Tag: plants

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).

Explore the Power of Plants With Spotify’s First-Ever Collection of Curated Plants Playlists

May 19, 2021

Over the last year, many people found comfort in an unexpected source: plants. Leafy Monstera deliciosas (aka the “Swiss cheese plant”), prickly cacti, and more flew off the shelves as stressed-out humans turned to nature for relief and beauty. And as Spotify listeners around the world transformed their home bases into green spaces, they also streamed music to encourage their seedlings. Streams of Spotify’s playlist Music for Plants, which offers mellow vibrations for green leaves and green thumbs, flourished, increasing by nearly 1,400% as plant parents new and old sought out good vibrations.

To grow our own botanical offerings on the platform, we’re launching Spotify’s first-ever collection of curated plants playlists with the help of horticulture pros Kelly Wearstler, Darryl Cheng, Summer Rayne Oakes, and Black Men With Gardens. Plant Kween is also launching a new exclusive Music+Talk show, Green Gurls Galore, which offers plenty of horticulture help for those who need some tips.

To get to the root of the plant trend, Spotify dug into the platform data and conducted a global survey to see just how listeners connected with their flora through audio. 

Music for plants and people

You may have heard that talking to plants, and even certain vibrations, can help stimulate their growth. Many music lovers took the practice seriously in the last year, and in a survey conducted by Spotify, we found that 21% of people reported speaking to their houseplants more. A significant 12% of people went above and beyond, using audio content (like music or podcasts) to nurture their photosynthesizing friends. 

That’s one of the reasons many Spotify listeners turned to Music for Plants. The playlist features music and soundscapes carefully handpicked to help encourage growth. For the Record spoke with Uriel Waizel, who works at Spotify and is the creator and editor behind the playlist, to get his perspective.

“I’m convinced plants feel human music and human presence,” says Uriel. “Sound waves resonate with the green world. It was a no-brainer to make the playlist and fill the content gap.”

The playlist itself consists of a range of sounds and track lengths, including 43 seconds of birdsong and a 23-minute ambient song. Many of the songs are similar in instrumentation, which means listeners can shuffle without disrupting the experience. Ultimately, Uriel’s goal is to bestow rooms with a figurative “green wallpaper” so that whether or not you own plants, the music “will populate your house with greenness.”

Playlist propagation

Many listeners are also taking their audio choices into their own hands by creating playlists for their leafy friends. There are now more than 2.9 million user-generated Spotify playlists related to plants and gardening.

This is no surprise to architectural designer Kelly Wearstler, who curated a playlist called Parterre Paradise. Kelly listens to a range of music when gardening and was quick to point out the connection between the two to For the Record. “Curating and nurturing plants and making music are both art forms that take time and expertise,” says Kelly. “Music is an amazing accompaniment to creative and meditative activity.”

Looking more deeply at the Spotify listener data, we noticed some interesting trends of what people are doing on the platform. Many listeners are early birds, as most streams happen in the morning. The most popular plants to earn a playlist are ivy, cacti, and ferns. And Spotify listeners gravitate toward a few favorite tunes.

Top five genres of vegetation-friendly music:

  1. Fourth world
  2. Art pop
  3. Background music
  4. Ambient
  5. Lo-fi beats

Some of the most-added botanical beats:

At the core of many of today’s playlists is one perennial favorite: Mort Garson’s classic album Mother Earth’s Plantasia (featuring tracks like “Symphony for a Spider Plant” and “Concerto for Philodendron & Pothos”). Not only did Plantasia inspire Uriel’s original Music for Plants playlist, but streams of the 1976 album are up more than 40% this year. 

Keep vibing and thriving

Through our Spotify survey, we learned that one in four people globally said they believe they will carry on their passion for houseplants into the future. Plus, 28% of respondents felt that caring for houseplants offers people more of a purpose in life.

Those aren’t the only benefits of taking in a succulent or orchid of your own, according to Kelly. “Plants and natural elements have such a healing, meditative power and truly bring life to your space,” Kelly explains. “Adding more plants throughout your home—whether it’s through an indoor herb garden in your kitchen or a landscaped backyard—gives a sense of freshness and livelihood to your environment.”

For those on the hunt for another fresh find, Kelly recommends choosing vegetation that helps express your personality. “Be bold and use vibrant florals or go for a more understated (yet still chic) vibe with a beautiful olive or rubber tree,” Kelly adds.

Growing in a new direction

While many perfected their plant care (30% of those surveyed believe they’ve gotten better at caring for houseplants during the past 12 months), another 70% of respondents reported feeling uncertain about how to keep their plants thriving. One in four respondents didn’t know the best way to help their houseplants grow, and roughly the same did not know how to spot signs of overwatering.

Uriel has advice for those struggling to find their green thumb: Listen to music. “The playlist puts you in the mood and gives you a green finger coating,” he explains. “It makes you feel safe and feel like you’re doing the right thing for your plants. It’s music that nurtures the atmosphere.”

Ready for some good vibrations? Check out the new plant playlists, which can be found on your Soundtrack Your Home hub.