YouTube replaces trending topics: A new game for Vietnamese music?

Ho Chi Minh [Vietnam], May 30: Once considered a "measure" of a Vietnamese artist's popularity, the YouTube Trending list not only reflected the song's reach but also showcased the strength of the fandom and social media influence. However, as YouTube gradually replaced the Trending tab with the YouTube Charts system, the digital music race entered a new phase.
On May 28th, YouTube announced a series of strategic initiatives in Vietnam, including the launch of YouTube Charts, the implementation of the Foundry Rising global independent artist support program, and the return of YouTube Music Night to Ho Chi Minh City. According to YouTube, this is a step towards building a more transparent music ecosystem while supporting Vietnamese artists to develop sustainably on the digital platform .
Unlike the Trending tab, which typically displays aggregated viral videos, YouTube Charts focuses on specialized music data such as Weekly Top Songs, Weekly Top Artists, and Trending Music, with daily and weekly updates. This means the charts will more accurately reflect the actual music listening habits of the audience rather than relying too heavily on the instant viral effect.
In fact, YouTube has been gradually removing the Trending tab globally since 2025. According to YouTube, traffic to the Trending section has declined sharply in recent years as users have shifted to discovering content through Shorts, personalized algorithms, and social networks like TikTok. In this context, Charts is seen as an effort to bring music closer to real listening metrics. This also leads the market to draw parallels with the models of Spotify Charts or Billboard, where streaming data, listen counts, and content consumption are considered more important metrics than mere "viral" performance. Current digital music charts show that the listening trends of Vietnamese audiences are becoming increasingly fragmented and diverse, with the parallel presence of Vpop, indie, hip hop, and even international artists.
YouTube supports independent artists globally.
Notably, among these announcements is the official arrival of the global independent artist support program Foundry Rising in Vietnam. The first artist selected is rapper Dangrangto, a young artist making his mark with his edgy, distinctive, and deeply underground musical style.
Source: Thanh Nein Newspaper