Everyone loves March Madness, so why limit it to college basketball? At Pex, we track music and videos across the Internet, and wanted to join in on the fun. We tracked songs from Billboard’s Top 16 artists as of March 16th to see whose music had the most reuploads, including manipulated versions, on social media. When we track a song and find a use of it online, say in the background of a TikTok dance video, we call that a match. So welcome to March Madness of Matches!
Our results are from over 20 UGC platforms, including YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook. We can identify a song down to just one matching second, even if it’s been sped up or otherwise modified. Looking at this Sweet 16, you may think you know who will come out on top, or you may be rooting for the underdog. Check out the results below to see who’s going head-to-head and who’s music had the most matches online.
The Sweet 16
Methodology: Our Sweet 16 bracket is made up of the top 16 artists on the Billboard Artist 100 chart from the week of March 16th. We tracked three songs from each artist based on Spotify popularity and streams. Our Discovery solution tracks over 20 platforms and finds matches to both audio and video. We only index publicly available content from the platforms we track, and the data in this report is as of March 21, 2024.
Taylor Swift vs Morgan Wallen
It’s old country vs new country in this mashup – who will take the Nashville crown?
Swift songs tracked: Shake it Off, Cruel Summer, Lover
Wallen songs tracked: Last Night, You Proof, Thinkin’ Bout Me
Swift total matches: 1.5M
Wallen total matches: 56.4k
Winner: Taylor Swift
SZA vs Drake
Okay, that was a nice warm up. Here’s a harder matchup – will SZA or Drake be more viral online?
SZA songs tracked: Kill Bill, One Kiss, All The Stars
Drake songs tracked: God’s Plan, One Dance, Passionfruit
SZA total matches: 579.3k
Drake total matches: 465.1k
Winner: SZA
Luke Combs vs Zach Bryan
Country newcomer Zach Bryan sees Something in the Orange…but do creators see something in his music? Maybe not quite as much as they see in Luke Combs.
Combs songs tracked: Fast Car, When It Rains It Pours, Beautiful Crazy
Bryan songs tracked: I Remember Everything, Something in the Orange, Heading South
Combs total matches: 18.5k
Bryan total matches: 10.2k
Winner: Luke Combs
Teddy Swims vs Olivia Rodrigo
We thought this was going to be an easier win, but Teddy Swims certainly gives Olivia Rodrigo a run for her money. We mean…matches.
Swims songs tracked: Lose Control, The Door, All That Really Matters
Rodrigo songs tracked: drivers license, deja vu, traitor
Swims total matches: 312.8k
Rodrigo total matches: 444.5k
Winner: Olivia Rodrigo
Noah Kahan vs Beyoncé
You might be thinking this isn’t a fair fight. And you’re right; it’s not. Stick Season was a hit, but it’s no match for Single Ladies.
Kahan songs tracked: Stick Season, Dial Drunk, Northern Attitude
Beyoncé songs tracked: Crazy in Love, Single Ladies, TEXAS HOLD ‘EM
Kahan total matches: 36.6k
Beyoncé total matches: 1.9M
Winner: Beyoncé
TWICE vs 21 Savage
In a huge win for girl bands everywhere, TWICE really ran away with this one.
TWICE songs tracked: The Feels, What Is Love?, FANCY
21 Savage songs tracked: redrum, Jimmy Cooks, Creepin
TWICE total matches: 746.7k
21 Savage total matches: 120k
Winner: TWICE
Travis Scott vs Dua Lipa
It’s Dua Lipa’s Barbie world and Travis Scott is just living in it.
Travis Scott songs tracked: SICKO MODE, FE!N, goosebumps
Dua Lipa songs tracked: Don’t Start Now, Houdini, Cold Heart (PNAU Remix)
Travis Scott total matches: 185.2k
Dua Lipa total matches: 302.1k
Winner: Dua Lipa
Jelly Roll vs Chris Stapleton
Wrapping up the bracket with one final country showdown – looks like it’s Chris Stapleton advancing to the Elite 8 round!
Jelly Roll songs tracked: Need a Favor, Son of a Sinner, Wild Ones
Chris Stapleton songs tracked: Tennessee Whiskey, You Should Probably Leave, Starting Over
Jelly Roll total matches: 17.7k
Chris Stapleton total matches: 62.5k
Winner: Chris Stapleton
The Elite Eight
Unlike with college basketball, we don’t have to wait for the Elite Eight to face off. We can dive right in! 
Taylor Swift vs SZA
It was neck and neck for a minute, but the queen of concerts still reigns. So close, SZA.
Swift songs tracked: Shake it Off, Cruel Summer, Lover
SZA songs tracked: Kill Bill, One Kiss, All The Stars
Swift total matches: 1.5M
SZA total matches: 579.3k
Winner: Taylor Swift
Luke Combs vs Olivia Rodrigo
We wouldn’t hate this mashup in real life, but it may be awkward for Combs after taking such a brutal loss here. We expected nothing less from Rodrigo.
Combs songs tracked: Fast Car, When It Rains It Pours, Beautiful Crazy
Rodrigo songs tracked: drivers license, deja vu, traitor
Combs total matches: 18.5k
Rodrigo total matches: 444.5k
Winner: Olivia Rodrigo
TWICE vs Beyoncé
Can anyone top Cowboy Carter? Looks like TWICE won’t be the champion this time around.
TWICE songs tracked: The Feels, What Is Love?, FANCY
Beyoncé songs tracked: Crazy in Love, Single Ladies, TEXAS HOLD ‘EM
TWICE total matches: 746.7k
Beyoncé total matches: 1.9M
Winner: Beyoncé
Dua Lipa vs Chris Stapleton
Not one but two pop-country mashups we wouldn’t mind in real life. Another brutal loss for country music, though. Luke Combs and Chris Stapleton may want to give Beyoncé a call.
Dua Lipa songs tracked: Don’t Start Now, Houdini, Cold Heart (PNAU Remix)
Chris Stapleton songs tracked: Tennessee Whiskey, You Should Probably Leave, Starting Over
Dua Lipa total matches: 302.1k
Chris Stapleton total matches: 62.5k
Winner: Dua Lipa
The Final Four
Ok, the time has come. Let’s see who wins this thing.
Taylor Swift vs Olivia Rodrigo
We may never know if Rodrigo’s “the grudge” is about Taylor Swift, but we do know Taylor wins this matchup. Hopefully no one holds this against her.
Swift songs tracked: Shake it Off, Cruel Summer, Lover
Rodrigo songs tracked: drivers license, deja vu, traitor
Swift total matches: 1.5M
Rodrigo total matches: 444.5k
Winner: Taylor Swift
Beyoncé vs Dua Lipa
It’s cowboys vs mermaids in this matchup and cowboys are coming out on top. Everything’s bigger in Texas, including Beyonce’s matches.
Beyoncé songs tracked: Crazy in Love, Single Ladies, TEXAS HOLD ‘EM
Dua Lipa songs tracked: Don’t Start Now, Houdini, Cold Heart (PNAU Remix)
Beyoncé total matches: 1.9M
Dua Lipa total matches: 302.1k
Winner: Beyoncé
The championship
Beyoncé vs Taylor Swift
In a shock to no one, the biggest music icons of the last decade meet for the final showdown to see which online fans are stronger – the Beyhive or Swifties? Looks like the era of matches is over.
Beyoncé songs tracked: Crazy in Love, Single Ladies, TEXAS HOLD ‘EM
Swift songs tracked: Shake it Off, Cruel Summer, Lover
Beyoncé total matches: 1.9M
Swift total matches: 1.5M
CHAMPION: Beyoncé
Find your matches with Pex Discovery
We hope you had fun tracking these artists with us and that your actual March Madness brackets are at least somewhat accurate. The matches don’t have to stop here though. Reach out to our team to start tracking your music and finding your own matches. You can get started for just $1 per asset per month.
