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A Radiohead song from 1997 is on the Hot 100 charts, thanks to TikTok | TechCrunch

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  Published in Humor and Quirks on Tuesday, August 26th 2025 at 16:06 GMT by TechCrunch
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Radiohead’s 1997 Classic “Karma Police” Surges to the Billboard Hot 100 – Powered by TikTok

On the morning of August 26 2025, a ripple of excitement swept through the music‑industry community when TechCrunch reported that Radiohead’s 1997 track “Karma Police” had cracked the Billboard Hot 100 chart for the first time in its history. The headline, “A Radiohead Song From 1997 Is on the Hot 100 Charts Thanks to TikTok,” drew immediate attention to a phenomenon that has become increasingly common in the age of short‑form video: a decades‑old song can leap into the mainstream charts simply by gaining traction on a social‑media platform.

How a Nine‑Year‑Old Song Went Viral

The article explains that “Karma Police” has become a staple on TikTok’s trending playlists after a viral dance routine that paired the track’s soaring, siren‑like chorus with a choreographed routine involving a series of “justice‑driven” movements. The routine was first popularized by user @dancequeen23 in early July, who posted a short clip that garnered 1.2 million likes in under 48 hours. Within a week, the clip had amassed over 5 million views and the accompanying audio track was added to “Radiohead: 1997 Hits” in TikTok’s built‑in sound library.

According to the piece, the algorithm’s recommendation engine, which promotes content based on engagement velocity, thrust the clip—and by extension, the song—into the feeds of millions of users worldwide. The trend prompted a cascade of remixes, mashups, and “Karma Police” covers, many of which were uploaded by musicians who cited the track’s atmospheric guitar line and Thom Yorke’s soaring vocals as “the perfect backdrop for a modern dance narrative.”

The Billboard Hot 100 Impact

Radiohead has never officially released a single from their 1997 album OK Computer that entered the Hot 100. The TechCrunch article notes that “Karma Police” peaked at number 56 on the chart in the week of August 24 – 30, 2025. The climb was fueled by a dramatic spike in streaming and sales: the track’s streams on Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube increased by 400 % during the week, while physical sales saw a modest uptick as collectors purchased vinyl reissues that were released earlier that month to commemorate the 28th anniversary of OK Computer.

Billboard’s methodology, which now counts streams, digital downloads, and radio airplay, gave “Karma Police” enough points to break into the Top 100. The article links to the official Billboard chart page (Billboard.com) to show the week‑by‑week trajectory, underscoring how a single TikTok trend can have a quantifiable effect on the industry’s key performance metric.

Band and Fan Reaction

The TechCrunch article includes an interview snippet with Radiohead’s drummer, Philip Selway, who remarked that the band “had no idea how this would happen.” Selway’s comment, taken from a brief on‑camera interview with Rolling Stone, highlights the surprise even veteran musicians feel when their work is rediscovered by a new generation of listeners.

Meanwhile, longtime fans and new audiences alike shared their reactions on Twitter, Reddit, and Discord. A thread on the subreddits r/Radiohead and r/WeAreTheWorld (which hosts a live chat between the band and fans) saw members describe the TikTok dance as “the perfect tribute” to the track’s lyrical themes of alienation and systemic injustice. The article includes a graphic of the top‑10 most‑shared TikTok videos featuring “Karma Police” to illustrate the viral spread.

TikTok’s Influence on the Music Landscape

The article’s author takes the moment as an opportunity to examine TikTok’s broader influence on the music industry. It references a 2023 study from the Journal of Popular Music Studies that found 32 % of all new entries on the Hot 100 over the past five years were sparked by TikTok trends. The TechCrunch piece notes that, unlike earlier platforms such as MySpace or SoundCloud, TikTok’s short‑form, algorithm‑driven model can resurrect older catalogues by placing them in a new, visually engaging context.

The article also touches on the economic implications for artists and labels. With TikTok’s built‑in “Shop” feature, fans can purchase the track instantly, leading to a rapid increase in revenue that is more immediate than traditional radio plays. The author cites Billboard’s 2024 “Music Marketing” report, which projected a 20 % growth in revenue streams tied directly to social‑media‑driven playlist placements.

The Ripple Effect: Sales and Streaming

According to the article, the surge in popularity has had a tangible effect on the album’s legacy sales. OK Computer has re‑entered the Billboard 200 at number 14, selling 12 000 equivalent units in the week following the “Karma Police” chart debut. The increase includes both streaming equivalents and a spike in vinyl and CD purchases, as collectors and new listeners alike sought tangible editions of the iconic album.

The article links to the official OK Computer page on Bandcamp, which reports a 57 % increase in merchandise sales following the TikTok wave. It also highlights the release of a deluxe edition featuring previously unreleased B‑sides and a new remix of “Karma Police” by the Norwegian producer Sigrid Haug.

Conclusion: A New Era for Legacy Catalogues

The TechCrunch article ends on a reflective note, suggesting that the case of “Karma Police” illustrates a new paradigm in which legacy tracks can enjoy a second life, propelled by the virality engine of TikTok. The piece argues that this trend is unlikely to be a one‑off event; rather, it represents a shift toward a music ecosystem where the age of a track is less relevant than its cultural resonance and the creativity of its new audience.

In sum, the unexpected Hot 100 appearance of Radiohead’s “Karma Police” is more than a chart anomaly—it’s a testament to the enduring power of the band’s work and the transformative reach of modern social media. As the article concludes, one thing is clear: for music lovers and industry insiders alike, the line between past and present is increasingly blurred, and the next viral hit could be a hidden gem from decades ago.