Ben Tzur Didn’t Pass 'The Next Star' Audition. Now He Has a Massive Hit

Despite not making it past the audition stage of Israel’s hit music reality show The Next Star, Ben Tzur is now enjoying a meteoric rise on the country’s official music chart. This week, his latest single "Kol Akhava LeTova" ("Every Delay Is for the Best") landed at number four, marking a significant milestone in the young artist’s career.

The chart, updated every Tuesday at 2:00 PM, continues to see Omer Adam holding the top spot with his long-standing hit "Queen of the Generation," rumored to be inspired by his ex, Yael Shelbia. While Adam remains undefeated at number one, other positions are shifting dramatically.

Nadav Hantzis, who recently stormed the chart with "Im At Kvar Holechet" ("If You're Already Leaving"), saw the song plummet from No. 2 to No. 34. However, Hantzis still has reason to celebrate: his other track "Ani Mistovev" ("I'm Wandering") is climbing to No. 11, and a live performance version of "Im At Kvar Holechet" also debuted on the chart this week.

Meanwhile, Peer Tasi is riding high at No. 3 with "Hi Lo Yoda’at Lama" ("She Doesn’t Know Why") from his newly released album Radio Shtach 3. Just below him is Ben Tzur, now at No. 4, making his solo debut in the chart’s upper ranks. While he previously hit No. 3 with the duet "Sippurei Tzaddikim" alongside Odeya, this marks his highest placement as a solo artist.

On the home front, Agam Buhbut’s single "Gan Eden" ("Paradise"), which premiered at the wedding of her close friend Kim Or Azulay, moved from No. 11 to No. 8 this week. Reality TV crossover Nathanel Dahan, a former contestant on Big Brother Israel, made a dramatic jump from No. 95 to No. 15 with his song "Malakat HaKerach" ("Ice Queen").

As Israel’s music scene continues to blend local flavor with global trends, new voices like Ben Tzur are proving that alternative paths to fame, beyond reality TV auditions, can still lead to the top.