep Watching.” But one moment that drew reaction online was Carpenter’s lower-than-expected placement for Busy Woman, with many fans expressing shock and curiosity about where other major hits may fall later in the list.
Despite debuting lower in the Top 100 than anticipated, Busy Woman remains one of the most influential pop singles released this year. The track has dominated social platforms, gained heavy rotation, and strengthened Carpenter’s position as one of pop’s most in-demand voices.
A Transitional Music Year Without a Breakout Star
According to BBC Music Correspondent Mark Savage, 2025 has been a transitional year in mainstream music, characterized by strong returning artists but no single breakout phenomenon dominating the conversation the way previous years have seen. Instead, the year has been shaped by a diverse spread of hits, collaborative projects, and strategic releases across genres.
As Savage notes, Radio 1’s countdown provides a snapshot of shifting industry momentum rather than a single narrative, reflecting varied tastes across pop, rock, indie, and alternative crossover.
Fans Join Live Conversation
Listeners are encouraged to share their favorite tracks of 2025 throughout the broadcast via WhatsApp messaging, fueling real-time community engagement. With 100 songs scheduled to be revealed in one afternoon, the race to No. 1 has become a social media spectacle, trending across hashtags on X, TikTok reaction videos, and fan poll threads.
As for which artist will claim the top spot, the field remains wide open — with names including Taylor Swift, Olivia Rodrigo, Billie Eilish, Chappell Roan, Fred again.., and Drake among audience predictions.
