Here’s What You All Listened To Over The Summer, According To Spotify
The most-streamed Aussie artist might surprise you.
Summer is the season for good friends, hangs by the pool, paralysing existential crises about the heatwaves that are killing off massive amounts of the country’s animal life and threatening the future of human life on the planet, and blasting summer bangers — and this year, Spotify stats proved the bangers were in far from short supply.
Every year, the streaming giant shares data about what tunes Aussies flocked to over the Summer months, and every year, the results are a mix between dependable, tried and true pop deities, and a fair few surprises.
Case in point — this year, the artist that Aussies streamed more than any other was Ariana Grande.
That’s not surprising — Grande has had a helluva six months, releasing acclaimed singles and two (count ’em two) of the best records of her career, all of which were heavily pushed on Spotify.
Nor will the most streamed single come as much of a shock: that title was reserved for Post Malone’s mega-hit ‘ Sunflower’, a light and airy bop that became a viral sensation.
More surprising is the most-streamed album: that honour goes to Benny Blanco’s FRIENDS KEEP SECRETS. Blanco’s debut album, the thing is stuffed with guest spots featuring everyone from Brendon Urie to Halsey to Khadid, and its trap-influenced grooves are a perfect pairing for the warmer months.
Dean Lewis’ ‘Be Alright’ was the Aussie track that we couldn’t get enough of, capping off a string of successes for the young singer-songwriter, including an ARIA award nomination at the end of last year. Lewis also appears on a great deal of Spotify playlists, a surefire way to chart in our modern, streaming-dominated age.
The most-streamed Australian artist was the Hilltop Hoods, a rap collective that had been around for a staggering 25 years (feel old yet?)
Finally, the most-streamed female artist was Sia, which comes as a bit of a surprise; the popsmith hasn’t released a record since 2016’s This Is Acting, unless you count her 2017 Christmas album Everyday Is Christmas, which you absolutely shouldn’t because that thing is horseshit.
See ya next Summer, folks!
Spotify Australian Summer Stats
TOP ARTISTS (GLOBAL)
1. Ariana Grande
2. Post Malone
3. Khalid
4. XXXTENTACION
5. Drake
TOP AUSTRALIAN ARTISTS
1. Hilltop Hoods
2. 5 Seconds of Summer
3. Dean Lewis
4. Sticky Fingers
5. Troye Sivan
TOP FEMALE ARTISTS (GLOBAL)
1. Ariana Grande
2. Billie Eilish
3. Halsey
4. Lady Gaga
5. Taylor Swift
TOP FEMALE AUSTRALIAN ARTISTS
1. Sia
2. Julia Stone
3. Amy Shark
4. Vera Blue
5. Mallrat
TOP TRACKS
1. Sunflower – Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, Post Malone
2. Eastside (with Halsey & Khalid), benny blanco
3. Close To Me (with Diplo) (feat. Swae Lee), Ellie Goulding
4. Happier, Marshmello
5. Nothing Breaks Like a Heart (feat. Miley Cyrus), Mark Ronson
TOP AUSTRALIAN TRACKS
1. Be Alright, Dean Lewis
2. Waiting, KIAN
3. Leave Me Lonely, Hilltop Hoods
4. Youngblood, 5 Seconds of Summer
5. Better Together, Hayden James
TOP ALBUMS
1. FRIENDS KEEP SECRETS, benny blanco
2. thank u, next, Ariana Grande
3. A Star Is Born Soundtrack, Bradley Cooper, Lady Gaga
4. Dua Lipa, Dua Lipa
5. Beerbongs & bentleys, Post Malone
TOP AUSTRALIAN ALBUMS
1. Youngblood, 5 Seconds of Summer
2. Love Monster, Amy Shark
3. Chiaroscuro, Ocean Alley
4. Laps Around the Sun, Ziggy Alberts
5. The Best of Cold Chisel – All For You, Cold Chisel
TOP GENRES
1. Pop
2. Dance pop
3. Pop rap
4. Rap
5. Post-teen pop