The Contenders is a midweek column that looks at artists aiming for the top of the Billboard charts, and the strategies behind their efforts. This week, for the upcoming Billboard Hot 100 dated Nov. 1, we look at some new blood that might freshen up the chart’s top 10 in the coming weeks.

Olivia Dean, “Man I Need” (Capitol/Polydor/Republic): If there’s one rising pop star actually making a noteworthy impact in this period of total Taylor Swift dominance, it’s Olivia Dean. The U.K. throwback singer-songwriter has been gradually entrancing bigger audiences on both sides of the pond for all of 2025, and it’s resulted in her new album The Art of Loving not only debuting atop the U.K. Official Albums Chart and in the top 10 of the Billboard 200 — but climbing one spot on the latter chart in ea

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