Tag: Crime Junkie

What the World Streamed Most in 2021

December 1, 2021

If 2020 was the year that flipped the world on its head, 2021 was the year that we got used to seeing things upside down. With “normal” thrown out the window, people around the world started to embrace the unknown—and in doing so, championed all of the things that make each of us unique. 

Spotify’s 2021 Wrapped celebrates this idea—the millions of weird and wonderful ways to listen and live in a world that continues to keep us on our toes. Today, we unveil the top artists, albums, songs, podcasts, and more that defined how more than 381 million people around the world listened and discovered audio during a year that turned “unprecedented” into, well, precedented.  

As usual, Wrapped helps us reflect on the large role audio played in the lives of our listeners—and how our favorite creators soundtracked the world around us. 

The top artists, songs, and albums globally

For the second year in a row, Puerto Rican Reggaeton star Bad Bunny takes the title of most-streamed artist in the world on Spotify. And what’s more: He’s received over 9.1 billion streams without releasing a new album this year. He is swiftly followed by singer-songwriter Taylor Swift, whose Red (Taylor’s Version) gave old and new fans alike a reason to relive the artist’s early groundbreaking work. Rounding up 2021’s top three is BTS. The globally beloved k-pop group had a standout year thanks to their single “Butter.” Canadian hip-hop artists Drake—who released Certified Lover Boy in September—and Justin Bieber—whose 2021 album Justice featured collaborations with artists from across the globe—take spots four and five, respectively.

The top song of 2021 globally is Olivia Rodrigo’s runaway “drivers license,” which garnered over 1.1 billion streams. Lil Nas X’s viral “MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name)” dances its way to second place and heralded the artist’s first studio album. The Kid LAROI enters the ranks for the first time, with his Justin Bieber collaboration “STAY” taking third. The fourth spot sees Olivia Rodrigo once again, this time with “good 4 u,” which also earned the title of 2021 Spotify Song of the Summer. The fifth most streamed song to rise in the ranks is Dua Lipa’s “Levitating (feat. DaBaby).” 

When it comes to top albums of 2021 globally, Olivia Rodrigo once again claims the crown—her debut album SOUR clearly held a bit of sweetness. Dua Lipa’s Future Nostalgia ranks second, with Justin Bieber’s Justice, Ed Sheeran’s =, and Doja Cat’s Planet Her coming in third, fourth, and fifth. 

The top podcasts globally

Coming out of its first full year as a Spotify exclusive, The Joe Rogan Experience remains the number-one podcast on Spotify globally. It is followed by the fearless Alex Cooper’s Call Her Daddy, which also became exclusive to Spotify in 2021. True crime and news continue to be popular genres within the medium, with Crime Junkie, TED Talks Daily, and The Daily rounding out the list. 

Notable trends of 2021

When we looked at trends on Spotify in 2021, the top songs, artists, albums, and podcasts weren’t the only things we found. We learned about the moments that united listeners—and the ones that were notable for their uniqueness. 

Nostalgia played a role in people’s listening in 2021 as fans rediscovered old favorites—and new generations adopted them as well. Let’s face it: There are certain songs and albums that just sound like home (in a good way).

Spotify Takes to the Skies With Delta For an Exclusive In-Flight Audio Experience

September 1, 2021

You are now free to roam about the cabin—and get the music and podcasts you love at 30,000 feet. Beginning today, we’re taking off in a new partnership with Delta in which Spotify will take over the “audio” section of Delta’s in-flight seatback entertainment. This means passengers on Delta flights that are equipped with seatback entertainment globally can now enjoy their favorite audio content exclusively in-flight on Delta Studio. 

There are currently more than 20 million flight-related user-generated playlists globally on Spotify, and this new partnership is making it even easier for listeners to tap into their favorite audio content while flying.  

This in-flight content is licensed directly by Delta and will be free for all passengers. It includes specially curated versions of Spotify’s most popular playlists—in the form of mixtapes curated by Spotify’s editorial experts—along with 42 select podcast series to choose from. 

These include popular playlists Mood Booster, Are & Be, Hot Country, mint, Today’s Top Hits, Relax & Unwind, RapCaviar, and Ultimate Indie, with Rock This, Roots Rising, and ¡Viva Latino! to come in the October refresh, as well as episodes from podcasts such as Crime Junkie, Science Vs, StartUp, The Dave Chang Show, The Hottest Take, The Journal, and more. 

Passengers will now be able to discover new music and podcasts during their journeys by accessing the “audio” section of Delta’s seatback in-flight entertainment system. The content will be updated regularly, so there’s something for everyone—even frequent flyers.

You can also listen to your own Spotify content while up in the air and away from Wi-Fi or data. Learn how.

Spotify’s Top Songs and Podcasts of Summer 2021

August 24, 2021

Another summer has flown by, and with it, the songs and shows that have complimented countless beach days, park hangs, pool lounging, and road trips. Now, as August draws to a close, Spotify is once again announcing the top songs and podcasts that filled listeners’ headphones and speakers this season. 

Songs of the summer

With more than 600 million streams globally between May 29 and August 22, this year’s Spotify Song of the Summer is…  “good 4 u” by “drivers license” breakout star Olivia Rodrigo. 

“good 4 u” claimed the top spot globally, and it also topped the list in markets like the U.S., Australia, Canada, Ireland, Singapore, the U.K., South Africa, and the United Arab Emirates. And since the song’s release on May 14, “good 4 u” has been added to more than 18 million playlists. It also served as the inspiration for more than 325,000 user-generated playlist titles, including: 1,500+ “like a damn sociopath” playlists and 700+ “happy and healthy” playlists.

The next four of the global top five songs took us on a journey around the world. Number two globally was Eurovision winner Måneskin’s “Beggin’.” And since everything about this list is thanks to everything about you and how you listen, “Todo De Ti” by Rauw Alejandro was all in for number three. 

Lil Nas X was another summer mainstay for listeners, with “MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name)” calling itself fourth on the list, and Doja Cat and SZA’s collab on “Kiss Me More,” which kept the summer sizzling, rounded out fifth place.

Spotify’s New ‘Music, Meet Podcasts’ Campaign Inspires Fans to Use the Power of Audio

September 7, 2020

Listening is how we connect with one another, gain perspective, and discover more about ourselves. And recently, it’s become more important than ever. That’s why today Spotify is debuting “Music, Meet Podcasts,” a new global campaign demonstrating how Spotify inspires and connects users around the world through the power of listening.  

The global campaign amplifies how listening plays a role in each of our everyday lives, whether you’re listening to a podcast to learn something new or streaming your favorite song to get motivated. Check out the short animated film to get a sense for how fans around the world tap into Spotify to find music and podcasts for every mood, moment, or activity.

 


Plus, look out for campaign creative elements matching musical favorites Missy Elliott, Tove Lo and Lil Baby to podcasters like First Lady Michelle Obama and the hosts of Crime Junkie.

 


Whether through your own podcast playlist or an experience like Daily Sports, every fan on Spotify can look out for personalized, curated, and exclusive audio content. Stay tuned for more ways to share the music and podcasts you love with the world around you.

What’s New This Week in Spotify Podcasts

March 13, 2020

Welcome to This Week in Podcasts, where we share what’s new in the podcast world. Here you’ll find a roundup of series debuts, can’t-miss episodes, and so much more—all available to stream on Spotify. Whether you fancy yourself a content connoisseur or an audio amateur, you’re sure to discover something worth listening to. Keep scrolling to check out the latest and greatest in podcasts this week—including InCharge with DVF, The Guilty Feminist, and Supernatural with Ashley Flowers.

This International Women’s Day, Stream the Top Female Voices on Spotify

March 4, 2020

March is all about women’s empowerment. In honor of International Women’s Day, March 8, we’re celebrating female voices by spotlighting the top female artists and female-led podcasts on Spotify. 

Taking the number one artist spot is Billie Eilish—and not only among female artists. She’s also the top artist overall this year, based on data from January 1 to March 1. Eilish has more than 10.3 billion all-time streams and more than 60 million monthly listeners. Eilish, whose song “bad guy” has over 1.2 billion streams, also just released the new James Bond theme song “No Time To Die.” Coming in second on our global list is “Lover” superstar Taylor Swift, followed by Ariana Grande, Halsey, and Camila Cabello. 

When it comes to podcasts, these female-led shows are fan favorites on Spotify based on hours streamed, and it’s clear that the obsession with true crime reigns supreme. My Favorite Murder, a comedic true crime series from comedians Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark, is Spotify’s most popular female-hosted podcast. Crime Junkie, hosted by self-described “crime junkies” Ashley Flowers and Brit Prawat, comes in second. Wondering why women are so obsessed with true crime? According to social psychologist Amanda Vicary, “Women are drawn to true crime because of the information they can learn from it, even if they aren’t aware that that may be the reason they are listening!”

 And with that, these are the top female artists and female-led podcasts globally on Spotify.

To mark International Women’s Day, we’re creating our first-ever global campaign to highlight the contributions women have made to this industry. Plus, on March 8, a brand-new Women’s History Month hub will be live on Spotify. It will include all-female tracks, playlists, and podcasts, as well as takeovers from some of the most dynamic women in audio, because #MusicNeedsWomen #PodcastsNeedWomen and #AudioNeedsWomen.

In the meantime, be sure to listen to our powerhouse playlist of the top female artists around the world. 

Social Psychologist Amanda Vicary and Spotify Reveal Why Women Are So Obsessed with True Crime—And Share 4 New Podcasts Coming in 2020

January 29, 2020

Murder and mystery have found their way onto Spotify—via podcasts. From My Favorite Murder with Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark to Mordlust, listeners are tuning in to stories of crime, death, and drama in droves, and women are leading the way. In fact, research and data show us that true crime is a hot topic for female listeners specifically, with listening of the genre increasing by 16% among women in 2019 compared to 2018. So if you’re a woman who loves true crime, you’re not alone. 

But why? We dove into the science of true crime—and why women are so interested in it—with social psychologist Amanda Vicary. The associate professor of psychology at Illinois Wesleyan University, who specializes in “women’s attraction to crime and criminals,” has also noted how podcasts, among other media, have brought that interest into the forefront.