Repeat Offenders: The Making of Smash Singles by Sabrina Carpenter, Shaboozey, and Benson Boone

Sabrina Carpenter, Benson Boone, Shaboozey, Teddy Swims, and Billie Eilish share a unique distinction: their songs appeared on Variety's Hitmakers lists for both 2024 and 2025. Tracks like "Espresso" and "Beautiful Things" sustained their popularity well beyond their release dates, continuing to dominate radio and streaming playlists throughout the year. Heres a closer look at the artists behind these enduring hits.

Teddy Swims Lose Control (No. 6)

In April, Teddy Swims single Lose Control broke records for the longest-running Top 10 track on the Billboard Hot 100, surpassing the Weeknds 57-week reign with Blinding Lights. By July, it became the first song in Hot 100 history to reach 100 weeks on the chart. Swims credits the song to a four-day writing camp in Palm Springs, collaborating with Julian Bunetta, Ammo, Infamous, and Mikky Ekko to create a tune that was catchy enough for everyone to sing, but not everyone can.

The track became the centerpiece of his 2023 release Ive Tried Everything but Therapy (Part 1) and earned Swims Grammy, American Music Award, and Brit Award nominations. He describes the experience as a defining moment in his career, fueling his drive for future successes.

Shaboozey A Bar Song (Tipsy) (No. 7)

Shaboozeys breakout hit A Bar Song (Tipsy) continued its momentum into 2025 after 19 weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100 and over 1.4 billion Spotify streams. The song began as a creative project sampling J-Kwons 2004 single Tipsy during a session with producers Nevin Sastry and Sean Cook. After approval from J-Kwon, Shaboozey debuted the track in early 2024, gaining attention from key industry figures, including Beyoncs A&R team.

Strategic marketing positioned the release two weeks after Beyoncs album, pushing it to chart-topping success across multiple radio formats. The hit helped Shaboozey earn five Grammy nominations, including song of the year and best new artist.

Benson Boone Beautiful Things (No. 10)

Since releasing Beautiful Things in January 2024, Benson Boone has seen a string of achievements, including performing with Brian May at Coachella, releasing his second album American Heart, and headlining a sold-out arena tour. The song originated from late-night sessions at Boones Los Angeles home, developed alongside collaborators Jack LaFrantz and Evan Blair.

The track gained viral traction on TikTok with over 4.5 million video uses, charting for 89 weeks on the Hot 100 and topping the Adult Contemporary chart. Boone has since released additional hits from American Heart, continuing his momentum in the pop music scene.

Billie Eilish Birds of a Feather (No. 12)

Birds of a Feather debuted as part of Billie Eilishs third album, Hit Me Hard and Soft, without pre-release promotion. Upon its May 2024 release, it quickly became one of her most successful tracks, peaking at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and becoming the most-streamed Spotify song of 2024. The song earned Eilish American Music Awards for song of the year and favorite pop song.

Crafted alongside her brother Finneas, the track was never intended as a single but exceeded expectations, eventually surpassing 3 billion Spotify streams.

Sabrina Carpenter Espresso (No. 25)

Even as Sabrina Carpenter focuses on her next album, Mans Best Friend, Espresso continues to thrive. Released in April 2024, the song reached No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and won Grammys for Best Pop Solo Performance and Best Pop Vocal Album for Short n Sweet. Carpenter developed the song while touring with Taylor Swift and collaborating with Julian Bunetta and Amy Allen in France.

With over 2.6 billion Spotify streams, Espresso remains Carpenters top-performing single, further amplified by her ongoing tour supporting Short n Sweet.

Author: Jackson Miller