Tag: summer

Spotify’s Sizzling 2023 Songs of Summer Are Here

a graphic treatment showing suns and clouds

We’ve been waiting all summer, speculating and ruminating on what hot tracks would rise to the top as the songs of the summer. And now we have our answers for what hits have dominated during the past few months.

Drumroll please . . .

Globally, the most-streamed song of the summer is Eslabon Armado and Peso Pluma’s smash hit, “Ella Baila Sola.” 

In the U.S., the most-streamed song is Morgan Wallen’s croon-worthy track “Last Night,” the first country song to claim the title on Spotify.

Digging in for a global look

“Ella Baila Sola” topped the chart this summer. Eslabon Armado, an American música Mexicana group, is no stranger to success, with many music awards under their belt. And we knew Peso Pluma was a talent to watch when we declared him a Spotify RADAR artist earlier this year. Three other tracks of Peso Pluma’s also made it into the global Top 30 list this summer: “La Bebe – Remix,” “Peso Pluma: Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 55,” and “El Azul.” It’s a big moment for the música Mexicana genre, which has seen 430% growth on Spotify over the past five years, globally.

Coming in hot as the second-most-streamed song globally is Bad Bunny’s “WHERE SHE GOES,” while Jung Kook and Lattos “Seven” sits at number three. 

Antonio Vazquez, Head of U.S. Latin Editorial at Spotify, explained why it’s no surprise that música Mexicana is taking hold of the charts. “Watching the rise of ‘Ella Baila Sola’ to become the global song of the summer has been truly exhilarating,” he said. “It’s a testament to how música Mexicana is not only capturing hearts but also dominating the international music scene and becoming one of the top growth-driving genres globally. This feels like an important milestone, and it’s only getting started.”

Latin music’s popularity has consistently and remarkably risen worldwide. “It’s not just about catchy beats anymore; artists are successfully infusing their music with their personal stories, experiences, and a sense of cultural pride,” said Antonio. “This authenticity, combined with cross-genre collaborations and a globalized music landscape, is contributing to the unstoppable growth of Latin music.” Antonio also noted that “the strong appeal of ‘Ella Baila Sola’ can be attributed to its unique blend of elements that resonate across cultures—the vibrant trombone-driven sound and the infectious requinto intro create a captivating experience.”

Summer party in the USA

In the U.S., listeners were feeling a little bit country this summer, with Morgan Wallen’s track “Last Night” as the most-streamed song. “‘Last Night’ has all the trappings of a hit that transcends genre,” explained Rachel Whitney, Head of Editorial, Nashville. “It kicks off with a storyline that keeps you guessing, and lands in the catchiest hook. It pulls in audiences from across the popular-music spectrum, with elements of R&B, pop, and country all in one. Between the beat, the hook, and the stripped-down guitar intro and Wallen’s signature southern drawl, it’s a song that can get people dancing or gathered around a campfire.” 

Eslabon Armado and Peso Pluma’s “Ella Baila Sola” is the second-most-streamed song in the U.S., and Taylor Swift’s Cruel Summer” holds down the number three position.

Overall, listeners had a lot of love for country hits as they splashed the summer away: Five songs from the genre made it onto the U.S. Top 20 list. As Rachel shared, this isn’t so surprising as summer is the season when listening really peaks for country fans—country songs are perfect for road trips and lake days. Morgan landed two more hits on the list with “You Proof” and “Wasted On You,” while “Fast Car” by Luke Combs and “Something in the Orange” by Zach Bryan also made the cut. 

“Artists like Morgan Wallen, Zach Bryan, and Taylor Swift—with the release of her country album Speak Now (Taylor’s Version)—have driven a surge in the popularity of country music over the summer, especially with younger fans,” said Rachel. 

Sunny trends taking over the states

Here’s what else was trending in the U.S. this summer. 

Viva Latino 

From música Mexicana to reggaetón, Latin music made up 25% of the Top 20 U.S. list, with many tracks also included in our global list. un x100to” by Grupo Frontera and Bad Bunny, “La Bebe – Remix” by Yng Lvcas and Peso Pluma, and “TQM” by Fuerza Regida are among the standouts. 

Angsty anthems 

Emotions ruled with revenge pop anthems like “vampire” by Olivia Rodrigo, “Kill Bill” by SZA, “Boy’s a Liar Pt. 2” by PinkPantheress and Ice Spice, and, of course, Taylor Swift’s “Cruel Summer.”

Hi, Barbie! 

One of the summer’s biggest films also drove streams, with two tracks from Barbie The Album making the Top 20 list: “Barbie World (with Aqua) [From Barbie The Album]” by Nicki Minaj, Ice Spice, and Aqua, and “Dance The Night (From Barbie The Album)” by Dua Lipa.

Punchy podcast picks and grade-A audiobooks

Music kept the pool parties going, but podcasts and audiobooks were equally hot. Add these faves to your list.

Spotify Editorial’s U.S. summer podcast picks:

Spotify Editorial’s summer audiobook reads:

Summer’s not over yet, so there’s still plenty of time to queue up our Songs of Summer playlist for your next gathering. And if you’re heading out on one last sunny vacation, don’t forget to take a look at our podcast picks and audiobook selections for the perfect story for beach listening.

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Spotify’s most-streamed songs of summer, globally:

  1. Ella Baila Sola” by Eslabon Armado, Peso Pluma
  2. WHERE SHE GOES” by Bad Bunny
  3. Seven (feat. Latto)” by Jung Kook, Latto
  4. Cruel Summer” by Taylor Swift
  5. La Bebe – Remix” by Yng Lvcas, Peso Pluma
  6. un x100to” by Grupo Frontera, Bad Bunny
  7. Flowers” by Miley Cyrus
  8. Daylight” by David Kushner
  9. Sprinter” by Dave, Central Cee
  10. As It Was” by Harry Styles
  11. Cupid – Twin Ver.” by FIFTY FIFTY
  12. LALA” by Myke Towers
  13. Kill Bill” by SZA
  14. Peso Pluma: Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 55” by Bizarrap, Peso Pluma
  15. vampire” by Olivia Rodrigo
  16. Dance The Night (From Barbie The Album)” by Dua Lipa
  17. Classy 101” by Feid, Young Miko
  18. TQM” by Fuerza Regida
  19. I Wanna Be Yours” by Arctic Monkeys
  20. Calm Down” by Rema, Selena Gomez

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

  1. Last Night” by Morgan Wallen
  2. Ella Baila Sola” by Eslabon Armado, Peso Pluma
  3. Cruel Summer” by Taylor Swift
  4. fukumean” by Gunna
  5. vampire” by Olivia Rodrigo
  6. Fast Car” by Luke Combs
  7. Kill Bill” by SZA
  8. See You Again (feat. Kali Uchis)” by Tyler, The Creator
  9. un x100to” by Grupo Frontera, Bad Bunny
  10. You Proof” by Morgan Wallen
  11. All My Life (feat. J. Cole)” by Lil Durk, J. Cole
  12. WHERE SHE GOES” by Bad Bunny
  13. La Bebe – Remix” by Yng Lvcas, Peso Pluma
  14. Barbie World (with Aqua) [From Barbie The Album]” by Nicki Minaj, Ice Spice, Aqua
  15. Something in the Orange” by Zach Bryan
  16. Boy’s a Liar Pt. 2” by PinkPantheress, Ice Spice
  17. Wasted On You” by Morgan Wallen
  18. TQM” by Fuerza Regida
  19. Dance The Night (From Barbie The Album)” by Dua Lipa
  20. Anti-Hero” by Taylor Swift

 

Turn It Up: Our Songs of Summer Predictions Plus the Hottest Summer Trends

a graphic pink and yellow visual depicting clouds, the sun, hills, and an umbrella

From the dance floor to sandy beaches, people are celebrating the start of summer with sultry songs and temperature-raising tracks—and Spotify is getting right into the mix with our annual Songs of Summer predictions and trends. But first, let’s check out what listeners are streaming around the world.

Tracking the hottest global streams

To help visualize what’s hot worldwide, we’ve created a map that highlights the most popular tunes in more than 100 countries across the Northern Hemisphere. The map will update weekly, starting May 27, to show the latest sizzling tracks from different countries.

Click the white dots on the map below to see what’s trending in far-off destinations. 

Soundtrack Your Summer Vacation With These Tips

people listening to music while flying

Summer is in full swing, which for many, means that it’s time to log off and take a well-deserved break. Between hopping flights and hitting the highways for a big road trip, vacationers are looking for ways to amp up their travel during an especially busy season—so busy, in fact, that “make my drive fun” is now a breakout Google search term.

But we already know what every good adventure (including a fun drive) needs: the perfect soundtrack.

If you’re among those who are gearing up for an epic vacation, you’ll definitely want to keep the audio streaming wherever you are. Whether you’re relaxing with friends and listening to the new Bill Simmons series dedicated to his notable interviews over the years, or you’re just looking to block out the airport noise, Spotify has all the playlists, podcasts, and tips you need to make your journey just as fun as the destination

  • Going off the grid? Stream offline: If you’re headed on a flight, a winding car ride, or an international trip, just switch on Spotify’s Offline Mode before you go so you can access your favorite audio wherever you are. While you’re still connected, download your favorite songs, playlists, or podcast episodes beforehand by clicking the “download” arrow next to the track list or in the “…” menu. 
  • Share your journey: With all the planning that went into your trip, it’s time to share the experience with those you love! Show the world your travel story through Spotify’s Instagram and Snapchat integrations, and DM the music you find directly to your friends and family. 
  • Collab with fellow travelers: Looking to expand your musical tastes while on your travels? Let your music mirror your destination through a playlist that’s catered to your trip. With Collaborative Playlists, you can create a one-of-a-kind travel playlist with your companions or those special people you meet along the way. And don’t forget to give it a special touch with your own personalized cover art
  • Headphones to help you zone out or tune in: Having the best earphones to soundtrack your trip—or entertain you in the security line—is a must for any traveler. Using Sony Linkbuds with Spotify Tap will do just that and help you access your Spotify playlists quickly and easily with a single tap.
  • Learn the local language: Whether you’re fluent or don’t know a single word, Spotify’s Lyrics feature can help you explore the music and language of your destination.

Now that you’re ready to make the most of your time off, the only thing left to do is get out there and start streaming. And if you’re looking for the right playlist to kick things off, Summer Hits is a great place to start.

 

Grab Your Sunnies and Celebrate With Our Songs of Summer Predictions

a hot pink inner tube sitting on top of a cartoon splash of water

The sun is out, the weather is warm, and it’s time to find the perfect song to pair with that umbrella in your drink. Every year as summer rolls around, the Spotify music editorial team scours all the hottest new tracks to determine which will dominate your speakers as the quintessential Songs of Summer. So apply your sunscreen, grab those shades, and get ready for our global Songs of Summer predictions for 2022. 

Again this year, the songs that speak to long hazy summer days, beach trips, and cool drinks span many genres—hip-hop, Latin, pop, country, indie, dance, and more—as well as moods, so there’s a song for every moment. 

As you’re planning the next summer soiree, might we suggest adding “As It Was” by Harry Styles and Big Energy by Latto to your queue? Or cranking up Ojitos Lindos” by Bad Bunny (feat. Bomba Estéreo) when you’re hanging poolside? How about pressing play on Post Malone and Doja Cat‘s new track “I Like You (A Happier Song)” as you kick off your vacation road trip?

And there’s more where those came from. Without further ado, Spotify’s Songs of Summer 2022 predictions, in alphabetical order:

To determine this list of songs, which we predict will be on repeat over the next three months, our curation teams pay attention to a number of factors, including the track’s current trajectory and cultural impact, combined with forecasting based on prior years’ knowledge of what tends to pop throughout the summer. But we also took this moment to see what other summer trends are emerging as people start to enjoy more fun in the sun.

The temperature is rising on these summer trends

Summer is a time to shed layers and get out in the sun—we all know about 2019’s viral “hot girl summer” moment. Now, there are nearly 170,000 “hot girl summer” user-generated playlists on Spotify worldwide. And this year, we’re already seeing new seasonal themes emerge.

User-generated “feral girl summer” playlists have surged more than 320% in the past three months.  Some of the top-added songs include “Psycho” by Maisie Peters, “Get Into It (Yuh)” by Doja Cat, “Thot Shit” by Megan Thee Stallion, “I Did Something Bad” by Taylor Swift, “Promiscuous” by Nelly Furtado (feat. Timbaland), and “Act Up” by City Girls.

Searches for “coconut girl summer” have surged nearly 950% this year, with top-added songs for these playlists including “Island in the Sun” by Weezer, “Diet Mountain Dew” by Lana Del Rey, “Santeria” by Sublime, “Malibu” by Miley Cyrus, and “Could You Be Loved” by Bob Marley & The Wailers

The “coastal grandmother” trend is buzzing on Spotify as well—average daily plays of related playlists have skyrocketed nearly 5,000% over the last month!

a graphic design that's yellow, blue and green that lists songs that make up coastal grandmother playlists on Spotify

And when it comes to the drink of summer, some fans think that Dirty Shirleys are in. That seems to be true on Spotify—”dirty shirley” user-generated playlists saw nearly a 95% spike in average daily plays over the past month.

Makin’ a splash

We’re bringing back the Songs of the Summer chart for the second year in a row, so you can keep track of your favorite artists all summer long and see whose hits are climbing as the temperature rises. Follow @SpotifyCharts on Instagram and Twitter to catch the latest Songs of the Summer chart published every Wednesday, starting this week on June 8, 2022.

Grab your favorite ice-cold beverage—whether it’s a cool lemonade or a Dirty Shirley—and listen to our full Songs of Summer playlist below. And as we know, all good things come to an end—including summer. Check back here as the weather cools to learn which song was crowned the most-streamed song of the summer.

Brazilian Hitmakers Play With Genre for Latin America’s First Spotify Singles Series

Summer is in full swing in Brazil, and now, so is Latin America’s first-ever Spotify Singles series. As Brazilians soak up the sun, buzzy artists Os Barões Da Pisadinha, LUDMILLA, Matheus & Kauan, and more are inviting listeners to stream seven new Spotify Singles songs exclusively on Spotify. From January 26 to February 16, fans will see new tracks debut on Spotify Brazil’s official summer playlist Vem, Verão!

The Spotify Singles program launched in 2016 as a creative outlet for artists as they revisit their songs, engage their fans, and connect with new listeners. More than 5 billion streams later, Spotify Singles continues to surprise audiences around the world. This special summer release is no different. It marks an innovative moment in the program as Spotify challenged Brazil’s artists to explore rhythms and genres outside their usual sound.

“This Singles series was created as a place to highlight and celebrate the summer through Carnival, all while catering to genre listening trends we have been identifying in the market. We brought the idea to our partners and found artists who were eager to be a part of it. The artists then took the idea into their own hands and created all these amazing representations of the rich culture Brazil has to offer,” said Carolina Alzuguir, Artists and Label Partnerships Lead for Spotify in Brazil.

The singles take inspiration from the most-listened-to genres in Brazil during the summer, including pisadinha, Brazilian funk (also referred to as funk carioca), and brega funk. Pisadinha is an offshoot of the popular Brazilian genre forró, a rhythmic music style that features the accordion and triangle. Inspired by Miami’s flourishing hip-hop scene, Rio de Janeiro’s Brazilian funk music pulls from a number of different genres to create a uniquely local sound made for dancing. And brega funk, which originated in Northern Brazil, is a branch of Brazilian funk known for its heavy bass and offbeat rhythms.

Follow along as beloved Brazilian artists embrace genre fluidity and try their hands at a fresh sound. Here are the songs making every day feel like a summer celebration, no matter where you listen:

Released in January

Releasing in February

  • Next, on February 7, Brazilian funk and pop queen LUDMILLA promises a surprise with her trap version of “Fora de Si.”
  • MC Hariel, who is known for his impact on the São Paulo funk scene, will push the boundaries this summer with a reggaeton version of “Pirâmide Socialon February 9.
  • PEDRO SAMPAIO has a sweet surprise in store for February 14. He teamed up with Anitta once again to reenvision the catchy hitNO CHÃO NOVINHA” as a techno brega bop.
  • And Rebecca will close the summer Spotify Singles series by introducing a new brega funk version of the techno pop hit “Barbie” with the help of Mexican singer Dulce María, the Colombian rapper Farina, and Mc Danny on February 16.

Want more? Keep up with the latest releases and the soundtrack of the season on Vem, Verão!

Spotify’s 2021 Summer Song Predictions Are Here

We’ve been counting the days, and summer has finally arrived in the Northern Hemisphere. As parts of the world begin opening up for outdoor concerts and backyard barbecues, this is sure to be a season dominated by feel-good jams and odes to a fresh start. 

Spotify’s global curation team has been hard at work reviewing streaming numbers, analyzing current track trajectory, and peering into crystal balls—all in service of forecasting what songs may feature heavily on your playlists this summer.

Grab your sunscreen and headphones. Here, in no particular order, are Spotify’s official Songs of Summer predictions:

Ready to bask in the sunshine to a new soundtrack? Stream Spotify’s Songs of Summer playlist.

The New Summer Breakouts Playlist Is Your Soundtrack for the Season

What’s the soundtrack to your summer? At Spotify, we’re taking bets on which breakout artists and songs will be racking up streams and sharing these songs in our new Summer Breakouts playlist, available to users across the U.S. and Canada.

Curated by Spotify’s editorial experts with tracks they predict will pop off this summer, the playlist also ranks the order in which they appear to fit each user’s taste based on the music they love.

 

From artists like BIA and Tai Verdes to Dayglow and Audrey Nuna, the playlist provides a range of new music to explore. Each week, the songs on the playlist will refresh, giving you more artists and tracks to discover and share. No matter your plans, you’ll have the perfect summer playlist for any moment. 

Ready to discover the artists and songs that we think will hit it big this season? Check out the Summer Breakouts playlist.

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/37i9dQZF1DXbAmP7AvWeiR

Catching Up with Bazzi after Spotify’s Songs of Summer Soiree

R&B/pop artist Bazzi started making waves in the music world with the 2018 release of his breakout album, Cosmic. But there’s no telling what the stars have in store for the 21-year-old singer, rapper, and producer—and with the start of summer in the U.S., he’s plenty busy.  

Bazzi opened the month of June with his release of “Focus (featuring 21 Savage).” The collaboration revealed the young performer’s genre-blending range and dynamic musical ability. Then, Tuesday night, June 25, Bazzi took to the stage at Spotify’s Songs of Summer Soiree in New York City to celebrate the start of the summer season and Spotify’s Summer Rewind playlist with music and nostalgic trivia of songs from summers past. DJ Steph Cakes played the tables as the sun set over NYC, and then Bazzi took the floor.

How Well Do You Know the Spotify Songs of Summer? Take Our Nostalgia Quiz

It’s (finally) getting hot in the northern hemisphere, which means it’s time to start searching for the perfect summer song. Each year, we release our own predictions on which tracks will be the hottest songs of the season. Now we’re also taking a look back at the tracks that ruled summers past. Take our quiz below to find out if you remember all the artists that soundtracked your summertime.

It's getting hot in here.
So take our summer music quiz.

Start

 

Just in time for those beach or poolside days, we’re also renewing Your Summer Rewind. The personalized playlist is filled with songs you listened to heavily on Spotify during your past steamy, streaming summers. Users in some regions that celebrate summer starting in June* can find their playlist on the Summer Hub and at spotify.com/rewind.  

*Including United States, Great Britain, Mexico, Germany, Spain, Canada, France, Italy, Sweden, Netherlands, Norway, Turkey, Denmark, Finland, Poland, Belgium, Ireland, Czech Republic, Portugal, Austria, Japan, and for the very first time Romania and Israel.

 

Midsummer Means Classic Swedish Music and Lots of Tomas Ledin

For those who don’t call Sweden home, the country likely makes you think of Spotify, as well as IKEA, meatballs, and fika. But Sweden is also well known for the famous Midsummer celebration, which marks the start of the summer holidays. During Midsummer, people head to the country to dance, eat traditional Scandinavian food, and sing classic Swedish summer songs. And with almost 200,000 Midsummer-themed playlists on Spotify, it’s clear that revelers are enjoying the holiday by jamming out to their favorite folksy hits.

Despite Swedes being known for producing great pop music, listeners are looking for the classics during the holiday. Case in point? The top 10 most popular songs streamed globally on Spotify during Midsummer have stayed the same over the last few years. In 2018, the most commonly played songs on the global scene were classics like “Sol, vind och vatten,” released in 1972, and “Sommaren är kort,” from 1982.

Top 10 most played songs during Midsummer (global)

  1. Sol, vind och vatten” — Ted Gärdestad
  2. Sommartider” — Gyllene Tider
  3. Sommaren är kort” — Tomas Ledin
  4. Vågorna” — Uno Svenningsson
  5. Sommarnatt” — Snowstorm
  6. När vi gräver guld i USA” — Glenmark Eriksson Strömstedt
  7. Ta mig till havet” — Peter Lundblad
  8. Oh boy” — Peps Persson
  9. Oh, vilken härlig da‘” — Ted Gärdestad
  10. Magaluf” — Orup

One artist in particular personifies the sounds of Midsummer for global listeners. Tomas Ledin spikes each year on the holiday, with streams increasing by 600%.

“Hopefully people listen [to my music] during Midsummer because of my songs and my artistry,” Ledin says. “Possibly because I’ve done different summer tours over the years. I imagine that songs like ‘Sommaren är kort,’ ‘Här under sommarhimlen,’ and ‘Blå blå känslor’ meant a lot.”

As for what Ledin will be listening to this summer, he says it depends on the situation and the mood: “Right now, I often return to a Spotify playlist that’s very mixed, genre-wise. It includes everything from country giant Chris Stapleton, some of the Eagles’ classic ‘70s and ‘80s songs, and John Mayer’s latest singles, to old favorites like Karla Bonoff and wonderful Sade. Also on my playlist are Miles Davis from the ‘King of cool’ period, jazz guitarist Pat Metheny, the classic cellist and Polar Music Prize winner Yo-Yo Ma, and ambient guru Nils Frahm’s meditative music.”

While Midsummer playlists are mostly created by listeners in Sweden and other Nordic countries, they’re popular among listeners in the U.S and Germany—both of which also have a high number of Midsummer-themed playlists. For Swedes living abroad and celebrating in the U.S., the willingness to keep up Midsummer traditions (flower crowns, anyone?) and sing along to classic Swedish hits shows that you can take a Swede from Sweden, but you can’t take the Sweden out of a Swede.

Top 5 countries with number of playlists with the Midsummer theme

  1. Sweden
  2. Norway
  3. Finland
  4. United States
  5. Germany

Get ready for Midsummer wherever you are by listening to our Swedish Summer Hits playlist.

Spotify’s 2019 Summer Song Predictions

Summer is right around the corner, and once again we’re predicting which songs will dominate speakers and headphones while the Northern Hemisphere sizzles.

From Lizzo’sTruth Hurts” and Billie Eilish’sbad guy” to Tyler, the Creator’sEARFQUAKE” and Daddy Yankee and Snow’sCon Calma,” many of these “song of the summer” contenders are already seeing strong engagement in Spotify’s key playlists, like Today’s Top Hits, RapCaviar, and ¡Viva Latino!.

Then there are the tracks with massive potential. Take, for example, “I Think I’m OKAY,” the newly released collaboration between Machine Gun Kelly, YUNGBLUD, and Travis Barker. We’re also seeing interest in Yonaka’s song “Rockstar,” and Clairo’s new track “Bags” is resonating with our 18-24-year old listeners in particular.