Well, it certainly has been a year, hasn’t it. Between the virus, the election, social unrest, economic upheaval, “reductions in force,” and all the rest of the special blend that made up this year, I think we can all agree that 2020 was the pits and thank goodness it’s coming to an end. Sure, changing the calendar won’t make everything magically better, but we can be hopeful for things to head in a better direction. That said, this year wasn’t aaallllll the absolute worst. Thank goodness, despite the lack of live shows, there was a ton of great music, especially here in our little SubModern world. This special year-end report is where we take a look back and see what singles and albums got the most airplay all year long.

So, where to start? How about with the #1 single of the year… “Where To Start” from Bully. That’s followed up by a solid top five of “A Hero’s Death” from Fontaines D.C., “Everything Has Changed” from Best Coast, “Kyoto” from Phoebe Bridgers, and “Care” from Beabadoobee.

Only two of those artists had an album in the top five (though they all show up in the top 15) and neither of those was the #1 album. That honor belongs to Aussies Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever with their second record Sideways To New Italy. Raucous Brit-Rockers Idles came in pretty close behind with their latest Ultra Mono. Then Bully’s album SUGAREGG shows up at #3, and Fontaines D.C.’s A Hero’s Death at #4. Finally the #5 “album” of the year comes with something of an asterisk as it’s actually five different EPs released over the course of 2020 by Dirty Projectors, which were then compiled at the end of the year into an aptly titled compilation, 5EPs.

Congratulations to all of those artists and the rest that made their way onto our charts this year. Some other notable names that show up in the top 25 of both charts, include Car Seat Headrest, The Districts, Moaning, Nada Surf, The Psychedelic Furs, Run The Jewels, The Strokes, Tame Impala, Washed Out, and Will Butler. You can find the top 50 singles and top 25 albums of the year on the charts below.

At the end of the year, we always take a moment to also recognize the top labels of the year. Of course with the challanges that 2020 presented to the music industry, I want to preface this by saying that all the fine folks working to bring music to our ears through these hard times deserve praise. Please give yourselves a round of applause! But there has to be a top SubModern label, and with both the #1 single and album of the year, as well as other great releases from Man Man, Moaning, TV Priest, Washed Out, and more, the honor once again goes to Sub Pop Records for the 4th year in a row! Wow! Congrats to Scott P. and Michelle F. for their great work, as well as to the rest of the top ten labels – Domino (#2), BMG (#3), Merge (#4), Partisan (#5), Polyvinyl (#6), Matador (#7), Dead Oceans (#8), PIAS (#9), and 4AD (#10).

Next is what you’ve probably all been holding your breath for… my personal favorite songs and albums of the year.

Thanks as always to everyone who is is part of the SubModern universe, as a promoter, a maker, a writer, or a listener. Music has been a lifesaver through these rough times and will continue to be. I look forward to sharing it with you all in 2021! (Get a preview of some of what’s coming in January on the Available For Airplay page.) I’ll be back here with our first charts of the year on January 6th. Until then, Happy Holidays, Happy New Year, and stay safe!

~ Josh T. Landow
Twitter: @JoshTLandow