Spotify has released its annual Year in Music top lists – revealing the artists and songs that were the most popular with music fans around the world in 2015.
The data also uncovers the most popular playlists on the service, both globally and in the UK.
The worldwide No.1 playlist is Spotify’s own Today’s Top Hits, followed by Afternoon Acoustic, Baila Reggaeton, Hot Country and RapCaviar.
In the UK, the most popular playlist in 2015 was Spotify’s Hot Hits UK, followed by Warner playlist Topsify’s UK Top 40, then Spotify’s Today’s Top Hits, Afternoon Acoustic, Feelin’ Good
The firm says that 75 million listeners enjoyed over 20 billion hours of music this year, with over 2 billion Spotify playlists now created.
Spotify’s Global Year in Music 2015
- Most-Streamed Artist of All Time and Most Streamed Artist of 2015 in the UK: Ed Sheeran (pictured)
Ed Sheeran is now the most streamed artist of all time on Spotify, with more than 3 billion streams to date (overtaking the previously most-streamed artist, Eminem), and with over 59 million listeners this year, Ed Sheeran was also the most-streamed artist in the UK in 2015.
- Most Streamed Artist of 2015: Drake
Drake is the world’s most streamed artist of 2015, with over 1.8 billion streams this year and 46 million listeners.
- Most-Streamed Female of 2015: Rihanna
With over one billion streams and 57 million listeners this year, Rihanna is 2015’s most streamed female artist.
- Most Streams in a Single Day: Justin Bieber
Justin Bieber set a record for the most streams in a single day of all time with 36 million streams on November 13. Justin Bieber also broke the record for the most album streams in a single week, with over 205m streams of ‘Purpose’, released on November 13th.
- Most-Streamed song of 2015: Lean On (ft. MØ and DJ Snake) by Major Lazer
Lean On(ft. MØ and DJ Snake) by Major Lazer is themost streamed song of 2015, Spotify users listened to it over 540 million times this year. This popular track also ranks as the most streamed song of all time on Spotify.
Major Lazer thanked fans and said “One Love, One Lazer!! Thanks to you: our friends, fam and global squad, ‘Lean On’ is the world’s most streamed track!!”
- Most-Streamed album of 2015: The Weeknd – Beauty Behind The Madness
The Weeknd’s 60 million listeners made Beauty Behind The Madness the most streamed album of the year. Drake’s If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late comes in at #2.
“It’s been an insane year working with some really talented people. Thank you to the fans on Spotify for making “Beauty Behind the Madness” the most streamed album of 2015”, said The Weeknd.
- Breakout Artist of 2015: Kygo
Norwegian DJ and producer, Kygo, is 2015’s breakout artist of the year, becoming the first Spotlight artist to reach one billion streams, with hits including Firestone and Stole the Show.
Kygo said ‘2015 has been a crazy year for me, and Spotify have supported me right from the start. It’s an honour to be their Breakout Artist of the year, and I’m super excited to see what we can do together in 2016!’
- Most Viral Track of 2015: Sugar (ft. Francesco Yates) by Robin Schulz
Robin Schulz’s Sugar (ft. Francesco Yates) is the most viral track of the year, appearing on Spotify’s Global Viral 50 chart 55 times this year. Drake’s Hotline Bling is #2.
Robin Schulz commented “Things that go viral are normally cat videos, small children doing stupid stuff or both – so it’s amazing when this happens to one of your songs!! Thanks to everyone who shared “Sugar” on Spotify this year!”
- Most Popular Playlist of 2015: Today’s Top Hits
Of Spotify’s 2 billion playlists, Today’s Top Hits was the most popular this year, with close to 70 million hours of listening.
Global Results
Top Five Global Artists (also Top Five Global Male Artists)
- Drake
- Ed Sheeran
- The Weeknd
- Maroon 5
- Kanye West
Top Five Global Female Artists
- Rihanna
- Ariana Grande
- Nicki Minaj
- Beyoncé
- Ellie Goulding
Top Five Global Tracks
- Lean On (feat. MØ & DJ Snake) – Major Lazer
- Cheerleader – Felix Jaehn Remix Radio Edit – OMI
- Uptown Funk – Mark Ronson
- See You Again (feat. Charlie Puth) – Wiz Khalifa
- Love Me Like You Do – From “Fifty Shades Of Grey” – Ellie Goulding
Top Five Global Albums
- Beauty Behind The Madness – The Weeknd
- If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late – Drake
- Peace Is The Mission – Major Lazer
- Stories – Avicii
- Title – Meghan Trainor
Top Five Global Viral Tracks
- Sugar (feat. Francesco Yates) – Robin Schulz
- Hotline Bling – Drake
- Ain’t Nobody (Loves Me Better) – Felix Jaehn
- Can’t Feel My Face – The Weeknd
- Here – Alessia Cara
Top Five Global Playlists
- Today’s Top Hits
- Afternoon Acoustic
- Baila Reggaeton
- Hot Country
- RapCaviar
UK Results
Top Five Artists in the UK
- Ed Sheeran
- The Weeknd
- Drake
- Sam Smith
- Kanye West
Top Five Females in the UK
- Rihanna
- Beyoncé
- Ellie Goulding
- Nicki Minaj
- Sia
Top Five Tracks in the UK
- Cheerleader (Felix Jaehn Remix) – OMI
- Uptown Funk – Mark Ronson
- Lean On (feat. MØ & DJ Snake) – Major Lazer
- Take Me To Church – Hozier
- See You Again (feat. Charlie Puth) – Wiz Khalifa
Top Five Albums in the UK
- Beauty Behind The Madness – The Weeknd
- Chaos And The Calm – James Bay
- Communion – Years & Years
- Peace Is The Mission – Major Lazer
- Me 4 U – OMI
Top Five Viral Tracks in the UK
- Talk To Me – Nick Brewer
- Queen’s Speech 4 – Lady Leshurr
- Can’t Feel My Face – The Weeknd
- Hotline Bling – Drake
- What’s A Girl To Do – Fatima Yamaha
Top Five Playlists in the UK
- Hot Hits UK
- Topsify UK Top 40
- Today’s Top Hits
- Afternoon Acoustic
- Feelin’ Good
Music Business Worldwide
