Spotify’s 2024 Wrapped reveals significant trends in music, podcasts, and audiobooks. From Taylor Swift’s ongoing dominance to the rise of video podcasts and audiobook adaptations, here’s everything you need to know about this year’s top performers.
Taylor Swift: Most-Streamed Artist for the Fifth Consecutive Year
For the second year in a row, Taylor Swift has topped Spotify’s list of most-streamed artists globally, with a staggering 26.6 billion streams. Swift’s continued reign came after the release of her album The Tortured Poets Department in April, which also became the most-streamed album of the year. Additionally, her Eras Tour kept her in the global spotlight throughout 2024.
The top five most-streamed artists globally this year were:
- Taylor Swift
- The Weeknd
- Bad Bunny
- Drake
- Billie Eilish
Sabrina Carpenter also made waves with her song “Espresso,” which became the most-streamed song globally in 2024, with over 1.6 billion streams.
Podcasts: Joe Rogan and Alex Cooper Lead the Way
Joe Rogan continued his dominance on Spotify, with The Joe Rogan Experience securing its spot as the most-streamed podcast for the fifth year in a row. This comes after his high-profile interview with former President Donald Trump ahead of the 2024 U.S. elections.
Alex Cooper, who hosts Call Her Daddy, maintained her position as the second-most popular podcast, a title she has held for two consecutive years. Her interview with Vice President Kamala Harris added to her show’s appeal.
While these podcasts had previously enjoyed exclusivity deals with Spotify, they maintained their strong standing even after Spotify ended these agreements. The global top five podcast list for 2024 included:
- The Joe Rogan Experience
- Call Her Daddy
- Huberman Lab
- This Past Weekend with Theo Von
- The Diary of a CEO with Steven Bartlett
Spotify also noted the increasing popularity of video podcasts, particularly with The Diary of a CEO. According to Jordan Newman, Spotify’s head of content partnerships, video is becoming a standard format for podcasts that are able to support it.
Spotify’s Growing Audiobook Offering
In 2024, Spotify expanded its audiobook library, and for the first time, it included a ranking of the top audiobooks. Sarah J. Maas’ A Court of Thorns and Roses took the top spot globally, followed by The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien and I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy.
The rise in audiobook consumption is in part due to Spotify’s 2023 expansion of its audiobook service, which included offering premium members in the U.S. and select countries 15 hours of free listening each month.
Audiobook listening trends also point to an increasing interest in adaptations. Titles such as Wicked, It Ends with Us, and Bridgerton saw significant listening spikes after their book-to-screen releases. Rebecca McGuire, Spotify’s manager of audiobook partnerships, highlighted how younger listeners, who make up a large portion of Spotify’s user base, are particularly drawn to romance and fantasy genres.
Global and U.S. Trends: What Spotify Users Are Listening To
The U.S. charts mirrored global trends in many ways, though there were notable differences in music and podcast preferences.
Top U.S. Artists
- Taylor Swift
- Drake
- Zach Bryan
- Morgan Wallen
- Kanye West
Top U.S. Songs
- “Espresso” by Sabrina Carpenter
- “Not Like Us” by Kendrick Lamar
- “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” by Shaboozey
- “I Had Some Help” by Post Malone ft. Morgan Wallen
- “Good Luck, Babe!” by Chappell Roan
Top U.S. Albums
- The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology by Taylor Swift
- One Thing At A Time by Morgan Wallen
- Short n’ Sweet by Sabrina Carpenter
- Stick Season by Noah Kahan
- The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess by Chappell Roan
Most Anticipated Podcast Launches in the U.S.
Looking ahead, Spotify users are excited about new podcasts launching in the U.S. in 2024. Some of the most anticipated shows include:
- Mind the Game with LeBron James and JJ Redick
- Talk Tuah with Haliey Welch
- Drowning Creek
- Murder in the Hollywood Hills
These upcoming podcasts reflect the growing trend toward celebrity-led and investigative content on the platform.
AI-Generated Podcasts: Spotify’s Latest Innovation
For the first time this year, Spotify offered users an AI-generated podcast that provides a personalized audio overview of their music listening habits. Built with Google’s NotebookLM, this new feature is available to users in the U.S., U.K., Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, and Sweden, offering a unique way for listeners to engage with their personal data.
Spotify’s 2024 Wrapped: The Year in Review
Spotify’s 2024 Wrapped reveals a continued evolution in how people consume music, podcasts, and audiobooks. With Taylor Swift leading the charge in music and Joe Rogan maintaining his dominance in podcasting, this year was marked by a growing interest in video podcasts and a boom in audiobook consumption. The platform’s push to integrate AI-generated podcasts and personalized features only highlights the ongoing innovation shaping the future of digital media.
In conclusion, 2024 was another banner year for Spotify, with major trends pointing toward the increasing influence of video, audiobooks, and AI-generated content in the streaming space. Whether you’re a music lover, podcast enthusiast, or audiobook fan, Spotify continues to be at the forefront of the streaming revolution.
