Tag: stranger things official playlist

‘Stranger Things’ Playlist Takeover Challenges Fans to Decode Clues and Unlock Exclusive ‘Volume 2’ Content

December 16, 2025

Hawkins has landed on Spotify, just in time for Stranger Things Season 5, Volume 2, out on December 25. The Stranger Things Official Playlist is now home to radio takeovers from WSQK The Squawk’s Rockin’ Robin (Maya Hawke), with exclusive messages and hidden clues that lead to new Volume 2 secrets.

Between December 16 and 18, head to the Stranger Things Official Playlist to listen for Robin’s broadcasts. New clues will drop each day at 8 a.m. ET. Pro tips: Not every broadcast is a clue, and you should jot down any numbers you hear.

On December 18, the final clue will be revealed. Piece together all four clues and enter the secret numerical code into the Spotify search bar to unlock content from Volume 2. This experience is available globally and exclusively in the Spotify mobile app December 18-20.

When Stranger Things Season 5, Volume 1 dropped last month, fans discovered a reimagined Official Playlist on Spotify featuring personalized covers of Hawkins characters that best matched their music taste.

Other playlist surprises this year included a demogorgon lurking in the play bar, and the Stranger Things Musical Time Machine, which explored iconic ’80s hits and big musical moments from every season.

The release sent global streams soaring for tracks like “Upside Down” by Diana Ross (up 510%), “I Think We’re Alone Now” by Tiffany (up 490%), “Mr. Sandman” by The Chordettes (up 625%), and “Fernando” by ABBA (up 335%).

Featured songs get a boost on Spotify after the finale

The Stranger Things series finale was released on New Year’s Eve and included two iconic Prince songs that scored pivotal moments in the episode. In the day following the premiere, global streams of Prince’s catalog surged (up 190%), with featured tracks “Purple Rain” (up 243%) and “When Doves Cry” (up 200%) seeing significant boosts.

Grab your headphones and press play on the Stranger Things Official Playlist. As any Hawkins resident knows, stranger things are always waiting to be discovered.

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

June 29, 2022

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’s “Running 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.