Taylor Swift’s “Look What You Made Me Do” climbed to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. The intense electropop track served as the lead single from her sixth studio album, Reputation.
Swift has since teased the possibility of rerecording the song, leaving fans waiting for its arrival.
Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images
But Taylor Swift is only part of the story. From groundbreaking rap records and legendary blues artists to major albums and unforgettable live performances, September 16 has been an important date in music history.
Here’s a look at some of the biggest music milestones associated with September 16.
September 16 Music History: Major Hits and Milestones
Several important albums and songs connected to September 16 have found new audiences years after their original releases.
1985: Kate Bush Releases Hounds of Love
Kate Bush released her acclaimed album Hounds of Love on September 16, 1985.
The record included “Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God),” which eventually became one of Bush’s signature songs.
Decades later, the track experienced a remarkable resurgence after appearing prominently in the fourth season of Stranger Things. Its renewed popularity introduced Bush’s music to an entirely new generation.
1997: Usher Releases My Way
Usher released his second studio album, My Way, in 1997.
The project featured guest appearances from Monica, Lil’ Kim and Jermaine Dupri. It reached No. 4 on the Billboard 200 and spent three weeks at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.
The album also produced three Top Five Billboard Hot 100 hits: “You Make Me Wanna…,” “Nice & Slow” and the title track, “My Way.”
The success helped establish Usher as one of the defining R&B stars of his generation.
1997: Busta Rhymes Releases When Disaster Strikes…
Busta Rhymes also released a major album in 1997.
When Disaster Strikes… peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 and delivered the hit single “Dangerous.”
The song reached No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 and topped the Hot Rap Songs chart, further cementing Busta Rhymes’ place among hip-hop’s most recognizable performers.
2016: Mac Miller Releases The Divine Feminine
Mac Miller’s fourth studio album, The Divine Feminine, arrived in 2016.
The project included appearances from artists such as Bilal, Anderson .Paak, Kendrick Lamar and Ariana Grande.
It reached No. 2 on the Billboard 200 and topped Billboard’s Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.
The album also produced notable songs including “My Favorite Part,” “Cinderella” and “Congratulations.”
2023: Zach Bryan Tops the Billboard 200
Country music made a major impact on the Billboard charts in 2023.
Zach Bryan’s self-titled album held the No. 1 position on the Billboard 200, while Morgan Wallen’s One Thing at a Time sat just behind it at No. 2.
The chart placement reflected the continued strength of country and country-pop music in the mainstream music market.
September 16 Music Birthdays and Cultural Milestones
September 16 has also been the birth date of several influential musicians and entertainers.
1925: B.B. King Is Born
Blues legend B.B. King was born Riley B. King on September 16, 1925, to Nora Ella and Albert L. King.
By the age of 10, King was already performing on the streets to earn money.
Over the course of his legendary career, he scored multiple U.S. Top 40 hits, including “The Thrill Is Gone” and “To Know You Is to Love You.”
His accomplishments also included inductions into both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Blues Foundation Hall of Fame.
B.B. King’s influence on blues, rock and popular music continues to be felt decades after his breakthrough.
1968: Marc Anthony Is Born
Marco Antonio Muñiz, better known as Marc Anthony, was born in New York on September 16, 1968.
The four-time GRAMMY winner has sold more than 12 million records and become one of the most successful Latin music artists of his generation.
His 2013 hit “Vivir Mi Vida” spent 17 weeks at No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs chart.
Anthony’s other U.S. Top 40 hits include “You Sang to Me” and “I Need to Know.”
1979: “Rapper’s Delight” Makes History
The Sugarhill Gang released “Rapper’s Delight” in 1979, a song widely regarded as a landmark in the commercial rise of hip-hop.
Its instantly recognizable opening helped introduce rap music to a massive mainstream audience.
The song became the first rap song to reach the Top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100, making it a crucial milestone in chart and hip-hop history.
1991: Willie Nelson and Annie D’Angelo Marry
Country music legend Willie Nelson married Annie D’Angelo on September 16, 1991.
The couple have two sons together, Jacob Micah Nelson and Lukas Autrey Nelson.
Through their marriage, D’Angelo also became stepmother to Nelson’s children from previous relationships.
1992: Nick Jonas Is Born
Nick Jonas was born on September 16, 1992.
He later rose to international fame as a member of the Jonas Brothers alongside his brothers Kevin and Joe.
The group became one of the most successful pop acts to emerge from the Disney era, building a major following among younger listeners before expanding into broader pop culture.
2006: Bob Dylan Makes Billboard History
Bob Dylan reached another remarkable career milestone in 2006 when his album Modern Times topped the Billboard 200.
At age 65, Dylan became the oldest artist to reach No. 1 on the Billboard 200 at that time.
The achievement added another chapter to the career of one of popular music’s most influential singer-songwriters.
Notable Performances on September 16
September 16 has also featured major live performances from some of music’s biggest stars.
2008: Lady Gaga Performs During London Fashion Week
In 2008, Lady Gaga performed at a London Fashion Week party while she was in the midst of promoting her debut album, The Fame.
The performance came early in Gaga’s rise to international stardom.
2016: Kanye West Brings the Saint Pablo Tour to Miami
Kanye West’s Saint Pablo Tour stopped at Miami’s American Airlines Arena in September 2016.
West performed a 31-song set that included “Can’t Tell Me Nothing” and “Flashing Lights.”
The North American leg featured 41 shows and supported his seventh studio album, The Life of Pablo.
According to reported figures, the tour generated an estimated $52.8 million in revenue.
2017: Ariana Grande Performs in Singapore
Ariana Grande performed in Singapore on September 16, 2017, as part of her Dangerous Woman Tour.
The tour had resumed and been extended following a temporary hiatus after the May 2017 attack at Manchester Arena.
The Singapore performance was part of the tour’s international run in support of Grande’s third studio album, Dangerous Woman.
2023: BLACKPINK Performs in Seoul
BLACKPINK brought its BORN PINK World Tour to Seoul’s Gocheok Sky Dome in 2023.
The group performed major hits including “Pink Venom,” “Shut Down” and “How You Like That.”
The tour supported BLACKPINK’s 2022 album Born Pink and included more than 60 concerts across Asia, Oceania, North America and Europe.
With reported earnings exceeding $78 million, the tour ranked among the year’s highest-grossing concert tours.
2024: Olivia Rodrigo Performs in Bangkok
Olivia Rodrigo performed the second of two concerts in Bangkok, Thailand, on September 16, 2024.
The shows were part of her Guts World Tour, which supported her sophomore album, Guts.
The tour took Rodrigo to venues across North America, Europe, Asia and other international markets as she continued the global rollout of her second album.
Why September 16 Matters in Music History
From chart-topping singles to groundbreaking rap records, September 16 has produced an impressive collection of music milestones.
The date connects artists from dramatically different eras and genres. B.B. King represents the enduring power of the blues, while The Sugarhill Gang helped bring hip-hop into the mainstream. Bob Dylan added another milestone to his historic career, and artists such as Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande, BLACKPINK and Olivia Rodrigo continued the tradition of creating memorable moments on September 16.
Whether you’re interested in Billboard chart history, famous music birthdays, classic albums or legendary live performances, September 16 offers plenty to explore.
And with artists from Taylor Swift to B.B. King represented in its history, this date is a reminder that music history is constantly being written — and rewritten — by each new generation.