Our listening habits are continuously evolving. Musical technology has advanced significantly since it was a strictly live experience to the numerous recorded media we’ve used over the years, from vinyl to tape to CD to mp3. With more than 180 million premium subscribers worldwide, Spotify has surpassed rivals like Apple Music and the Jay-Z-backed Tidal since its founding in 2006 and has become the undisputed leader in the streaming market. Spotify has also significantly changed how we access music.
Ledger Note is all about the numbers, and when it comes to Spotify, those numbers are just absurd. We’ve already discussed the most streamed musicians on the platform, but because we had so much fun with it, we’re going back to the well to examine the all-time most-streamed tracks.
List Of The Most-Streamed Songs Of All Time On Spotify 2022
1. “Shape Of You” – Ed Sheeran
https://youtu.be/JGwWNGJdvx8
SPOTIFY STREAMS: 3.30 BILLION
He was going to be the one, wasn’t it? Ed Sheeran’s position at the top of this list is only unexpected in that it is his only entry in the top 10. Although Sheeran might not be considered a generational songwriting prodigy in the same vein as Bob Dylan, Paul McCartney, or Jeff Buckley, he is the current standard-bearer for writing songs that are relatable and appealing to listeners everywhere.
The numbers around this individual are practically incomprehensible, but we’ll provide them anyhow in case they’re helpful. The total sales of this song were $26.6 million in 2017, according to the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry, even in a world when streaming services make buying music nearly totally optional. It became the first song on Spotify to receive two billion listens, surpassing Drake’s “One Dance,” which was previously the most streamed music on the service. 5.7 billion people have watched the official music video on YouTube as of the time of writing, which is more than two-thirds of the whole world’s population. We just don’t have the time to spend a single second discussing this song because, if you’re reading this, we can guarantee that you’ve heard it at least 800 times by now.
2. “Blinding Lights” – The Weekend
https://youtu.be/4NRXx6U8ABQ
SPOTIFY STREAMS: 3.26 BILLION
Just focus on that figure. For a second, try to picture three billion of anything. It’s a figure that is essentially incomprehensible. Try to visualize the astounding feat of accumulating three billion streams in just three years since this is the most recent release on our whole list, having only been on the scene at the end of November 2019. This song epitomizes a monster smash, being named by Billboard as the best-performing single of all time, the longest song to ever chart on the Hot 100 at 90 weeks, and the number-one song in 36 different countries. Additionally, it was the song with the quickest two billion Spotify streams.
If you don’t believe us, check out the crash zoom on his pointy black and white dance shoes. The undeniable dopamine hit from the song’s nostalgic qualities, from the overtly ’80s synths to the Michael Jackson-inspired visuals in the video, almost certainly contributed to this song’s total dominance. The song’s success is hardly surprising considering that it was produced by Swedish hitmaker Max Martin, who also worked on the Backstreet Boys’ “I Want It That Way” and Britney Spears’ “Hit Me Baby One More Time.”
3. “Dance Monkey” – Tones and I
https://youtu.be/q0hyYWKXF0Q
SPOTIFY STREAMS: 2.70 BILLION
With this song, which is best described as absolutely strange, we have officially hit stratospheric numbers. In support of a breathy, distorted vocal that repeats the phrases “dance for me” and “move for me” for a little over three minutes, a club-friendly bassline is paired with some show tune clicks and percussion. In other words, a wonderful example of modern pop music. The song’s inclusion as one of the most recent songs on the list, having only been released a little over three years ago, makes it even more astounding given how quickly it amassed such a huge stream total.30 nations, I repeat, 30 countries, had “Dance Monkey” as their number-one official single, and another 10 had it in the top ten. Additionally, it took home the top honor at the enigmatic yet prestigious-sounding International Songwriting Competition. Tones The Australian singer-songwriter, myself, based the lyrics from her experiences busking on the streets and attempting to elicit an emotional response from onlookers. I’m confident she eventually received one.
4. “Someone You Loved” – Lewis Capaldi
https://youtu.be/zABLecsR5UE
SPOTIFY STREAMS: 2.56 BILLION
At least according to a poster Capaldi famously erected on the London Underground, the self-described “Scottish Beyonce.” In order to promote the “debut Capalbum,” it included a cropped headshot of the singer wearing sunglasses and wrapping a towel around his hair. This marketing ploy was a fantastic illustration of how Capaldi has never been reluctant to use his distinctive Scottish humor and social media presence to gain attention outside of his music.The song that eventually attracted the attention it has now is a textbook example of an emotional breakup ballad, reduced nearly entirely to keys and vocals. The song was Capaldi’s first to be issued to the U.S. as a single, originally appearing as part of an EP in 2018 before being repurposed for his 2019 debut album. It eventually peaked at number one on the chart in its 24th week and earned a Grammy nomination for Best Song.
5. “Rockstar” – Post Malone feat. 21 Savage
https://youtu.be/UceaB4D0jpo
SPOTIFY STREAMS: 2.55 BILLION
The second song on the list by a man whose face resembles a high school notebook, “Sunflower,” is a complete departure from the summery dreaminess of this tune. A club song about the benefits of having a lot of money and spending it on wicked things, this is Post Malone in mean-mugging mode. Released in 2017 as the lead single for Malone’s aptly named 2018 album, beerbongs & bentleys, “Rockstar” became the duo’s first US #1 hit. It was also 21 Savage’s first #1 hit.
The song’s unusually adult-oriented for such a blockbuster hit lyrics—which focus on drugs and killing people—did little to lessen its appeal as it topped the charts in 13 different nations. The song’s popularity and commercial success, however, are tinged with controversy because it also had an unofficial audio track and music video that consisted of the chorus of the song playing continuously for three and a half minutes. These unofficial tracks and videos helped the song’s download numbers and chart performance. Not that 21 Savage or Post Malone would give it any thought.
6. “Sunflower” – Post Malone/ Swae Lee
https://youtu.be/ApXoWvfEYVU
SPOTIFY STREAMS: 2.48 BILLION
Hip hop at its most approachable, with a fusion of modern, wavy production and sunny, cheerful pop tunes. This song, which was created by two individuals with indisputable musical skills, is so exhilarating to listen to that it nearly transcends skepticism or criticism. After its debut in October 2018, “Sunflower” maintained a position in the Billboard top 10 for a record-equaling 33 weeks; Post Malone would later surpass this mark, demonstrating that this wasn’t a one-off.
The association of this song with the 2018 animated film “Spider-Man: Into the Spider Verse,” which, in contrast to the several live-action Peter Parker-focused movies, follows comic book protagonist Miles Morales, secured the song’s popularity. Being a rare non-Disney/Pixar winner of the Best Animated Feature Oscar, the movie was a huge box office hit and received plaudits for its inventive and distinctive animation technique.
7. “One Dance” – Drake feat. Wizkid and Kyla
https://youtu.be/vcer12OFU2g
SPOTIFY STREAMS: 2.47 BILLION
Rapper and R&B superstar Drake from Canada is here to show that music doesn’t necessarily have to be extremely complex. In fact, all you need to rule the world is a verbal hook repeated roughly 19 times, three piano chords that are looped, and a Casio keyboard drum track. By integrating vocals from Nigerian artist Wizkid and British singer Kyla, the song increased its dancehall credibilty.
With the release of “One Dance” in 2016, Drake became the first solo artist to reach the top of the charts in a whopping 15 different nations. Prior to being surpassed by the song that is now ranked first on this list, it was also for a while the song that was streamed the most on the site. At the time, the song was applauded for being multicultural, and Drake received credit for not being afraid to incorporate many musical genres and cultures into his songs. A rare on this list for winning both critical and popular recognition.
8. “Closer” – The Chainsmokers/ Halsey
https://youtu.be/0zGcUoRlhmw
SPOTIFY STREAMS: 2.41 BILLION
Two sexy young people sing about being young and sexy over a watered-down EDM melody and one of those clap-clap drum loops that seemed to be everywhere for a few years. This song, however, criminally centers around the nonexistent rhyming triplet “closer/Rover/shoulder.”The song, like every other song on this list, totally dominated the charts when it was released in 2016 (making it one of the oldest singles on this list), spending 12 weeks at the top of the Billboard Hot 100. The Chainsmokers were the first group to have four tracks at the top of the Dance/Electronic music chart, and their songs also reached the top of the charts in 17 other nations. It also contains a phrase that makes a wink-to-the-audience reference to blink-182, which is a popular move.
9. “Believer” – Imagine Dragons
https://youtu.be/7wtfhZwyrcc
SPOTIFY STREAMS: 2.29 BILLION
A great introduction to the kinds of mainstream megahits that will make up this list as well as the very enormous numbers we’ll be dealing with. As far as we can tell, Imagine Dragons’ third U.S. top 10 hit, “Believer,” which serves as the album’s lead single, is virtually identical to the band’s first two top 10 singles.
This basic self-help cassette is set over a burping clattering noise where every sound seems to have been mixed to be louder than every other instrument, with a stop-start dynamic beat and hazy lyrics. The song was an instant hit upon release, peaking at number 10 in nine different nations, appearing prominently in numerous commercial campaigns, including those for the Nintendo Switch and the 2017 Super Bowl, in addition to providing the soundtrack for “Riverdale’s” season finale. The kind of song that conveys a lot of meaning even though its true significance is not immediately clear to everybody.
10. “Senorita” – Shawn Mendes/ Camila Cabello
https://youtu.be/Pkh8UtuejGw
SPOTIFY STREAMS: 2.28 BILLION
This song by Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello has a Latin flair and incorporates castaneros, a flamenco-inspired guitar riff, a tune that will stick in your head for at least three days, and a very sweaty music video. The deluxe edition of Mendes’ third self-titled album featured this song as a supporting single, and Cabello later included it on her second album, Romance.The song became an instant hit upon release, topping the charts in a staggering 40 nations, including the United States. Additionally, it went on to win a ton of prizes, including a Grammy nomination, two MTV Music Video Awards, an AMA, and a People’s Choice. The two singers previously collaborated on the song “I Know What You Did Last Summer” in 2015. This is their second time working together. It should should have a caution connected to it because it is so addictive.
