As the foremost platform of music’s streaming era, Spotify offers a pointed glimpse into the enduring popularity of certain songs and artists. What the data on Spotify streams tells us is that listeners are mostly tuning in to contemporary pop stars of considerable fame and exposure. Familiar names such as Ed Sheeran, Billie Eilish, Justin Bieber, The Weeknd, Drake, and Ariana Grande pop up time and again, with billions upon billions of streams between them. In other words: duh. (As of early last year, considering all streaming music platforms, these were the best-selling artists for digital singles.)
To determine the most streamed songs on Spotify, 24/7 Tempo reviewed data from ChartMasters and Spotify itself. Songs were ranked based on total Spotify streams as of early March 2023. Playcounts for remixes of the original songs were included in the streaming totals. Data on Billboard Hot 100 performance is current through March 4, 2023.
While the inclusion of the most famous pop luminaries of the moment on the list is to be expected, what may come as more of a surprise is the inclusion of legacy acts like Queen, who racked up over 2 billion streams with their immortal hit “Bohemian Rhapsody.” A recent Oscar-winning biopic of the same name surely helped drive those numbers, but it’s also an indisputable classic. (See all the biggest pop hits by Queen.)
Along similar lines, Linkin Park’s 2003 single “Numb” has also stayed the course through time to become one of Spotify’s most streamed songs.
Click here to see the 50 most streamed songs on Spotify
Meanwhile, songs from the last two years are still playing catch-up to their slightly older counterparts. In fact, the hit single “As It Was” by Harry Styles is the only song from 2022 to currently crack the top 50. And the only entry from 2021 is The Kid LAROI’s “STAY,” which presumably received a numbers boost due to the guest appearance of Justin Bieber.
50. Ariana Grande, “7 rings”
> Total Spotify streams: 1.93 billion
> Peak position on Billboard Hot 100: No. 1 (for 8 weeks)
> Total time spent on Billboard Hot 100: 33 weeks
> Release year: 2019
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49. Justin Bieber, “Sorry”
> Total Spotify streams: 1.94 billion
> Peak position on Billboard Hot 100: No. 1 (for 3 weeks)
> Total time spent on Billboard Hot 100: 42 weeks
> Release year: 2015
48. The Chainsmokers, “Don’t Let Me Down”
> Total Spotify streams: 1.95 billion
> Peak position on Billboard Hot 100: No. 3 (for 2 weeks)
> Total time spent on Billboard Hot 100: 52 weeks
> Release year: 2016
47. SAINt JHN, “Roses”
> Total Spotify streams: 1.96 billion
> Peak position on Billboard Hot 100: No. 4 (for 1 week)
> Total time spent on Billboard Hot 100: 34 weeks
> Release year: 2018
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46. Passenger, “Let Her Go”
> Total Spotify streams: 1.96 billion
> Peak position on Billboard Hot 100: No. 5 (for 1 week)
> Total time spent on Billboard Hot 100: 43 weeks
> Release year: 2012
45. Dua Lipa, “New Rules”
> Total Spotify streams: 1.97 billion
> Peak position on Billboard Hot 100: No. 6 (for 1 week)
> Total time spent on Billboard Hot 100: 47 weeks
> Release year: 2017
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44. XXXTENTACION, “SAD!”
> Total Spotify streams: 1.99 billion
> Peak position on Billboard Hot 100: No. 1 (for 1 week)
> Total time spent on Billboard Hot 100: 38 weeks
> Release year: 2018
43. Post Malone, “Circles”
> Total Spotify streams: 1.99 billion
> Peak position on Billboard Hot 100: No. 1 (for 3 weeks)
> Total time spent on Billboard Hot 100: 61 weeks
> Release year: 2019
42. DJ Snake, “Let Me Love You”
> Total Spotify streams: 2.00 billion
> Peak position on Billboard Hot 100: No. 4 (for 5 weeks)
> Total time spent on Billboard Hot 100: 33 weeks
> Release year: 2016
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41. Justin Bieber, “Love Yourself”
> Total Spotify streams: 2.00 billion
> Peak position on Billboard Hot 100: No. 1 (for 2 weeks)
> Total time spent on Billboard Hot 100: 41 weeks
> Release year: 2015
40. Harry Styles, “As It Was”
> Total Spotify streams: 2.01 billion
> Peak position on Billboard Hot 100: No. 1 (for 15 weeks)
> Total time spent on Billboard Hot 100: 44 weeks
> Release year: 2022
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39. Lady Gaga, “Shallow”
> Total Spotify streams: 2.03 billion
> Peak position on Billboard Hot 100: No. 1 (for 1 week)
> Total time spent on Billboard Hot 100: 45 weeks
> Release year: 2018
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38. Linkin Park, “Numb”
> Total Spotify streams: 2.05 billion
> Peak position on Billboard Hot 100: No. 11 (for 1 week)
> Total time spent on Billboard Hot 100: 33 weeks
> Release year: 2003
37. Hozier, “Take Me to Church”
> Total Spotify streams: 2.06 billion
> Peak position on Billboard Hot 100: No. 2 (for 3 weeks)
> Total time spent on Billboard Hot 100: 41 weeks
> Release year: 2013
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36. Kendrick Lamar, “HUMBLE.”
> Total Spotify streams: 2.07 billion
> Peak position on Billboard Hot 100: No. 1 (for 1 week)
> Total time spent on Billboard Hot 100: 37 weeks
> Release year: 2017
35. Imagine Dragons, “Thunder”
> Total Spotify streams: 2.08 billion
> Peak position on Billboard Hot 100: No. 4 (for 3 weeks)
> Total time spent on Billboard Hot 100: 51 weeks
> Release year: 2017
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34. The Neighbourhood, “Sweater Weather”
> Total Spotify streams: 2.10 billion
> Peak position on Billboard Hot 100: No. 14 (for 1 week)
> Total time spent on Billboard Hot 100: 37 weeks
> Release year: 2012
33. Drake, “God’s Plan”
> Total Spotify streams: 2.13 billion
> Peak position on Billboard Hot 100: No. 1 (for 11 weeks)
> Total time spent on Billboard Hot 100: 36 weeks
> Release year: 2018
32. Camila Cabello, “Havana (feat. Young Thug)”
> Total Spotify streams: 2.13 billion
> Peak position on Billboard Hot 100: No. 1 (for 1 week)
> Total time spent on Billboard Hot 100: 45 weeks
> Release year: 2017
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31. Harry Styles, “Watermelon Sugar”
> Total Spotify streams: 2.14 billion
> Peak position on Billboard Hot 100: No. 1 (for 1 week)
> Total time spent on Billboard Hot 100: 39 weeks
> Release year: 2019
30. Billie Eilish, “lovely (with Khalid)”
> Total Spotify streams: 2.16 billion
> Peak position on Billboard Hot 100: No. 64 (for 1 week)
> Total time spent on Billboard Hot 100: 22 weeks
> Release year: 2018
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29. Ed Sheeran, “Photograph”
> Total Spotify streams: 2.16 billion
> Peak position on Billboard Hot 100: No. 10 (for 1 week)
> Total time spent on Billboard Hot 100: 30 weeks
> Release year: 2014
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28. Juice WRLD, “Lucid Dreams”
> Total Spotify streams: 2.18 billion
> Peak position on Billboard Hot 100: No. 2 (for 2 weeks)
> Total time spent on Billboard Hot 100: 48 weeks
> Release year: 2018
27. Sia, “Cheap Thrills”
> Total Spotify streams: 2.18 billion
> Peak position on Billboard Hot 100: No. 1 (for 4 weeks)
> Total time spent on Billboard Hot 100: 52 weeks
> Release year: 2016
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26. Queen, “Bohemian Rhapsody”
> Total Spotify streams: 2.19 billion
> Peak position on Billboard Hot 100: No. 2 (for 1 week)
> Total time spent on Billboard Hot 100: 44 weeks
> Release year: 1975
25. The Chainsmokers, “Something Just Like This”
> Total Spotify streams: 2.21 billion
> Peak position on Billboard Hot 100: No. 3 (for 1 week)
> Total time spent on Billboard Hot 100: 39 weeks
> Release year: 2017
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24. Ed Sheeran, “Thinking out Loud”
> Total Spotify streams: 2.21 billion
> Peak position on Billboard Hot 100: No. 2 (for 8 weeks)
> Total time spent on Billboard Hot 100: 58 weeks
> Release year: 2014
23. Dua Lipa, “Don’t Start Now”
> Total Spotify streams: 2.26 billion
> Peak position on Billboard Hot 100: No. 2 (for 1 week)
> Total time spent on Billboard Hot 100: 52 weeks
> Release year: 2019
22. John Legend, “All of Me”
> Total Spotify streams: 2.28 billion
> Peak position on Billboard Hot 100: No. 1 (for 3 weeks)
> Total time spent on Billboard Hot 100: 59 weeks
> Release year: 2013
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21. James Arthur, “Say You Won’t Let Go”
> Total Spotify streams: 2.30 billion
> Peak position on Billboard Hot 100: No. 11 (for 2 weeks)
> Total time spent on Billboard Hot 100: 52 weeks
> Release year: 2016
20. The Weeknd, “Starboy”
> Total Spotify streams: 2.33 billion
> Peak position on Billboard Hot 100: No. 1 (for 1 week)
> Total time spent on Billboard Hot 100: 30 weeks
> Release year: 2016
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19. Shawn Mendes, “Señorita”
> Total Spotify streams: 2.36 billion
> Peak position on Billboard Hot 100: No. 1 (for 1 week)
> Total time spent on Billboard Hot 100: 37 weeks
> Release year: 2019
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18. The Kid LAROI, “STAY (with Justin Bieber)”
> Total Spotify streams: 2.43 billion
> Peak position on Billboard Hot 100: No. 1 (for 7 weeks)
> Total time spent on Billboard Hot 100: 63 weeks
> Release year: 2021
17. Dua Lipa, “Levitating (feat. DaBaby)”
> Total Spotify streams: 2.46 billion
> Peak position on Billboard Hot 100: No. 2 (for 1 week)
> Total time spent on Billboard Hot 100: 41 weeks
> Release year: 2020
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16. The Weeknd, “Save Your Tears”
> Total Spotify streams: 2.49 billion
> Peak position on Billboard Hot 100: No. 1 (for 2 weeks)
> Total time spent on Billboard Hot 100: 69 weeks
> Release year: 2020
15. Travis Scott, “Goosebumps”
> Total Spotify streams: 2.53 billion
> Peak position on Billboard Hot 100: No. 32 (for 1 week)
> Total time spent on Billboard Hot 100: 35 weeks
> Release year: 2016
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14. Drake, “One Dance”
> Total Spotify streams: 2.56 billion
> Peak position on Billboard Hot 100: No. 1 (for 10 weeks)
> Total time spent on Billboard Hot 100: 36 weeks
> Release year: 2016
13. Imagine Dragons, “Believer”
> Total Spotify streams: 2.56 billion
> Peak position on Billboard Hot 100: No. 4 (for 2 weeks)
> Total time spent on Billboard Hot 100: 51 weeks
> Release year: 2017
12. Glass Animals, “Heat Waves”
> Total Spotify streams: 2.57 billion
> Peak position on Billboard Hot 100: No. 1 (for 5 weeks)
> Total time spent on Billboard Hot 100: 91 weeks
> Release year: 2020
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11. Billie Eilish, “bad guy”
> Total Spotify streams: 2.57 billion
> Peak position on Billboard Hot 100: No. 1 (for 1 week)
> Total time spent on Billboard Hot 100: 49 weeks
> Release year: 2019
10. The Chainsmokers, “Closer”
> Total Spotify streams: 2.57 billion
> Peak position on Billboard Hot 100: No. 1 (for 12 weeks)
> Total time spent on Billboard Hot 100: 52 weeks
> Release year: 2016
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9. Lil Nas X, “Old Town Road”
> Total Spotify streams: 2.57 billion
> Peak position on Billboard Hot 100: No. 1 (for 19 weeks)
> Total time spent on Billboard Hot 100: 45 weeks
> Release year: 2019
8. Post Malone, “Sunflower – Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse”
> Total Spotify streams: 2.64 billion
> Peak position on Billboard Hot 100: No. 1 (for 1 week)
> Total time spent on Billboard Hot 100: 53 weeks
> Release year: 2018
7. Post Malone, “rockstar (feat. 21 Savage)”
> Total Spotify streams: 2.67 billion
> Peak position on Billboard Hot 100: No. 1 (for 7 weeks)
> Total time spent on Billboard Hot 100: 42 weeks
> Release year: 2017
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6. Lewis Capaldi, “Someone You Loved”
> Total Spotify streams: 2.79 billion
> Peak position on Billboard Hot 100: No. 1 (for 3 weeks)
> Total time spent on Billboard Hot 100: 54 weeks
> Release year: 2018
5. Tones And I, “Dance Monkey”
> Total Spotify streams: 2.81 billion
> Peak position on Billboard Hot 100: No. 4 (for 1 week)
> Total time spent on Billboard Hot 100: 36 weeks
> Release year: 2019
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4. Luis Fonsi, “Despacito”
> Total Spotify streams: 3.20 billion
> Peak position on Billboard Hot 100: No. 1 (for 16 weeks)
> Total time spent on Billboard Hot 100: 51 weeks
> Release year: 2017
3. Ed Sheeran, “Perfect”
> Total Spotify streams: 3.42 billion
> Peak position on Billboard Hot 100: No. 1 (for 5 weeks)
> Total time spent on Billboard Hot 100: 56 weeks
> Release year: 2017
2. The Weeknd, “Blinding Lights”
> Total Spotify streams: 3.53 billion
> Peak position on Billboard Hot 100: No. 1 (for 4 weeks)
> Total time spent on Billboard Hot 100: 90 weeks
> Release year: 2019
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1. Ed Sheeran, “Shape of You”
> Total Spotify streams: 3.89 billion
> Peak position on Billboard Hot 100: No. 1 (for 12 weeks)
> Total time spent on Billboard Hot 100: 58 weeks
> Release year: 2017
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