The “chart climbing” fever is hitting Billboard, driven by performances and movies. The global music market is bringing back classic hits.
Specifically, the popularity of derivative content like movie releases, festival stages, and remixes is translating into actual chart success. Past hits are being rediscovered through live performances, and legendary artists’ signature songs are being consumed again alongside the success of biographical films. Additionally, remix versions that reinterpret existing songs are trending on short-form platforms, showing a new way of consuming music on global charts.
First up, Justin Bieber’s impressive chart climb is catching everyone’s eye.
“Beauty and a Beat,” released in 2012, is sitting at the top of the Billboard Global 200 chart as of the second week of May. Not only that, but “Daisies” (released last July), and signature hits like “Baby,” “Confident,” and “Sorry” are also positioned high on the charts, with a total of 15 songs entering the Global 200.
Born in 1994, Justin Bieber is a world-class singer-songwriter and producer. Since debuting with the single “One Time” in 2009, he established himself as the ultimate pop icon of the 2010s with consecutive hits like “Baby,” “Sorry,” and “Love Yourself.”
This recent surge is thanks to his performance at the “2026 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival” (hereafter Coachella) last month. After pausing his world tour in 2022 due to health issues, Justin Bieber returned to the big stage for the first time in four years as a main headliner for this year’s Coachella.
Returning to the stage after a long hiatus, Justin Bieber performed hits from his recent albums “SWAG” and “STAY,” as well as “Baby” and “Sorry.” He proved his influence once again, recording the highest ticket sales and stage view rankings of all time. These songs immediately climbed the Billboard charts, meaning Coachella effectively brought Justin Bieber back to the top.
Movie success has also led to chart climbs, specifically for the “King of Pop,” Michael Jackson.
Released in North America on April 24, the Michael Jackson biopic “Michael” (directed by Antoine Fuqua) depicts the journey of the musical genius who shocked the world and became the “King of Pop” through legendary music and electrifying performances.
Starring Jaafar Jackson, Michael’s actual nephew, the film garnered huge attention. It earned 97 million USD (approx. 143.3 billion KRW) in its first North American weekend and over 217 million USD (approx. 320 billion KRW) globally, setting a new opening record for musical biopics and surpassing the 2018 film “Bohemian Rhapsody” (directed by Bryan Singer).
As the movie thrives, Michael Jackson’s existing music is seeing an explosive resurgence. The stages and music recreated on screen are leading directly to audience interest.
According to the AP, Michael Jackson’s US streaming hit 31.7 million views the weekend after the movie’s release, a 95% increase from 16.3 million the previous week. Signature tracks like “Billie Jean,” “Beat It,” and “Thriller” are being consumed across major platforms, re-proving the King of Pop’s influence.
Thanks to this, a total of 16 Michael Jackson songs landed on the Billboard Global 200 for the second week of May, with “Billie Jean” at #8 and most other tracks positioned high.
“Michael” is set to open in Korea on May 13.
BLACKPINK’s Jennie is another star leading the chart-climbing trend.
According to the Billboard charts for the second week of May, “Dracula,” a collaboration between Jennie and Tame Impala, climbed to #17 on the Billboard Hot 100, marking her personal best. It also reached #4 on the Global 200, creating a worldwide trend.
Based on Tame Impala’s original track released last September, the song was reborn as a remix featuring Jennie on February 6 of this year. Jennie participated not only in vocals but also in songwriting and composition. Since the remix’s release, her signature dreamy and decadent vibe has garnered attention on short-form platforms, sparking the chart climb.
This climb is significant in terms of records. “Dracula (JENNIE Remix)” has broken Jennie’s solo record for the highest position on the Billboard Hot 100. Beyond just participating in a remix, she added new charm to an existing song and led it back up the global charts, demonstrating both her global influence and musical presence.
