Women reigned supreme in music throughout 2024, Spotify has confirmed, as it revealed the most-streamed artists, songs, and albums of the past year.
Taylor Swift has once again claimed the crown as both Global and UK Top Artist, marking her second consecutive year atop the charts. With over 26.6 billion streams, the US pop superstar dominated Spotify thanks to the release of her Grammy-nominated 11th studio album, The Tortured Poets Department. Released in April, the record-breaking album featured multiple editions, including an expansive 31-track “anthology,” with most tracks surpassing 100 million streams.
Swift’s Eras Tour, a career-spanning global phenomenon, also played a major role in solidifying her position as the most-streamed artist. Millions of fans attended her shows, while hits from her discography surged across streaming platforms.
Joining Swift in the spotlight was Sabrina Carpenter, whose irresistibly catchy single “Espresso” took the crown as the most-streamed song of the year.
The dominance of women extended to albums, with all five of Spotify’s most-streamed records helmed by female artists. Billie Eilish’s Hit Me Hard and Soft secured second place, followed by Carpenter’s Short ’n Sweet, Karol G’s Mañana Será Bonito, and Ariana Grande’s Eternal Sunshine.
Brat summer vs TTPD: Fan reactions
Taylor Swift’s dominance sparked widespread celebration on social media, with fans declaring her “the greatest pop star of the century.” One user wrote, “Her voice stands out in the crowd of singers like a needle in a stack of needles.”
However, not everyone was thrilled. Some fans argued that Charli XCX deserved more recognition for her album Brat, which was affectionately dubbed Brat Summer by listeners. One fan tweeted, “Amazing, but the way Brat is better than any of Taylor’s albums is making me giggle a bit, sorry.”
“you can’t compare cultural impact. there’s a reason it was called brat summer, not ttpd summer,” another quipped
Swift herself had praised Charli XCX in a recent interview with New York Magazine, saying:
“I’ve been blown away by Charli’s melodic sensibilities since I first heard ‘Stay Away’ in 2011. Her writing is surreal and inventive, always. She just takes a song to places you wouldn’t expect it to go, and she’s been doing it consistently for over a decade. I love to see hard work like that pay off.”
This acknowledgment led fans to urge an end to perceived rivalry between the two stars. As one user noted, “y’all shocked by this, but let’s not forget Charli XCX was literally a guest at the Reputation tour. They never had beef; it’s just the fans.”
With Spotify Wrapped once again sparking conversations and debates across the globe, it’s clear that 2024 was a year defined by the extraordinary contributions of women in music. Taylor Swift, Sabrina Carpenter, Billie Eilish, and others not only set records but also defined the cultural spirit of the year.