Taylor Swift dominates Spotify Wrapped globally, while Drake and The Weeknd crack global top 5 most streamed
In 2024, Canadians once again made their mark on the global music scene, with two of the top four most-streamed artists on Spotify hailing from the Great White North. Taylor Swift, a perennial favorite, dominated the charts both in Canada and around the world, earning more than 26.6 billion streams and securing the top spot with her album “The Tortured Poets Department,” released in April.
Toronto’s own The Weeknd followed closely behind Swift as the second most-streamed artist globally, while Drake, another Canadian powerhouse, claimed the fourth spot. Puerto Rican reggaetón star Bad Bunny and Billie Eilish rounded out the top five most-streamed artists worldwide.
Drake held onto his second-place spot among Canadian and U.S. listeners, while The Weeknd ranked lower in his home country at number seven. Other top-streamed Canadian artists globally included Justin Bieber, Tate McRae, and Shawn Mendes, although they did not crack the top 10.
In terms of top songs, Shaboozey’s country hit “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” captured the hearts of Canadian listeners, taking the number one spot in the country. Meanwhile, Sabrina Carpenter’s “Espresso” topped the charts in the U.S. and globally.
On Apple Music’s Replay, Taylor Swift claimed the top artist and album slots internationally, while Kendrick Lamar’s diss track “Not Like Us” took the number one spot for individual tracks. The song, which targeted Drake, ranked high in the U.S. but failed to crack the global top 10 on Spotify.
In a surprising turn of events, Drake launched legal actions against Universal Music Group, alleging defamation and a conspiracy to falsely boost the popularity of “Not Like Us.” The feud between Drake and Lamar added a dramatic twist to the year-end music charts.
With streaming accounting for the majority of revenue in the music industry, Spotify remains the largest platform with a significant market share. The top 10 most-streamed artists and songs in Canada reflected a diverse range of talent, showcasing the country’s vibrant music scene.
Overall, 2024 was a year of Canadian excellence in the music industry, with familiar names like Taylor Swift and Drake leading the charge and new talents like Shaboozey making their mark on the global stage. As streaming continues to shape the music landscape, Canadian artists are poised to maintain their influence and impact in the years to come.
