Music news: Spotify has released a throwback wrapped – What does it mean?

By Shauna Hyland

Spotify recently released a feature that showed users their top artist and song for their very first year on the streaming platform, dating many years back for some.

Let’s take a look back at who was the most streamed artist and song over the past 10 years as a mini-wrapped of our own.

2016

In 2016, Drake was the most streamed artist. He ended the year with 4.7 billion streams, likely due to his hit song “One Dance”. 

The most streamed song of 2016 on Spotify was actually Drake’s song “One Dance”, the first song in Spotify history to reach 1 billion streams. It did this all within its first year, as it took this record in December 2016.

2017

In 2017, Ed Sheeran was the most streamed artist on Spotify globally with 6.3 billion streams. His album ÷ (Divide) was the most streamed album of the year. 

Ed’s hit song “Shape of You” was the most streamed song of the year in 2017; reaching over 1.4 billion streams.

2018

Returning from 2016 to take the lead again, Drake was 2018’s most streamed artist on Spotify. He generated 8.2 billion streams in 2018 following the release of Scorpion the album.

Once again, Drake takes the lead for most streamed song as his hit song “God’s Plan” was Spotify’s top song of 2018. The track generated over 1.1 billion streams on Spotify in 2018.

2019

Post Malone was 2019’s top artist, topping the charts with over 6.5 billion streams globally. His 2019 album Hollywood’s Bleeding contributed heavily to this success. His song “Sunflower” performed very well in the charts.

However, although Post Malone was the top artist that year; he didn’t have the most streamed song.

Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello’s “Señorita” was the top song of 2019 with over a billion streams by early December. 

2020

In 2020, Bad Bunny became the most streamed artist in 2020, garnering over 8.3 billion streams globally. His album “YHLQMDLG” was also the most streamed album of the year on the platform. 

Despite being the top artist, Bad Bunny didn’t have the top song.

The top song on Spotify in 2020 was “Blinding Lights” by The Weeknd, attaining almost 1.6 billion streams globally in 2020. 

2021

Returning from the previous year, Bad Bunny became 2021’s most streamed artist on Spotify, achieving over 9.1 billion streams and topping the global list for the second year in a row. 

Notably, he didn’t even release an album this year – the success followed on from his release the previous year.

But once again, Bad Bunny didn’t have the most streamed song. Olivia Rodrigo took Spotify by storm with “Drivers License”, getting over 1.1 billion streams on a song from her debut album SOUR.

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2022

For the third year in a row, Bad Bunny returned as top artist of the year on Spotify in 2022, with 18.5 billion streams that year. He released his album Un Verano Sin Ti this year, garnering further success.

Harry Styles’ “As It Was” stole the show for most streamed song; with over 1.6 billion streams in just 2022. 

2023

Taylor Swift returned to the industry after a short hiatus, releasing Midnights and embarking on the Eras Tour, and in 2023 she became the most streamed artist of the year with over 26.1 billion streams.

Although Taylor attained so many streams, she didn’t have the most popular song of the year; Miley Cyrus did with “Flowers”, with 1.6 billion streams. 

2024

Returning for her second year in a row, Taylor Swift was 2024’s most streamed artist with over 26.6 billion streams following her release of The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology. 

However, once again, somebody else had the top spot for most streamed song; Billie Eillish. Her song “BIRDS OF A FEATHER” was the most streamed on spotify, with over 1.77 billion streams. 

2025

After a quiet streak, Bad Bunny returned as top artist on spotify with over 19.8 billion streams. This marks his fourth time at the top. Will he do it again in 2026?

The most streamed song of 2025 was “Die With A Smile” by Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars, with over 1.7 billion streams globally. Interestingly, Billie Eillish’s “BIRDS OF A FEATHER” which was top last year, followed closely behind in second this year.

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