Sony Music Publishing recorded the highest U.S. publisher market share for hit songs since tracking began in 2006, reaching 37.32% on the Hot 100 chart in the second quarter of 2026. The result extended its run of consecutive No. 1 finishes on both the Hot 100 and Top Radio Airplay publisher rankings to five quarters, and marked its sixth consecutive time topping the Hot 100 publisher ranking.
| Publisher | Hot 100 share | Top Radio Airplay share |
|---|---|---|
| Sony Music Publishing | 37.32% | 30.26% |
| Warner Chappell Music | 17.67% | 22.82% |
| Universal Music Publishing Group | 16.55% | 12.45% |
| Kobalt | 9.30% | 9.38% |
| BMG | 3.73% | 5.61% |
Record share and top songs#
The 37.32% Hot 100 share was more than double the 17.67% posted by Warner Chappell Music, the quarter’s No. 2 publisher on that chart. Sony also led the Top Radio Airplay publisher ranking with a 30.26% share.
Sony’s ownership interest in Ella Langley’s “Choosin’ Texas,” the No. 1 song on the Q2 Hot 100, contributed to the result. On Top Radio Airplay, its top-performing song was Olivia Dean’s “So Easy (To Fall In Love),” which placed at No. 2.
Sony also administers publishing for the quarter’s Top Radio Airplay songwriter. Songs of the Orchard serves as publisher to Shane Boose, known as sombr, who placed two songs on that chart, including “Homewrecker” at No. 7. Boose held the top writer position on both charts in the prior quarter.
Sony placed 63 songs on the Hot 100 in Q2, down from 65 in Q1, but improved its share from 29.08%. On Top Radio Airplay, its song count fell to 65 from 71, while its share rose to 30.26% from 29.11%.
How other publishers performed#
Warner Chappell Music ranked second on both charts. Its Top Radio Airplay share was 22.82% in Q2, down from 23.22% in Q1, and its Hot 100 share fell to 17.67% from 20.49%. The company placed 59 songs on Top Radio Airplay, one more than in Q1, but its Hot 100 count dropped to 39 from 50. Bruno Mars’ “I Just Might” was its top song on both charts, reaching No. 1 on Top Radio Airplay and No. 4 on the Hot 100.
Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG) was No. 3 on both charts. Its Top Radio Airplay share declined to 12.45% from 14.68%, with 44 song placements compared with 58 in Q1. On the Hot 100, UMPG’s share fell to 16.55% from 17.55%, and its song count dropped to 43 from 47. Olivia Dean’s “Man I Need” remained its top song on both charts, at No. 5 on Top Radio Airplay and No. 3 on the Hot 100.
Kobalt held the No. 4 spot on both charts. Its Hot 100 share was 9.30%, down from 11.15%, with 32 songs including “Choosin’ Texas,” compared with 36 in Q1. On Top Radio Airplay, Kobalt’s share slipped to 9.38% from 9.86%, but its placements rose to 34 from 32. Olivia Dean’s “So Easy (To Fall In Love)” was its top song on that chart.
BMG ranked No. 5 on both charts. Its Hot 100 share fell to 3.73% from 5.24%, with four song placements in both quarters. On Top Radio Airplay, BMG posted a 5.61% share, down from 6.19%, and placed 12 songs in each quarter. Bruno Mars’ “I Just Might” was its top Hot 100 song.
Concord was No. 6 on Top Radio Airplay for the third consecutive quarter, with a 2.75% share, down from 2.88%. Its song count on that chart rose to nine from seven. On the Hot 100, Concord ranked No. 8, falling to a 1.88% share with seven placements from 3.19% with 10 placements in Q1. “Man I Need” was its top song on both charts.
Pulse ranked No. 6 on the Hot 100, improving to a 2.30% share from 1.22% in Q1, when it was No. 8. Kehlani’s “Folded” was its top Hot 100 song at No. 11 and also its top Top Radio Airplay song at No. 3. Pulse placed No. 9 on Top Radio Airplay with a 1.48% share, after not cracking the top 10 in Q1.
Big Machine Music made its fifth consecutive appearance on the Top Radio Airplay publisher rankings.
