Which songs define the sound of the last 25 years – the first quarter of the 21st century? It’s the question that Philly public radio station WXPN 88.5 FM is asking its listeners to answer, in order to build the playlist of songs that will comprise the “885 Greatest Songs of the 21st Century.”
Through November 8th, WXPN listeners can vote for their top ten songs released between 2000 and 2024. Their lists will shape the definitive list of 21st century songs that WXPN will reveal starting on December 5th.
“Creating a playlist of the top 885 songs of the 21st century is probably the most ambitious undertaking in the 21 years we’ve been doing them,” said Bruce Warren, WXPN Associate General Manager for Programming. “Because the outcome is totally dependent upon the passionate voices of XPN listeners, the playlist will directly reflect their input on what will essentially be the soundtrack of a generation.”
Since 2004, WXPN has crowdsourced and broadcast “ultimate” lists in various music categories, such as 2023’s “885 Greatest Songs by Women.” The popular end-of-year special programming can last for more than a week. Each year, listener excitement and engagement builds as the 885-song countdown gets closer to the top-ranked songs.
Each voter who submits their top ten songs of the 21st century will be entered to win weekly prizes from WXPN, and a grand prize of a year’s worth of concert tickets for two.
WXPN will have info about the “885 Greatest Songs of the 21st Century” at its 3-day XPoNential Music Festival presented by Subaru that starts today at Wiggins Waterfront Park in Camden, NJ.
Go here for more information about the “885 Greatest Songs of the 21st Century,” and visit xpnfest.org for tickets and info about the 2024 XPoNential Music Festival.