In a major shake-up, YouTube has officially announced that its long-standing “Trending Now” tab will be permanently removed on July 21, 2025. In its place, the platform will launch an expanded version of YouTube Charts, which offers content-specific rankings like music videos, podcasts, and film trailers.
This move marks the end of an iconic era where the Trending tab was a crucial hub for tracking viral content by country. Especially in the music industry, the Trending chart was a benchmark for success. Throughout the 2010s, YouTube became the go-to platform for music video launches, turning the Trending list into a global battleground for views and virality.
In many counrtries, topping the Trending tab has long been a seal of approval for artists and new music releases. BLACKPINK, often hailed as YouTube queens, just released their comeback MV JUMP on July 11. Within half a day, the video garnered nearly 10 million views and entered top rankings of trending charts.
According to YouTube, user behavior has evolved significantly. Today, most users discover content through the homepage, personalized recommendations, Shorts, Explore, or directly from channel pages. As such, a general Trending tab no longer aligns with modern viewing habits.
The successor, YouTube Charts, aims to provide more organized and intuitive insights. Categories like Trending Music Videos, Weekly Top Podcast Shows, and Trending Movie Trailers will offer a more tailored look into what’s popular across different content forms. Users can access the new charts via charts.youtube.com, available globally starting July 21.
This change is part of YouTube’s broader strategy to leverage personalization algorithms and data analytics, rather than rely on traditional aggregated charts. It reflects a shift toward a more user-centric approach, aligning the platform with how audiences actually engage with digital content in 2025.
