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Ranking of Western Music Artists Popular Among University Students [2025]
After entering university, many students find their horizons and activities expanding, their musical tastes changing, and even discovering genres they weren’t interested in before.
Some may think, “I want to graduate from being an idol fan,” and start turning their attention to Western music.
The reasons for liking something vary, but for now, here’s a ranking of artists popular among university students.
Ranking of Western Music Artists Popular Among University Students [2025] (1–10)
Big AdventureEH!DE1rank/position
A hard-hitting artist.
The thick, heavy bass they create is incredibly satisfying, the kind of sound that makes you want to blast it through a subwoofer.
They might not be very well-known even among Western music fans, but they’re a highly recommended artist.
Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)Shakira2rank/position
Unfolding with dynamic energy, this pop number overflows with African spirit atop a powerful, groovy rhythm.
The celebratory sound woven by Colombia’s Shakira and South African band Freshlyground is sure to be the ultimate BGM to fire up any sports day.
Released in May 2010, the track gained worldwide popularity as the official song of the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, selling over 15 million copies globally.
It topped the charts in 15 countries and has amassed over 4 billion views on YouTube.
Blending a feverish, danceable beat with the spirit of football, this song is a perfect match for sporting events—powerfully propelling athletes toward victory and uniting the entire venue in a shared sense of excitement.
Wake Me UpAvicii3rank/position
Avicii, who came from Sweden, was one of the key figures who elevated EDM from a European genre to a globally popular style of music.
“Wake Me Up” is a song that expresses the feelings of a protagonist who didn’t realize they were lost in life and in how they were living, and who, wanting to avert their eyes from that sense of emptiness, wishes to be awakened once everything is over.
While following the EDM style of ramping up the tempo before the chorus and exploding at the chorus, the track also carries a sense of folk-like roots.
Considering the climactic lift in the chorus, I think it matches well with events like cavalry battles, where team strength determines victory or defeat!
Counting StarsOneRepublic4rank/position
This is a work released in June 2013 by OneRepublic, a pop-rock band from the United States.
It expresses the emotions of modern people swayed by materialism and anxiety about the future through an impressive folk-pop sound.
Included on the 2013 album “Native,” it became a major hit, reaching No.
2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No.
1 in the UK.
Used in the end credits of the film “Earth to Echo” and in the TV drama “Rookie Blue,” this song offers courage and hope in the face of adversity.
It also makes a great background track for school sports days, encouraging a spirit of challenge.
Boy With Luv feat. HalseyBTS5rank/position
BTS is a male idol group from K-pop that has become popular worldwide.
One of their signature songs, “Boy With Luv,” is an upbeat dance track that’s perfect for school sports days and athletic festivals.
Its fresh, positive sound makes it ideal as an entrance song, too.
Of course, it’s also a great number to dance to.
SacrificeBebe Rexha6rank/position
A true dance music classic, “Sacrifice.” This track was released in 2021 by American singer-songwriter Bebe Rexha and is included on the album “Better Mistakes,” released the same year.
Though it runs only about two and a half minutes, its catchy melody, shimmering piano sounds, and driving drum beat make for an undeniably cool vibe from start to finish.
Be sure to check it out.
24K MagicBruno Mars7rank/position
24K is a global notation that signifies high-purity gold, right? Gold—meaning first place—so how about using it as BGM for championships or victories? The track has an upbeat feel, so I think it would fit perfectly! It’s a sound that gets everyone hyped.
The intro features a full-on vocoder and a Minneapolis funk vibe, strongly reminiscent of the sound crafted by Jam & Lewis—who later became powerhouse producers and were part of Prince’s backing band—very much in that 90s hitmaking style.