As 2024 winds down, Spotify Wrapped has once again dropped its annual dose of serotonin, giving us all a peek into our most-played anthems and guilty pleasures. And unsurprisingly, Taylor Swift is at the centre of the streaming universe—for the second year in a row.
For anyone keeping track, Swift’s been named Spotify’s most-streamed artist globally, racking up a jaw-dropping 26.6 billion streams. It’s easy to see why—she’s not just dominating our playlists; she’s redefining what it means to be a global superstar. Her $2 billion-grossing Eras Tour made headlines as the highest-grossing concert tour ever, and her album, The Tortured Poets Department, was a global favourite, cementing her status as the queen of 2024.
It wasn’t just Taylor lighting up the charts. Rising star Sabrina Carpenter had an explosive year, taking the crown for most-streamed song globally with her breakout hit, “Espresso,“ pulling in over 1.6 billion streams. Carpenter’s rise reflects the growing demand for pop tracks that blend catchy hooks with lyrical depth, carving her space among pop’s elite.
Meanwhile, Benson Boone captivated hearts in Australia, where his emotional track “Beautiful Things” claimed the title of the country’s most-streamed song. Boone’s haunting lyrics and soaring melodies proved irresistible, solidifying his place as a breakout artist to watch. And then there’s the nostalgia factor—The Wiggles topped the charts as Australia’s most-streamed local artists. From childhood singalongs to parenting playlists, their enduring appeal is undeniable.
Globally, Wrapped painted a vibrant picture of our collective musical obsessions. Pop, as expected, reigned supreme, but niche genres also found their moment in the spotlight. From the meteoric rise of K-pop powerhouses to the resurgence of indie-folk ballads, this year’s trends showcased the power of diversity in music. The blending of genres—whether it’s pop-punk creeping into mainstream hits or electronic influences seeping into R&B—defined the year’s biggest tracks and setlists.
However, Wrapped wasn’t without its controversies. Some users took to social media to question the accuracy of their personalised results, alleging that Spotify’s heavy reliance on AI algorithms—particularly after widespread layoffs of staff last year—may have affected the precision of the data. While Spotify has yet to address these claims directly, the concerns highlight growing scepticism about AI-driven personalisation and how it impacts the music experience.
Spotify Wrapped isn’t just a feature; it’s a cultural event. It reminds us how deeply music intertwines with our lives, from heartbreak anthems to feel-good summer bops. Taylor Swift leading both Spotify and the live music scene? Honestly, 2024 was her world, and we were all just living in it. For the rest of us, Wrapped is a simple truth: whether we’re dancing, crying, or driving at 2 a.m., there’s always a song to match the moment.
