Tag: kate bush

The Top Songs of Summer 2022 Reveal a Return to Dance and Nostalgia

Songs of Summer on a fun colored background

Summer 2022 is coming to an end, but the music that soundtracked the past few months of longer days, road trips, festivals, and pool parties is sure to reverberate into the rest of the year. So before you toss those flip-flops to the back of the closet, let’s celebrate the listening trends that brought the heat this summer. 

Top Songs of Summer 

Back in June, Spotify predicted some of the songs that would soundtrack the summer months to come. Now it’s time to reveal what listeners were blasting between May 29 and August 29, 2022. 

Topping the global list with more than 610M streams over the last three months alone is none other than Harry Styleshit As It Was.” It also claimed the top spot in 24 countries around the world including Canada, Switzerland, Belgium, Trinidad and Tobago, and the United Arab Emirates.

The global runner-up and top track in the U.S. this summer is Kate Bush’s now-viral song from 1985,Running Up That Hill (A Deal with God),” which became popularized after being featured prominently in the latest season of Netflix’s Stranger Things. It’s one of the most retro tracks to make it onto Spotify’s Songs of Summer list—37 years after its release. Fans born after the song was originally released are discovering it, with first-time streams from U.S. Gen Zs (aka listeners aged 24 and under) increasing over 7,800% since being featured on the show.

Bad Bunny dominated both the top global and U.S. Songs of Summer lists with tracks like Me Porto Bonito,” “Tití Me Preguntó,” “Ojitos Lindos,” and “Efecto” off his latest album, Un Verano Sin Ti. “Me Porto Bonito,” in particular, is the Song of the Summer in 14 Latin American countries including Mexico, Chile, Colombia, Peru, and the Dominican Republic.

It wouldn’t be summer without some brand-new hot girl anthems like Lizzo’s About Damn Time” and Doja Cat’s Vegas (From the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack ELVIS),” which both landed in the U.S. Top 20 Songs of Summer list. And around the globe, “About Damn Time” and “Vegas” were the top two tracks most frequently added to user-generated hot girl summer playlists on Spotify.

Like what you hear? From sped-up songs to country classics, even more trends have made summer 2022 musically unique, and Spotify’s music editors are tracking their ebbs and flows across genres. Check out what trends our editors across Pop, Dance, Indie, and U.S. Latin had to say.

If you’re looking for more where that came from, check out our editor-curated Summer Hits, Summer Dance Hits, Indie Sunshine, and Verano Forever playlists—plus stream our Songs of Summer playlist below. 

Hot Podcasts of Summer

Whether it was superhero stories, throwback TV commentary, behind-the-scenes anime, or your daily dose of the news, Spotify listeners also tuned into podcasts to stay entertained and in the know this summer. Listeners dove into  . . . 

  • Batman Unburied. The early-summer sensation from Spotify, Warner Bros., and DC is a psychologically thrilling take on the Caped Crusader that took the world by storm. The series, which was adapted into multiple languages, was a hit around the globe and rose to the top of Spotify’s podcast charts in 17 markets worldwide.
  • TV Nostalgia. This summer, the cast of Pod Meets World took fans back in time by rewatching episodes of Boy Meets World and sharing memories and behind-the-scenes moments from the iconic series. Meanwhile, on Back to the Beach with Kristin and Stephen, Kristin Cavallari and Stephen Coletti rewatch Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County for the first time in 18 years. The former sweethearts relive their high school experiences, break down the truth of what happened on and off camera, and share what really happened in Cabo. Both shows have found places at the top of the trending podcasts on Spotify’s summer charts. 
  • SPYxFAMILY. A breakout Spotify Original that came out of Japan, the podcast was released alongside SPYxFAMILY Anime, the anime adaptation of the popular Japanese manga series of the same name. The podcast series, hosted by one of the show’s voice actors, takes fans behind the scenes of SPYxFAMILY, going in-depth on the anime’s backstory and giving insights into each episode. The series has topped the podcast charts in Japan, holding the number one spot for more than a month.
  • The Journal. Every day of the summer (and throughout the year, for that matter), Kate Linebaugh, Ryan Knutson, and the team at The Wall Street Journal take you inside the most important stories, explained through the lens of business. In for a special summer treat? Make sure to check out The Journal’s special three-part series, Hack Me If You Can, published in June.

 


 

Find the complete Songs of Summer top lists below. 

 

 

Spotify’s most-streamed songs of summer globally:

  1. As It Was” by Harry Styles
  2. Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God)” by Kate Bush
  3. Me Porto Bonito” by Bad Bunny, Chencho Corleone
  4. Tití Me Preguntó” by Bad Bunny
  5. Glimpse of Us” by Joji
  6. Ojitos Lindos” by Bad Bunny, Bomba Estéreo
  7. Quevedo: Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 52” by Bizarrap, Quevedo
  8. Efecto” by Bad Bunny 
  9. Moscow Mule” by Bad Bunny
  10. Heat Waves” by Glass Animals
  11. PROVENZA” by KAROL G
  12. About Damn Time” by Lizzo
  13. Late Night Talking” by Harry Styles
  14. Party” by Bad Bunny, Rauw Alejandro
  15. Te Felicito” by Shakira, Rauw Alejandro
  16. STAY (with Justin Bieber)” by The Kid LAROI, Justin Bieber
  17. Tarot” by Bad Bunny, Jhay Cortez
  18. Bam Bam (feat. Ed Sheeran)” by Camila Cabello, Ed Sheeran
  19. Cold Heart – PNAU Remix” by Elton John, Dua Lipa, PNAU
  20. I Ain’t Worried” by OneRepublic

Spotify’s most-streamed songs of summer in the U.S.:

  1. Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God)” by Kate Bush
  2. As It Was” by Harry Styles
  3. Me Porto Bonito” by Bad Bunny, Chencho Corleone
  4. Glimpse of Us” by Joji
  5. Tití Me Preguntó” by Bad Bunny
  6. Bad Habit” by Steve Lacy
  7. Jimmy Cooks (feat. 21 Savage)” by Drake, 21 Savage
  8. I Like You (A Happier Song) (with Doja Cat)” by Post Malone, Doja Cat
  9. Late Night Talking” by Harry Styles
  10. About Damn Time” by Lizzo
  11. First Class” by Jack Harlow
  12. WAIT FOR U (feat. Drake & Tems)” by Future, Drake, Tems
  13. Heat Waves” by Glass Animals
  14. Vegas (From the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack ELVIS)” by Doja Cat
  15. Efecto” by Bad Bunny 
  16. Moscow Mule” by Bad Bunny
  17. Ojitos Lindos” by Bad Bunny, Bomba Estéreo
  18. You Proof” by Morgan Wallen
  19. I Ain’t Worried” by OneRepublic
  20. Party” by Bad Bunny, Rauw Alejandro

*All data was compiled between May 29 and August 29, 2022.

Spotify Reports Second Quarter 2022 Earnings

Q2 2022 Results. 433 M MAU, up 19% YOY, and 188 M Premium Subs. Up 14% YOY

Today, Spotify announced our second quarter 2022 financial performance. Click here to review the full earnings release, and take a look at the highlights below:

Q2 2022 Results. 433 M MAU, up 19% YOY, and 188 M Premium Subs. Up 14% YOY

Building the world's #1 audio network with Findaway, Sonantic, Caso 63, Batman Unburied, Stranger Things, Stolen

Enhancing our platform and user experience with Spotify Safety Advisory Council, Integral Ad Science, Supergrouper, Live Events feed, live audio

Empowering creators and connecting fans with Bad Bunny, Kate Bush, Spotify Island on Roblox, K-pop on! track, video podcasting globally, all ears summit in Germany, and Asian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month & Pride

Interested in hearing more? You can listen to the webcast Q&A on the IR site here. 

Click below to check out a sizzle reel of audio trailers from a few of our recent original and exclusive podcasts. 

Hear more from our CFO Paul Vogel in the latest episode of Spotify: For the Record.

Spotify rapporterar intäkter för andra kvartalet 2022

Idag publicerar Spotify sina finansiella resultat för andra kvartalet 2022. Klicka här för att ta del av hela den finansiella pressreleasen och kolla in höjdpunkterna nedan:

Vill du höra mer? Lyssna gärna på vår Q&A-webcast på IR-sajten här

Klicka nedan för att kolla in trailers från några av våra senaste original och exklusiva podcasts.

Get Ready For ‘Stranger Things 4’ Volume 2 With Our Upside Down Playlist Made Just For You

stranger things cast standing in the upside down

Stranger Things took the action and suspense to a new level when Season 4, Vol. 1 premiered earlier this summer. In one of the most memorable moments of the season, Max escaped the grasp of Vecna by pressing play on her favorite song: Kate Bush’sRunning Up That Hill (A Deal With God).” And with Season 4, Vol. 2 coming July 1, we just released a new personalized playlist that will help you do the same.

The Upside Down Playlist takes some of your favorite songs and mixes them with a handful of Stranger Things classics to create a vibe strong enough to ward off Hawkins’ most fearsome foe.

spotify cover art for Upside Down Playlist

But for those who have been counting down the days until the heartened Hawkins heroes return, Spotify has more playlists and experiences on our Netflix Hub that will make that wait a whole lot easier. 

On July 1, we’ll be adding all the latest sounds from Season 4, Vol. 2 to the Stranger Things Official Playlist following the premiere. But before then, there are some fun Easter eggs for you to explore: On Android and desktop, you can watch the progress bar turn into a flashlight that cuts through the darkness of the Upside Down. And if you scroll through the playlist long enough on mobile, you might discover something spine-tingling. . .

We also had Caleb McLaughlin, aka Lucas, take over our Throwback Thursday playlist and pick some of his favorite ’80s jams that help get him into character and immersed in the ’80s vibes of the show. 

And since we’ve had Stranger Things on the brain, we also took a dive into our listening stats and discovered the songs and playlists that are resonating most with fans.

Kate Bush streams soared up a mountain

When it comes to the Season 4 soundtrack, nothing has captured the hearts (and ears) of fans quite like Kate Bush’s “Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God).” On May 30, following the Season 4 premiere, Spotify streams of the ’80s hit increased by more than 8,700% globally and an even more impressive 9,900% in the U.S. 

Fueled by the excitement from Stranger Things fans around the world, this new-wave classic is having a massive cultural moment. The song is so popular that it has earned a place in music history as the first catalog track to have ever earned a spot on Spotify’s flagship Today’s Top Hits playlist.

“Great music is timeless and Kate Bush’s ‘Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God)’ is now a bigger hit today than it was when it was released in 1985. New audiences (particularly amongst younger listeners) around the world who are discovering and sharing the song are driving massive stream counts and engagement on Spotify,” Sulinna Ong, Spotify’s Global Head of Editorial, told For the Record. “And whilst Today’s Top Hits normally reflects the latest releases, we felt strongly that we needed to make a first-of-its-kind exception as we are witnessing a truly unique cultural phenomenon.”

But whether they were discovering Kate Bush or revisiting an old favorite, fans haven’t just flocked to this one song: Global streams of Kate Bush’s catalog have increased by more than 1,600% since the Stranger Things Season 4 premiere.

The Stranger Things effect

Stranger Things’ sixth sense when it comes to picking iconic songs doesn’t stop at Kate Bush. Following the Season 4 premiere, streams of Musical Youth’s reggae hit “Pass The Dutchie” increased by more than 1,000%, revealing the love for Argyle and his comic misadventures in the Surfer Boy Pizza van.

And after fans finished binging the new episodes, they immediately flocked to Spotify to continue the party. On May 30, streams of the Stranger Things Official Playlist increased by more than 1,700% globally. With more than 969,000 followers, it’s also the most followed playlist on the Netflix Hub.

The thrilling conclusion to Season 4 will be here before you know it, so brace yourself by streaming the Stranger Things Official Playlist below.