Gone are the days when we used to meticulously organise our CD collection or hunt down the perfect vinyl record to add to our stash. Now, streaming services like Spotify have ushered in a new era of music consumption. An era that is defined by convenience and unlimited access.
With just a few taps, one can explore an infinite library of music. This streaming era, with its explosion in accessibility, has fundamentally changed how we listen to music.
In this article, we shall explore the ten most streamed albums on Spotify. The data in this article are from Kworb, a website that analyses music data from around the world.
Prepare to be surprised by the number of streams some of these albums have. Figures that would have been unimaginable in the pre-streaming era.
1. Un Verano Sin Ti – Bad Bunny
Streams: 16,830,553,201
Released on May 6, 2022, Un Verano Sin Ti is Bad Bunny’s fifth studio album and his second album to reach number one on the Billboard 200. The album is a mix of Latin trap and reggaeton, with influences from merengue, bachata, and other Latin music genres.
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2. ÷ – Ed Sheeran
Streams: 14,940,750,898
“÷” (pronounced “divide”) is Ed Sheeran’s third studio album and his second album to reach number one in the United States and the United Kingdom. The album features a mix of pop, folk, and hip-hop songs. It also features Sheeran’s signature emotional lyrics.
Additionally, Shape of You, the album’s lead single, became the best-selling song of 2017 worldwide and has been streamed over 3 billion times on Spotify.
3. Starboy – The Weeknd
Streams: 14,404,308,362
Starboy is The Weeknd’s third studio album. It features a mix of R&B, pop, and hip-hop songs, with The Weeknd’s signature dark and atmospheric sound.
The album’s title track, Starboy, has over 2 billion times on Spotify. Interestingly, The Weeknd is now Spotify’s most listened-to artiste with 106.2 million monthly listeners.
4. Hollywood’s Bleeding – Post Malone
Streams: 12,845,501,217
A true country album, Hollywood’s Bleeding explores the genres of hip-hop, pop, and country in its songs. Additionally, the album’s lead single, Sunflower, is in the animated film Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. It currently has over 3 billion streams on Spotify.
5. SOUR – Olivia Rodrigo
Streams: 12,615,174,669
Released when Olivia was just 18 years old, SOUR was released as her debut studio album. The album quickly climbed the charts and reached number one on the Billboard 200. The album is a mix of pop, alternative, and punk songs.
Furthermore, Drivers License, the album’s lead single, was a massive hit. It sold over twenty one million copies all over the world.
6. After Hours – The Weeknd
Streams: 12,530,549,140
Another honourable The Weeknd mention, After Hours is his fourth studio album. Considered a dark and gory album, The Weeknd explores themes of addiction, isolation, and heartbreak in it coupled with the tough times that come with fame.
In addition, the album’s lead single, Blinding Lights, is The Weeknd’s biggest hit till today. The song alone has over four billion streams on Spotify.
7. Dua Lipa – Dua Lipa
Streams: 12,457,258,221
Dua Lipa is Dua Lipa’s self-titled debut studio album. It is disco, dance-pop, and electropop album. And it peaked at number three on the UK Albums Chart, with the title song, New Rules reaching number one on the prestigious chart.
8. Future Nostalgia – Dua Lipa
Streams: 12,435,138,445
Another record-breaking album from Dua Lipa, Future Nostalgia is a futuristic pop album. It has nostalgic elements that take one back to 80s pop music, an ode to the album’s name. Don’t Start Now, the album’s lead single, has well over two billion streams.
9. Papercuts – Linkin Park
Streams: 11,923,019,421
Linkin Park released Papercuts, their eighth studio album and the first since the death of lead singer Chester Bennington in 2017, on July 22, 2022. Essentially, the album has elements of alternative rock and nu-metal songs.
The album’s lead single, Lost in the Echo, was released in 2012 and was originally intended to be on the band’s previous album, The Hunting Party.
10. beerbongs & bentleys – Post Malone
Streams: 11,834,719,755
Post Malone’s second album on this list, beerbongs and bentleys is a widely commercially successful album. It debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200. Impressingly, it sold 461,000 units in its first week.
Rockstar, the album’s lead single featuring 21 Savage, was a massive hit.
