diff --git a/backend/explore/explore.go b/backend/explore/explore.go
index 9a91ad3..802d790 100644
--- a/backend/explore/explore.go
+++ b/backend/explore/explore.go
@@ -933,47 +933,56 @@ var mbSpecialPurposeArtists = map[string]bool{
 // just SQLite lookups.  This is the fast path used when the index
 // is ready.
 func (e *Service) boostWithIndexPopularity(result *MBSearchResult) {
-	// Look up popularity for all artist MBIDs.
-	// Give a large bonus to library artists so they rank first.
-	artistPop := make(map[string]int, len(result.Artists))
+	// Collect all MBIDs across all entity types.
+	allMBIDs := make([]string, 0,
+		len(result.Artists)+len(result.ReleaseGroups)+len(result.Recordings))
 
 	for _, a := range result.Artists {
-		pop := e.index.GetPopularity(a.MBID)
-
-		// Library artists get a massive popularity bonus.
-		if e.index.IsInLibrary(a.MBID) {
-			pop += 10_000_000 //nolint:mnd
+		if a.MBID != "" {
+			allMBIDs = append(allMBIDs, a.MBID)
 		}
+	}
 
-		if pop > 0 {
+	for _, rg := range result.ReleaseGroups {
+		if rg.MBID != "" {
+			allMBIDs = append(allMBIDs, rg.MBID)
+		}
+	}
+
+	for _, r := range result.Recordings {
+		if r.MBID != "" {
+			allMBIDs = append(allMBIDs, r.MBID)
+		}
+	}
+
+	// Single batch query for all popularity + in_library data.
+	popMap := e.index.GetPopularityBatch(allMBIDs)
+	if popMap == nil {
+		return
+	}
+
+	// Build per-entity maps from the batch result.
+	artistPop := make(map[string]int, len(result.Artists))
+	for _, a := range result.Artists {
+		if pop, ok := popMap[a.MBID]; ok {
 			artistPop[a.MBID] = pop
 		}
 	}
 
 	rerankArtists(result.Artists, artistPop)
 
-	// Look up popularity for release groups.
 	rgPop := make(map[string]int, len(result.ReleaseGroups))
-
 	for _, rg := range result.ReleaseGroups {
-		pop := e.index.GetPopularity(rg.MBID)
-
-		if e.index.IsInLibrary(rg.MBID) {
-			pop += 10_000_000 //nolint:mnd
-		}
-
-		if pop > 0 {
+		if pop, ok := popMap[rg.MBID]; ok {
 			rgPop[rg.MBID] = pop
 		}
 	}
 
 	rerankReleaseGroups(result.ReleaseGroups, rgPop)
 
-	// Look up popularity for recordings.
 	recPop := make(map[string]int, len(result.Recordings))
-
 	for _, r := range result.Recordings {
-		if pop := e.index.GetPopularity(r.MBID); pop > 0 {
+		if pop, ok := popMap[r.MBID]; ok {
 			recPop[r.MBID] = pop
 		}
 	}
diff --git a/backend/explore/searchindex.go b/backend/explore/searchindex.go
index e402c73..c8e7008 100644
--- a/backend/explore/searchindex.go
+++ b/backend/explore/searchindex.go
@@ -316,6 +316,53 @@ func (si *SearchIndex) GetPopularity(mbid string) int {
 	return 0
 }
 
+// GetPopularityBatch returns popularity (listen count) for multiple
+// MBIDs in a single query.  Returns a map of MBID → popularity.
+func (si *SearchIndex) GetPopularityBatch(mbids []string) map[string]int {
+	if len(mbids) == 0 {
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	placeholders := make([]string, len(mbids))
+	args := make([]any, len(mbids))
+
+	for i, m := range mbids {
+		placeholders[i] = "?"
+		args[i] = m
+	}
+
+	query := "SELECT mbid, popularity, in_library FROM explore_index WHERE mbid IN (" +
+		strings.Join(placeholders, ",") + ")"
+
+	rows, err := si.db.QueryContext(query, args...)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	defer func() { _ = rows.Close() }()
+
+	result := make(map[string]int, len(mbids))
+
+	for rows.Next() {
+		var mbid string
+		var pop int
+		var inLib int
+
+		if err := rows.Scan(&mbid, &pop, &inLib); err == nil {
+			existing, ok := result[mbid]
+			if !ok || pop > existing {
+				if inLib == 1 {
+					pop += 10_000_000 //nolint:mnd // library bonus
+				}
+
+				result[mbid] = pop
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
+	return result
+}
+
 // IsInLibrary returns whether the given MBID is marked as in the
 // user's local library in the search index.
 func (si *SearchIndex) IsInLibrary(mbid string) bool {