“The Fate of Ophelia” still holds at #1, but “Golden” has suddenly closed the gap with a major airplay surge. Predictions have them neck-and-neck — and with Halloween week ahead, this is shaping up to be one of the most suspenseful chart races of the year.

We break down how this happened so quickly, what might come next, and how seasonal returns could disrupt everything. We also look at Olivia Dean and Leon Thomas earning their first Top 10 hits, Olivia’s rising momentum in the U.S., Kehlani’s Folded pushing toward the Top 10, and what the current R&B surge says about shifting listener tastes.

Plus, the holiday season is to begin with Mariah Carey officially calling it soon, TikTok-first promo strategies continue to reshape the industry, and KATSEYE pays a thoughtful homage to Mariah’s iconic videos after that VMA moment.

Episode 30 — and our first on video. The chart games are officially underway.