Lately, I’ve been fascinated by a small feature on Spotify that tags the top 500 artists with the most monthly listeners. The intersection of data and music has always intrigued me, so naturally, I fruitlessly attempted to guess the artists I presumed would comprise the top ten. Ultimately, the list revealed fascinating pop culture trends while exposing significant gaps in my music consumption. It also showcases how streaming numbers don’t always correlate to cultural impact, especially within Black/Brown spaces.
Below are my thoughts on Spotify’s 20 most-streamed artists!
Author’s Note: Before reading, I’d encourage you to quickly predict the artists you expect to be on the list. Data pulled on March 22nd via Kworb.
*****
#1: Bruno Mars — 140 Million
Initially, I was shocked at this, but it’s not surprising after I gave it some thought. He’s a Super Bowl halftime show performer, which holds MAJOR weight in this exercise, and represents his cross-cultural appeal. His leading position reflects his ability to be palatable to everyone.
For white audiences, Bruno’s commercialized funk allows them to, distantly, enjoy a sound that has been overwhelmingly enjoyed by Black audiences. Songs like “24k Magic” possess an energy that feels outside of pop, but not enough to be threatening or challenging. For Black listeners, Bruno’s replication of the movements and energy of previous soul artists makes him appreciated, or at least respected. His Silk Sonic-ear only strengthened his bond with Black music lovers, elevating the soulful love ballads of yesterday that are largely absent in today’s R&B scene.
Personally, Bruno sounds like corporate office party funk. He succeeds by being the nation’s safe choice. Acceptable to all, offensive to none.
#2: Lady Gaga — 119 Million
My first thought on Lady Gaga is random but personal. Fifteen years later, it’s difficult to overstate the impact of her feature on Wale’s “Chillin”. For the first time, music fans across the nation focused on my hometown of Washington, D.C. It was a brief moment of validation for a city with a rich cultural history, but an underwhelming footprint within rap. Lady Gaga helped me recognize the musical significance of home — and how that reverence is influenced by the sounds that shape us.
#3: The Weeknd — 118 Million
Despite his popularity, I cannot say that The Weeknd’s music is played or discussed in my circles, or generally in the Black spaces I frequent. It wasn’t always this way, as his debut mixtapes — House of Balloons, Thursday, and Echoes of Silence — were a hit among, and solely enjoyed by, my few Black classmates in high school. They had a unique combination of subtle sensuality and distorted production that only elevated The Weeknd’s vocal talent. It was perfect for the Tumblr era where young adults sought expression through anything that felt outside the norm. Yet, The Weeknd slowly fell out of favor with my friend group as his sound gradually shifted towards pop, which propelled him from underground gem to an international superstar.
#4: Kendrick Lamar — 111 Million
His streaming numbers are without question inflated after the Super Bowl. I’ve written A LOT about Kendrick Lamar over the past year, most recently, here.
#5: Billie Eilish — 107 Million
Before writing this article, I didn’t know anything about Billie Eilish. In preparation for this section, I listened to her latest album, HIT ME HARD AND SOFT, and didn’t listen to a single song for more than 30 seconds…
#6: SZA — 97 Million
Like Kendrick Lamar, SZA’s streaming numbers have exploded after the Super Bowl. Nonetheless, she has become the dominant figure in R&B. Her last album, SOS, was critically acclaimed, and its predecessor, CTRL, is rightfully considered among the greatest albums of the past decade. Through her writing and production, she delivers an introspection, relatability, and emotional depth that is well beyond her peers. If SZA’s reign continues, she will be the defining R&B artist of her generation, securing a spot amongst the genre’s greats.
#7: Coldplay — 91 Million
For some reason, I thought Coldplay was a band that peaked in the 1990s. My quick research informed me that not only are they still making music, but their most popular album, Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends, came out in 2008. Yikes.
Proud to say I know one song off the album, that means something. Right?
#8: Rihanna — 90 Million
The level of cultural cache Rihanna has is unmatched. Anti dropped NINE YEARS AGO, and she’s still in the top ten. In most cases, streaming numbers are not reflective of an artist’s cultural standing. Rihanna makes that notion irrelevant.
#9: Bad Bunny — 87 Million
I won’t pretend to know the ins and outs of reggaeton or Latin trap, but Bad Bunny’s WWE entrance in Puerto Rico speaks volumes about the connection he has with his audience.
#10: Taylor Swift — 86 Million
The way Taylor Swift is spoken about and treated — by her fans and the broader American public — comes with an off-putting tone of protection. Whether intentional or ingrained, Swift has become the standard-bearer for whiteness and the structures that uphold it. For Black music fans, or people in general, that is something that can never be shaken. Even if the music is as good as advertised, I wouldn’t know — and never will.
#11: Drake — 81 Million
Wrote about Drake last month. $ome $exy $ongs 4 U only amplifies my feelings.
#12: Ariana Grande — 81 Million
I’ve seen enough of Ariana Grande to know she has amazing vocal talent, but that isn’t enough for me to listen — or know a song of hers.
#13: Justin Bieber — 80 Million
The funniest part about this exercise is going through each artist’s catalog and realizing I didn’t connect them with their biggest hit. For example, I just learned that “Sorry” is a Justin Bieber song….we all have our blindspots.
#14: Ed Sheeran — 75 Million
My first thought about Ed Sheeran is his high approval rating among Black audiences. His willingness to collaborate with artists across the Black diaspora plays a significant role. Tracks like “Shape of You” don’t help build cross-cultural support either.
#15: Dave Guetta — 74 million
Listening to Dave Guetta for 15 minutes was…interesting, and leaves me with questions I don’t care to know the answers to.
#16: Eminem — 73 Million
My feelings about Eminem are best summed up by Gucci Mane. A more robust critique is that, like Taylor Swift, Eminem’s whiteness protects him and positively influences how he is viewed in a genre built by Black artists. Additionally, Eminem’s ability to get away with lyrical themes that, in my view, have proximity to white angst and fragility is worth examining. Throughout his career, his whiteness has allowed him to push the bounds of acceptability in ways Black artists could never. But this isn’t entirely about race.
His latest album, The Death of Slim Shady, continues with his hyperactive rhyme scheme and grievance-driven storytelling. That album is representative of Eminem’s entire ethos. It’s active and provocative, but is it good? More importantly, would we — and have we — accepted this from anyone else? I know my answer.
#17: Travis Scott — 72 Million
I remember the first time hearing “Antidote” in 2015 and feeling a rush of euphoria. Travis Scott, separated himself by making tracks feel larger than life through his creative use of voice and production. All the while, he was equally impressive on more measured tracks like “Oh My Dis Side” and “90210.” The most impressive aspect of Travis Scott’s discography is that he’s managed to keep the electric and dynamic feel with each project. His impact feels self-explanatory, but the appreciation of his artistry feels lost amongst the commanding noise.
#18: Sabrina Carpenter — 72 Million
Surprisingly, I think “Espresso” has an addictive quality and “Bed Chem” is enjoyable. After watching her Tiny Desk, I certainly wouldn’t call myself a fan — but have recognized the affability of her music and its blend of pop and country.
#19: Post Malone — 68 Million
Post Malone going from “White Iverson” to a country star is exactly why it’s easy to keep a distance from white rappers. Jack Harlow, I’m watching you!
#20: Kanye West — 66 Million
My relationship with Kanye West wasn’t severed by an individual moment. Over time, I realized that accepting him after an outburst or rant became a zero-sum game. I simply had to excuse or justify too much.
Every so often, I find myself listening to Kanye’s mid-2000s feature, where his wit and awareness of Black culture felt like the foundation of his artistry. His verse on Dwele’s “Hold On” remix remains one of my all-time favorites, with Kanye rhyming about love through magazine titles. Back then, his creativity was anchored to something we, as a community, could graph. But eventually, that spark drifted away from us, and more specifically, me.
If you’re able to separate the individual from the artist, I envy you. I wish I could enjoy Kanye West without grappling with the person he’s become. But Kanye is solely to blame. He’s the reason why I’ve largely closed the door on him, despite his undebatable greatness.
