When it comes to new music, Spotify’s team of editors across North America is always on the hunt for songs that make them feel, think, and move. They’re at the forefront of new trends around the world, working to uncover new genres and introduce listeners to emerging artists. And though 2025 is only just heating up, they’ve been hard at work to help fans discover the best of the best.
Now, we’re excited to reveal Editors’ Picks: Best Songs of the Year (So Far), a genre-spanning playlist of the 50 standout tracks that caught our editors’ attention. As they narrowed the list down, they considered tracks with exceptional songwriting, musicality, uniqueness, and cultural impact.
The Editorial Watch Feed, which first appeared in our playlist alongside our year-end list in 2024, is also back, allowing our editors to share their expertise with fans directly. Providing dynamic insights into every song on the list, our in-house experts break down the qualities that make their picks great.
“Our Editors’ Picks playlist isn’t about what’s trending – it’s about the tracks that stood out for all the right reasons,” said Sulinna Ong, Spotify’s Global Head of Editorial. “Our music editors dug deeper to spotlight songs that intrigued us; sonically, culturally, or through exceptional songwriting. From the comeback of trip hop and dreamy indie-folk anthems to modern R&B staples, hard-hitting hip-hop, and genre-blending Latin tracks, each selection reflects the depth and range of the music that resonated with us. It’s a playlist shaped by real human editorial perspective, and we hope listeners find something meaningful in it.”
Curious who made the cut? Here are our editors’ picks for the best songs of 2025 so far.
Addison Rae – “Headphones On”
After – “300 Dreams”
Baby Nova – “Too Pretty For Buffalo”
Bad Bunny – “DtMF”
Balu Brigada – “Backseat”
Bon Iver – “There’s A Rhythmn”
CA7RIEL, Paco Amoroso – “IMPOSTOR”
Cameron Winter – “Love Takes Miles”
Central Cee, 21 Savage – “GBP”
chloe moriondo – “shoreline”
Chloe Qisha – “21st Century Cool Girl”
Clipse, Pusha T, Malice – “Ace Trumpets”
Dasha – “Not at This Party”
Ecca Vandal – “CRUISING TO SELF SOOTHE”
Erika de Casier – “You Can’t Always Get What You Want”
Ethel Cain – “Nettles”
Fontaines DC – “Before You I Just Forget”
Four Tet – “Into Dust (Still Falling)”
Fridayy, Meek Mill – “Proud of Me”
Girl Group – “Yay Saturday”
GIVEON – “TWENTIES”
Hannah Cohen – “Earthstar”
Jaze, Caloncho – “pensé en ti”
Kehlani – “Folded”
Khamari – “Head in A Jar”
kwn – “back of the club”
Lady Gaga – “Abracadabra”
Larry June, 2 Chainz, The Alchemist – “Life Is Beautiful”
Leon Thomas – “NOT FAIR”
Leon Vynehall, Beau Nox – “Cruel Love”
MacKenzie Porter, Jake Etheridge, Thelma & James – “Happy Ever After You”
Mariah the Scientist – “Burning Blue”
Mei Semones – “Animaru”
Miley Cyrus – “End of the World”
Model/Actriz – “Diva”
MOLIY, Silent Addy, Skillibeng, Shenseea – “Shake It To The Max (FLY) (Remix)”
Nathaniel Rateliff, Gregory Alan Isakov – “Flowers”
Obongjayar – “Sweet Danger”
PLUTO, YKNIECE – “WHIM WHAMIEE”
Rema – “Baby (Is It A Crime)”
Robert Randolph, Judith Hill – “When Will The Love Rain Down”
rusowsky – “malibU”
Sam Barber – “Man of the Year”
Sammy Virji – “I Guess We’re Not The Same”
Saya Gray – “..THUS IS WHY (I DON’T SPRING 4 LOVE)”
sombr – “undressed”
The Marias – “Back To Me”
Turnpike Troubadours – “On The Red River”
Turnstile – “LOOK OUT FOR ME”
Wednesday – “Elderberry Wine”
Press play below to hear all of our top songs of the year so far:
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