Spotify is the world’s largest premium streaming service with more than 87 million subscribers (and counting). Every one of those subscriptions is linked to a person with unique music preferences who uses the platform to consume audio whenever the mood strikes. That activity creates a lot of data, and unlike many tech companies, Spotify uses that data to promote further engagement. You may have seen their 2018 billboards, which outlined various data points that highlighted just how different, yet similar we are as people. Here is an example:
Last week, Spotify continued to leverage the data we provide them by releasing numerous Top 5 lists based on consumption. There are many takeaways, including the fact that emo rap is positioned for a huge push in 2019, as we reassurance that many contemporary favorites are still mainstays in culture (we’re looking at you, Drake).
Spotify’s Global Top Lists 2018:
Most-Streamed Artists
Drake is the world’s most-streamed artist, with more than 8.2 billion streams this year. J Balvin, who made his top-five debut, had multiple hits on our global chart, such as “X” (with Nicky Jam) and “I Like It” (with Cardi B).
*Ed Sheeran was the top-streamed artist in 2017
Most-Streamed Female Artists
Spotify’s top-streamed female artist, Ariana Grande, released her hotly-anticipated fourth album, “Sweetener,” in August. She had a momentous year with numerous charting singles, including her latest smash “thank u, next.” Grande’s music streamed more than 3 billion times in 2018.
Most-Streamed Tracks
While it was the summer of “In My Feelings,” Drake’s track “God’s Plan” was actually the most-streamed song of 2018. Post Malone also scored two songs on this list with both “rockstar (feat. 21 Savage)” and “Psycho (feat. Ty Dolla $ign).”
- God’s Plan – Drake
- SAD! – XXXTENTACION
- rockstar (feat. 21 Savage) – Post Malone
- Psycho (feat. Ty Dolla $ign) – Post Malone
- In My Feelings – Drake
Most-Streamed Artist Albums
Drake’s “Scorpion” was released on June 29, and before long was racking up 10 million streams an hour. Dua Lipa’s self-titled debut album also had a stellar year, and Ed Sheeran’s 2017 album “÷” made the top five as well.
- Scorpion – Drake
- beerbongs & bentleys – Post Malone
- ? – XXXTENTACION
- Dua Lipa – Dua Lipa
- ÷ – Ed Sheeran*
*Ed Sheeran’s ÷ was the top album in 2017
Most-Streamed Groups*
Imagine Dragons is Spotify’s most-streamed group for 2018, but K-pop sensation BTS also enjoyed plenty of global listening. Maroon 5 and Migos come in third and fourth, and Coldplay took fifth.
*Must have three or more members
** Coldplay was 2017’s most-streamed group
Most-Followed Playlists
Today’s Top Hits is 2018’s most popular playlist. It’s the best place to go to find out what’s trending in popular music—and about 22 million followers agree. Rounding out the top five is Songs to Sing in the Car, with Beyoncé’s “Halo,” and Camila Cabello’s “Havana” as the top two songs people are belting on their road trips.
Genres That Grew the Most in 2018
Special thanks to Hypebot for the heads up about this info.
