Which New York Songs Are Getting the Biggest Bumps From the Knicks’ Championship Win?
The music industry is once again demonstrating its remarkable ability to mirror and amplify cultural moments. From the jubilant roar of a championship victory to the somber reflection following a tragic loss, and the electrifying anticipation of a global sporting event, songs are experiencing significant surges in popularity, driven by diverse and compelling narratives. This week’s Billboard Pro "Trending Up" newsletter highlights how the New York Knicks’ historic NBA championship, the untimely passing of artist Oliver Tree, the kickoff of the FIFA World Cup, and a viral TikTok dance challenge have collectively sent streams for a range of musical acts skyrocketing. These trends underscore the dynamic interplay between sports, social media, and the enduring power of music to capture the zeitgeist.
Knicks’ Historic Championship Ignites a Symphony of New York Pride
The New York Knicks’ first NBA championship in 53 years has sent a wave of euphoria across the city, a celebration that has predictably translated into a significant uplift in streams for songs intrinsically linked to the Big Apple. The palpable excitement surrounding the team’s hard-fought victory on June 13th and the subsequent celebrations have propelled a selection of iconic New York-themed anthems to the top of streaming charts.
Leading the charge is the quintessential anthem of urban aspiration, Jay-Z and Alicia Keys’ "Empire State of Mind." According to preliminary data from Luminate, the track accumulated an impressive 1.4 million on-demand chart-eligible streams in the United States on June 13th and 14th. This represents a substantial 30% increase compared to the 1.1 million streams recorded in the preceding two days, June 11th and 12th. The timing of this surge, immediately following the Knicks’ game-five clinching victory, highlights the song’s deep-rooted connection to the city’s identity and its ability to soundtrack moments of collective triumph. The game concluded shortly before midnight, meaning the reported figures capture not only the immediate aftermath but also late-night listening as the city reveled in its long-awaited championship.
The patriotic fervor extended to other beloved New York classics. Frank Sinatra’s timeless "Theme From New York, New York" saw a remarkable 62% surge, garnering 672,000 streams on June 13th-14th, a significant jump from its 415,000 streams on June 11th-12th. Ja Rule’s energetic ode to the city, "New York," featuring Fat Joe and Jadakiss, also experienced a robust increase, with 515,000 streams, a 68% rise from 308,000. Billy Joel’s introspective "New York State of Mind" resonated with listeners, achieving 190,000 streams, a 71% boost from 111,000. Even less prominent tracks felt the impact; Cam’ron’s "Welcome to New York City," featuring Jay-Z and Juelz Santana, saw a 62% increase to 98,000 streams from 60,000, and Jesse Itzler’s "Go Ny Go" jumped 70% to 56,000 streams from 33,000.
To further contextualize the magnitude of these gains, a comparison was made to streams on April 18th, the opening day of the 2026 NBA playoffs. "Empire State of Mind" recorded 374,000 streams on that earlier date, meaning its June 14th performance of 852,000 streams represented an astounding 128% increase. The other five mentioned tracks also demonstrated similarly dramatic upticks during this period, with percentage point increases ranging from a low of 126% to an extraordinary 18,465%. This data underscores the profound emotional connection fans have to music that embodies their city’s spirit, especially during moments of significant cultural and sporting achievement. The Knicks’ victory has not only etched itself into sports history but has also provided a powerful soundtrack for a city’s collective joy.
Tragic Loss of Oliver Tree Sparks an Outpouring of Streams and Tributes
The music world was left reeling by the shocking news of the death of alt-pop artist Oliver Tree, who was among six individuals lost in a tragic mid-air helicopter collision on June 14th. The incident occurred over the Recreio dos Bandeirantes neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where Tree was on his ambitious "World’s First World Tour." The tour, which commenced on May 30th in Mexico, was a global undertaking with a planned 70 performances across all seven continents, a testament to Tree’s adventurous spirit and expansive artistic vision.
The untimely passing of the 32-year-old singer-songwriter-producer, born Oliver Tree Nickell, at the peak of his creative journey, prompted an immediate and profound outpouring of grief from fans and fellow artists alike. Social media platforms became a space for shared sorrow and remembrance, with many prominent figures in the music industry expressing their condolences. Notably, fellow alt-pop star Melanie Martinez, who was previously in a relationship with Tree, paid a heartfelt tribute, describing him as "a true artist in every way."
In the wake of this devastating news, Oliver Tree’s extensive catalog experienced an unprecedented surge in streams as fans sought solace and connection through his music. On the day of his death, June 14th, Tree’s songs garnered an impressive 5.5 million official on-demand U.S. streams. This figure more than doubled the following day, jumping a staggering 135% to reach 12.8 million streams on June 15th. Over these two critical days, Tree’s music accumulated nearly 18.3 million streams, representing an astronomical 1,744% spike when compared to the equivalent two-day period just one week prior, June 7th-8th.
The most significant increases were observed for his two charting hits on the Billboard Hot 100: the 2021 single "Life Goes On" and the 2022 collaboration "Miss You" with Robin Schulz. "Life Goes On" saw a remarkable 1,919% increase, reaching 3.2 million streams, while "Miss You" climbed 1,756% to 2.3 million streams. His 2018 breakout track, "Alien Boy," also experienced a substantial surge, up 1,963% to 1.7 million streams. These figures illustrate the deep impact Tree had on his fanbase, who are now engaging with his discography as a way to honor his memory and celebrate his unique artistic legacy. The tragic circumstances surrounding his death have underscored the profound loss felt by the music community and his devoted followers, who are collectively keeping his music alive.
World Cup Kickoff Triggers Global Anthem Revival
The world has turned its attention to the pitch as the FIFA World Cup officially kicked off on Thursday, June 11th, igniting a fever pitch of global excitement. With matches spanning Canada, Mexico, and the United States for the next month and a half, the tournament has become a unifying force, drawing in fans from every corner of the globe. This collective enthusiasm has naturally extended to the music associated with the sport, leading to significant upticks in streams for official anthems and beloved World Cup classics.
The anticipation for the tournament was amplified by a series of official countdown concerts held across World Cup host cities on Wednesday, June 10th. Many of the performing artists showcased songs directly tied to the event, and the impact on streaming numbers was immediate. Shakira and Burna Boy’s "Dai Dai," the official song of the tournament, experienced one of the most substantial boosts. Following the duo’s powerful performance at the Mexico opening ceremonies, the anthem garnered over 3.3 million official on-demand U.S. streams in the three days after the concert (June 11th-13th). This represents a notable 74% spike compared to the same period the week prior (June 4th-6th), according to Luminate data.
Similarly, the joint performance by Lisa, Anitta, and Rema at the U.S. opening ceremonies for their song "Goals" resulted in a significant 43% gain, reaching 365,000 streams over the same timeframe. These performances underscore the effectiveness of live events in driving music consumption, particularly when tied to major global spectacles.
Beyond the newly released official tracks, a cohort of older World Cup anthems has also experienced a resurgence in popularity, proving their enduring appeal as timeless tournament soundtracks. Shakira’s iconic 2010 hit "Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)" saw a 101% increase in streams, reaching 2.2 million. K’naan’s equally memorable "Wavin’ Flag" also climbed significantly, up 124% to 630,000 streams over the same period. The enduring power of these songs lies in their ability to evoke the spirit of past tournaments and unite fans through shared musical memories.
Adding to the trend of trending up, Pitbull and Jennifer Lopez’s 2014 collaboration "We Are One (Ola Ola)" experienced a remarkable 251% surge, accumulating 1.1 million streams. This continued success for the duo highlights their knack for creating anthemic tracks that resonate with global audiences during major sporting events.
In a particularly surprising development, Katy Perry’s 2013 album track "Wonder" from her album Prism, which has no direct affiliation with football, saw one of the most dramatic gains of the weekend. Following Perry’s performance alongside 10-year-old Norwegian singer Tius Luka at the U.S. opening ceremonies, the song experienced an astonishing 4,009% increase in streams, soaring from a modest 4,000 to over 169,000. This phenomenon illustrates how even tangential associations with major events, particularly through live performances, can lead to unexpected and significant boosts in music consumption, demonstrating the unpredictable nature of viral trends in the digital age.
Viral TikTok Choreography Propels *NSYNC’s "I Want You Back" to New Heights
The ever-evolving landscape of music discovery and promotion continues to be shaped by the viral power of TikTok. The latest testament to this phenomenon comes from The Brotherhood, a Canadian dance crew, whose dynamic choreography has breathed new life into *NSYNC’s 1997 classic, "I Want You Back." This resurgence is a powerful example of how social media trends can drive significant engagement with timeless music.
The Brotherhood, known for their consistent presence in viral dance challenges, recently captured widespread attention with moves derived from their first-place performance at the International Dance League’s (IDL) 2026 Vancouver Series on May 23rd. Their routine, a pitch-perfect homage to the golden era of boy bands, centered around the infectious energy of "I Want You Back." The intricate and captivating choreography quickly resonated with users, prompting a surge in streams for the beloved *NSYNC track.
According to Luminate data, "I Want You Back" garnered 379,000 official on-demand U.S. streams during the week of The Brotherhood’s IDL victory (May 22nd-28th). As clips of their winning performance began circulating on TikTok the following week (May 29th-June 4th), this figure saw a substantial 44% increase, reaching over 546,000 official streams. The momentum continued to build, with streams climbing an additional 25% in the subsequent week (June 5th-11th), collecting over 687,000 official streams. This cumulative growth represents an impressive 81% increase in streams over the two-week period, directly attributable to the viral spread of the dance routine.
The impact of The Brotherhood’s performance is evident across the platform. The crew’s official TikTok account features a clip of the winning performance with nearly one million views. Furthermore, choreographer Scott Forsyth (@/scott4syth) has posted two rehearsal clips of the "Want You Back" routine, each exceeding 1.2 million views. The official "I Want You Back" TikTok sound is now utilized in close to 50,000 videos, with a significant portion of these featuring users attempting the choreography. This widespread adoption highlights the infectious nature of the routine and its appeal to a broad range of TikTok users, from aspiring dancers to casual participants.
The significance of this trend has not gone unnoticed by NSYNC themselves. The official NSYNC TikTok account has publicly acknowledged the viral sensation, commenting "You guys win" on The Brotherhood’s winning performance post. This endorsement from the original artists further solidifies the "I Want You Back" revival and suggests that the momentum generated by this TikTok dance challenge is likely to continue building across social media platforms. This instance also echoes The Brotherhood’s previous success, as their 2025 IDL Vancouver performance was credited with helping Lecrae & 1K Phew’s "Move" gain traction, demonstrating their consistent ability to influence music trends. The Brotherhood’s "I Want You Back" choreography serves as a compelling case study in the power of creative interpretation and social media virality to reintroduce and re-contextualize beloved music for new generations.
