We’ve spent the majority of the last 12 months inside, but it hasn’t been a silent ride. We’ve been listening to music and just as much as ever and Spotify’s round up of the top artists, singles, projects and podcasts reflect the audio moments that made our year.
The most-streamed musician of the year, both globally and within the U.S., is Latinx rapper Bad Bunny. Following him for most popular artists world-wide is Drake, J. Balvin, Juice WRLD and 2021 Super Bowl performer The Weeknd. Meanwhile in the U.S., Juice WRLD, who passed in December 2019, leads the pack, and Drake, Lil Uzi Vert, Post Malone and Taylor Swift follow behind him for most-streamed musicians in America.
Eighteen-year-old Billie Eilish nabs the top spot for most-played female artist on Spotify in the world for the second year in a row. Ariana Grande and Taylor Swift dominate the second the third slots. As far as the U.S. is concerned, Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish, Ariana Grande, Halsey and Megan Thee Stallion are in the top five.
The most-streamed song of 2020, with 1.6 billion plays, goes to The Weeknd’s pop smash “Blinding Lights.” Tone and I’s “Dance Monkey” and Grammy-winning artist Roddy Ricch’s “The Box” follow. Bad Bunny dominates once again for albums with the most spins globally, with YHLQMDLG landing at #1. The Weeknd’s After Hours is directly behind it. Juice WLRD’s posthumous album, Legends Never Die, was the most-played in the United States.
Joe Rogan’s controversial The Joe Rogan Experience podcast got the highest number of ears globally and was just behind the NPR News Now podcast in America. The Michelle Obama Podcast sits in the fourth and fifth spots for most popular in the world and the country, respectively.