The Top 10 Songs of 2016

For the fifth year, Inside The Rock Era takes a look back at the year that was in music by presenting The Top 10 Songs of the Year*.  

Overall, a pretty good year--2016 marked the return of Adele and a "comeback" for Justin Bieber, but it will be best known for some pretty promising acts appearing on the scene, groups such as Twenty One Pilots and Chainsmokers.  

These rankings are based on the same factors that influence our database which ranks over 12,000 songs of the Rock Era--chart numbers across genres, single sales, album sales, airplay, YouTube views and statistics and awards won.  The rankings will change as new sales and airplay information comes in, but as it stands this New Year's Eve, these are The Top 10 Songs of 2016:

#1:

"Hello"

Adele

#1 for 10 weeks overall and #1 for 21 weeks on the Adult Contemporary chart.  American Music Award for Favorite Adult Contemporary Artist and nominated for Favorite Pop/Rock Female Artist, Favorite Pop/Rock Song and Favorite Pop/Rock Album, won 5 Billboard awards--Top Artist, Top Female Artist Top Billboard 200 Artist, Top Billboard 200 Album and Top-Selling Song, nominated for Top Hot 100 Song, Top Radio Song and Top Song Sales Artist, 7 MTV nominations, including Video of the Year, Best Female Video and Best Pop Video, Grammy nominations for Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Album of the Year, Best Pop Vocal Album, and Best Pop Solo Performance, , People's Choice nominations for Favorite Po p Artist and Favorite Female Artist, 8 million in single sales, over 16.5 million in album sales.

#2:

"7 Years"

Lukas Graham

Peak of #2, nominated at Grammy Awards for Record of the Year, Song of the Year and Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group, 5.8 million in single sales, 700,000 in album sales.

#3:

"Stressed Out"

Twenty One Pilots

Peaked at #2, nominated for Grammy Awards for Record of the Year and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance, won American Music Awards for Favorite Pop/Rock Duo or Group and Favorite Alternative Rock Artist and nominated for Artist of the Year, nominated for Favorite Group at People's Choice Awards, 4 million in single sales, 1.5 million in album sales

#4:

"One Dance"

Drake 

#1 for 10 weeks, nominated at Grammys for Best Rap Album, Album of the Year, won AMA's for Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop Artist, Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop Album and nominated for Favorite Pop/Rock Male Artist, Favorite Pop/Rock Album, Favorite Pop/Rock Song, Favorite Soul/R&B Song and Collaboration of the Year, won Billboard Award for Top Rap Artist and nominated for Top Artist, Top Male Artist, Top Billboard 200 Artist, Top Hot 100 Artist, Top Song Sales Artist and Top Streaming Songs Artist, 6.1 million sales, 2 million in album sales.

#5:

"Can't Stop The Feeling"

Justin Timberlake

#1 for 1 week, #1 for 15 weeks on the AC chart, nominated for Best Song Written for Visual Media at Grammy Awards, nominated for Best Original Song at Golden Globe Awards, nominated for Favorite Song, Favorite Pop Artist and Favorite Male Artist at People's Choice , 5.6 million single sales

#6:

"Work"

Drake and Rihanna

#1 for 9 weeks, nominated at Grammys for Record of the Year, Best Pop Duo/Group and Best Rap Album, Album of the Year, won AMA's for Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop Artist, Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop Album and nominated for Favorite Pop/Rock Male Artist, Favorite Pop/Rock Album,  won Billboard Award for Top Rap Artist and nominated for Top Artist, Top Male Artist, Top Billboard 200 Artist, Top Hot 100 Artist, Top Song Sales Artist and Top Streaming Songs Artist, 3.3. million sales, 2 million in album sales

#7:

"Closer"

Chainsmokers

#1 for 12 weeks, nominated for Best Pop Group/Duo Performance and Best New Artist at Grammys, AMA for Favorite Electronic/Dance Artist, nominated for New Artist of the Year at AMA's, 4.5 million single sales

#8:

"Cheap Thrills"

Sia and Sean Paul

#1 for 4 weeks, nominated for Grammys for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance and Best Pop Vocal Album, nominated for Best Female Video at MTV, nominated for Favorite Pop Artist at People's Choice, one of highest L-D Ratios, 5.5 million single sales, 150,000 album sales

#9:

"Love Yourself"

Justin Bieber

#1 for 2 weeks, #1 for 8 weeks AC, nominated for Album of the Year, Best Pop Vocal Album, Song of the Year and Best Pop Solo Performance At Grammy Awards, won Favorite Pop/Rock Song, Favorite Pop/Rock Album and Favorite Pop/Rock Male Artist at AMA's and nominated for Artist of the Year, won Top Male Artist and Top Social Media Artist at Billboard Awards, nominated for Top Artist, Top Billboard 200 Artist, Top Hot 100 Artist, Top Song Sales Artist, Top Radio Songs Artist, Top Streaming Songs Artist and Top Billboard 200 Album, 6.5 million single sales, 3.6 million album sales

#10:

"Heathens"

Twenty One Pilots

Peaked at #2, won American Music Awards for Favorite Pop/Rock Duo or Group and Favorite Alternative Rock Artist and nominated for Artist of the Year, nominated Best Rock Song Best Rock Performance by a Duo at Grammy Awards, won MTV Award for Best Rock Video and nominated for Artist to Watch, 2.5 million sales, 1.5 million album sales, one of highest Like to Dislike Ratios of the year.