Taylor Swift has emerged as the top artist on Spotify’s inaugural list of the most streamed artists ever, which was unveiled on Thursday. Following closely behind is Bad Bunny, the Puerto Rican sensation. This development is not surprising, given that Bad Bunny was named Spotify’s most played artist of the year in 2025, surpassing Swift for the fourth consecutive year.
The rivalry between the two artists has been evident, with Swift claiming the top spot in the preceding two years, while Bad Bunny held the position from 2020 to 2023. Drake secures the third spot on Spotify’s all-time most streamed artist list, with The Weeknd, Ariana Grande, and others following closely.
Spotify, when approached by The Associated Press, did not disclose details about its data collection methodology. Besides revealing the top streamed artists globally, Spotify also compiled lists of the most streamed albums, songs, podcasts, and audiobooks to commemorate its 20th anniversary.
Streaming plays a pivotal role in the music industry’s revenue generation, accounting for 82% of the total income in the U.S., according to the Recording Industry Association of America. Spotify, a Swedish company established in April 2006, holds the largest market share, representing over 31% of the industry. With a reported 751 million users and 290 million subscribers across 184 markets, Spotify stands out as the leading platform in the streaming industry.
Among Spotify’s most streamed albums of all time are works by Bad Bunny, The Weeknd, Ed Sheeran, Olivia Rodrigo, and others. Likewise, the platform has seen a plethora of popular songs, including tracks from The Weeknd, Ed Sheeran, Lewis Capaldi, Post Malone, and more, topping the charts as the most streamed songs of all time.
