September began in the same manner as August, with Hip Hop/Rap and Pop tied as the most popular Primary Genres in the Top 10, accounting for 30% of songs, each. By month’s end, Pop’s prominence increased to 50% of songs thanks to the arrival of Locked Away and Photograph.  This was the genre’s highest level in 27 weeks.

On the flip side, Hip Hop/Rap’s prominence dropped to 20% due to the departure of My Way and Trap Queen. The genre’s decrease wasn’t as great as it could have been, however, thanks to the arrival of Fetty Wap’s 679 during the week of 9/5.

R&B/Soul’s prominence remained stable at 20% of songs throughout the month, represented by The Weeknd’s chart-toppers Can’t Feel My Face and The Hills. Dance/Club/ Electronic was represented by just one song by the end of the month, Lean On, and Rock dropped down to nil due to the departure of Shut Up And Dance during the week of 9/12.

Electropop and R&B/Soul were tied as the most popular Sub-Genres/Influencers at the beginning of the month, each playing a role in 50% of songs. While Electropop held steady at the top, R&B/Soul dropped to #2 due to the departure of Trap Queen during the week of 9/19. There it joined Hip Hop/Rap, which played a role in 40% to 50% of songs throughout the month. Its representatives included 679, Locked Away, My Way, Bad Blood, and the aforementioned Trap Queen. Trap rounded out the top three with 30% of songs, though it took a hit due to the departure of Bad Blood, My Way and Trap Queen.

World influences returned to the Top 10 for the first time in two months thanks to the arrival of What Do You Mean and Where Are U Now, both of which feature Justin Bieber. On the flip side, New Wave and Pop/Rock dropped down to nil due to the departure of Shut Up And Dance during the week of 9/12. Additionally, Retro’s influence in the Top 10 dropped to its lowest level in 43 weeks, also due to the departure of Shut Up And Dance. Its sole representative at the end of the month was the 1980s influenced Can’t Feel My Face.

Solo Male continued to be the most popular Lead Vocal category in the Top 10 for the ninth month in a row, accounting for 50% to 60% of songs throughout September. During the week of 9/26, the top five songs in the Hot 100 featured a solo male vocal – Can’t Feel My Face, The Hills, What Do You Mean, Watch Me, and Cheerleader.

The Duet/Group vocal category began the month at 20% of songs, and increased to 30% during the week of 9/12 thanks to the arrival of Locked Away (R. City featuring Adam Levine). As for the Solo Female category, it dropped from 20% of songs down to just 10% during the week of 9/19 due to the departure of Rachel Patten’s Fight Song. The vocal category’s sole representative at the end of the month was Lean On.

Love/relationships was once again the most popular Lyrical Theme category in the Top 10, playing a role in 80% to 90% of songs throughout the month, either as a standalone or in conjunction with other themes.

The Hooking Up, Inspiration/Empowerment and Lifestyle categories were tied at the #2 spot at the beginning of the month, each accounting for 30% of songs. However, the latter two dropped to the #3 spot during the week of 9/19 due to the departure of Fight Song and Trap Queen, respectively.

As for the Novelty theme category, it was represented by just one song – Silento’s Watch Me.

September began with the Short (0:01 – 0:09) and Moderately Short (0:10 – 0:19) Intro Length categories tied at the top, each accounting for 50% of songs. The former dropped to the #2 spot by the end of the month, however, due to the departure of Shut Up And Dance and Where Are You Now. The later increased in prominence thanks to the arrival of What Do You Mean and Photograph.

Additionally, one song entered into the Top 10 during the week of 9/12 that doesn’t contain an intro in its framework – Locked Away. Instead, it immediately begins with the chorus.

The Moderately Late (0:40 – 0:59) First Chorus Occurrence category was the most popular, accounting for 50% of songs during the first two weeks of the month. It dropped to 40% during the week of 9/19, however, due to the departure of Trap Queen.

The Early (0:01 – 0:19) and Moderately Early (0:20 – 0:39) categories were tied as the second most popular, each accounting for 20% of songs by month’s end. One song represented the Chorus Kick Off category, Locked Away, and the Late (1:00+) category made a return appearance for the first time in three months thanks to the arrival of Ed Sheeran’s Photograph.

The Two-Word Song Title category was the most popular for the fourth month in a row. It reached a peak of 60% of songs during the week of 9/12 thanks to the arrival of Locked Away. However, it dropped down to 40% during the week of 9/19 due to the departure of Fight Song and Trap Queen.

The One-Word Song Title category reached its highest level in 24 weeks thanks to the arrival of Photograph. It was also represented by Fetty Wap’s 679, and the mega successful Cheerleader.

September began with the 1 – 5, 6 – 10, 11 – 15, and 16 – 20 Song Title Appearance categories tied as the top, each accounting for 20% of songs. The 1 – 5 category pulled ahead during the weeks of 9/12 and 9/26, however, thanks to the arrival of Locked Away and Photograph, respectively.

The 21+ Song Title Appearance category also gained ground, thanks to the arrival of What Do You Mean during the week of 9/19. Accounting for 20% of songs, this was the category’s highest level in 11 weeks. It was also represented by Silento’s Watch Me, which has its title appearing an astounding 70+ times throughout the song.

The Synth and Prominent Drums/Beats/Percussion were tied as the most popular instruments during the month, each playing a role in 70% to 90% of songs. Prominent Bass – in particular the Synth Bass – followed at 60%. Among its representatives were the chart-toppers Can’t Feel My Face and Cheerleader.

The big gainer of the month was Acoustic Piano. Playing a role in 50% of songs by month’s end, this was the instrument’s highest level in 19 weeks.  Among its representatives were the new arrivals Locked Away, What Do You Mean, and Photograph.

On the flip side, Acoustic Guitar dropped down to nil during the week of 9/19 due to the departure of Fight Song, but returned the following week due to the addition of Photograph.

The Primarily Electric Instrumentation category continued to be the most popular in the Top 10 throughout the month of September. Among its representatives were the new arrivals and reentries 679, Shut Up And Dance, and Where Are You Now.

However, the category dropped to an 18-week low of 50% by the end of the month due to the departure of hits including Bad Blood, My Way and Trap Queen, among others.

As for the Primarily Acoustic Instrumentation category, it made a return appearance for the first time in 12 weeks thanks to the arrival of Photograph.

• September 5: 679 (Fetty Wap featuring Remy Boyz)
• September 5: Shut Up And Dance (Walk The Moon) – Reentry
• September 12: Locked Away (R. City featuring Adam Levine)
• September 19: What Do You Mean? (Justin Bieber)
• September 19: Where Are U Now (Skrillex & Diplo with Justin Bieber) – Reentry
• September 26: Photograph (Ed Sheeran)

• September 5: My Way (Fetty Wap featuring Monty)
• September 5: Bad Blood (Taylor Swift featuring Kendrick Lamar)
• September 12: Shut Up And Dance (Walk The Moon)
• September 19: Trap Queen (Fetty Wap)
• September 19: Fight Song (Rachel Platten)
• September 26: Where Are U Now (Skrillex & Diplo with Justin Bieber)