Ed Sheeran & Justin Bieber to join TMN Hot 100 tussle with ‘I Don’t Care’

The TMN Hot 100 summit is set to become even more crowded with the release of one of the biggest singles of the year — Ed Sheeran & Justin Bieber’s ‘I Don’t Care’.

The collab will join a frenzied race for #1, with unmistakable hits from Taylor Swift, Jonas Brothers, P!NK and Billie Eilish all vying for the top spot.

Hit’s Irene Hulme, Nova’s Scott Baker-Smith and KIIS’ Brad McNicol poured out their collective affection for ‘I Don’t Care’ last Friday, a prime indicator of the song’s fierce airplay potential.     

It could be one of the highest Hot 100 debuts of the year, potentially outperforming Taylor & Brendon Urie’s record-tying chart entry with ‘ME!’ a fortnight ago.

Both ‘I Don’t Care’ and ‘ME!’ are proving to be instant hits, but which single performed better on its first weekend at radio?

‘ME!’ garnered 350 spins in major metro markets from Friday, April 26 to Sunday, April 28. Hit Network stations accounted for more than 50% of the track’s weekend tally (205).

That ultimately helped Taylor to a #2 debut position, equaling her own record held by Reputation lead single ‘Look What You Made Me Do’.

‘I Don’t Care’ worked up a monster 429 metro plays over the corresponding three-day period, blowing ‘ME!’s tally out of the water.

With Nova Sydney and Melbourne leading the charge with 37 spins a piece, the stage is now set for a serious shot at Taylor’s #1 position — and more significantly — her chart record.

Stay tuned Thursday for the latest edition of TMN’s Hot 100 Airplay Chart.