Drake and Rihanna top Spotify's most streamed artists of 2016

Spotify unveils its mammoth year in music lists.
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Spotify has unveiled its annual top lists, revealing the most streamed artists, songs and albums of 2016 in the UK

Drake dominates end-of-year lists with the most streamed track for One Dance and album with his album Views. Both have been a huge success of the Official Charts this year, with One Dance racking up an almost record-breaking 15 weeks at Number 1, while Views also debuted at the top. 

Unsurprisingly, Drake was also the most streamed overall artist of the year, with 4.7 billion plays worldwide - that's more than 36 million monthly listens on the service. 

“Drake has been unstoppable this year - he’s a true global superstar,” Stefan Blom, Spotify’s Chief Content & Chief Strategy Officer, said. “With the top album and the top song this year, as well as his successful Summer Sixteen tour, Drake continues to engage his fans in a way that only Drake can; it’s no surprise he is dominating the music industry."

MORE: The Official Top 40 biggest songs of 2016 so far revealed

Meanwhile, Rihanna was the most streamed female artist in the UK as well as worldwide with 2.5 billion streams, finishing ahead of Sia, while Zayn was the top breakout artist of the year. 

The top acts according to genre have also been revealed, including David Bowie for Alternative, Dolly Parton for Country (New), Michael Buble for Jazz and Enrique Iglesias for Latin. 

MORE: These are officially the UK's 40 biggest albums of 2016 so far

The most streamed 'sex' song was, fittingly, Rihanna's Sex With Me - a bonus track from Anti album, while the top workout song was Calvin Harris and Rihanna's This Is What You Came For. Oh, and the most musical day of the year was November 18, though we're not quite sure why. 

Spotify’s UK Year in Music 2016

Top 5 UK artists for 2016:

  1. Drake
  2. Justin Bieber
  3. Rihanna
  4. Kanye West
  5. Coldplay

Most streamed female artists in the UK:

  1. Rihanna
  2. Sia
  3. Adele
  4. Ariana Grande
  5. Beyoncé

Most streamed male artists in the UK:

  1. Drake
  2. Justin Bieber
  3. Kanye West
  4. Coldplay
  5. Twenty One Pilots

Most streamed tracks in the UK:

  1. One Dance (feat. WizKid and Kyla) - Drake
  2. Cheap Thrills - Sia
  3. I Took A Pill in Ibiza - Seeb Remix - Mike Posner
  4. 7 Years - Lukas Graham
  5. This Is What You Came For - Calvin Harris 

Most streamed albums in the UK:

  1. Views - Drake
  2. Purpose - Justin Bieber
  3. ANTI - Rihanna
  4. Blurryface - Twenty One Pilots
  5. Beauty Behind The Madness - The Weeknd

Most popular playlists in the UK:

  1. Hot Hits UK
  2. Today’s Top Hits
  3. Feel Good Friday
  4. Massive Dance Hits
  5. #ThrowbackThursday

Top 5 breakout artists (global):

  1. ZAYN
  2. FRENSHIP
  3. Anne-Marie
  4. Madeintyo
  5. Rob $tone

Emerging genres in 2016 in the UK:

  1. Witch House
  2. Hawaiian
  3. World Meditation
  4. Underground Pop Rap
  5. Pop House
  6. Vapor Soul
  7. Ambeat
  8. Speed Garage
  9. Lift Kit
  10. Bouncy House

Top artists by genre in 2016:

  • Alternative: David Bowie
  • Classical: Glenn Gould
  • Classic Rock: The Beatles
  • Country (New): Dolly Parton
  • Country (Old): Johnny Cash
  • EDM: The Chainsmokers
  • Emo: Panic! At The Disco
  • Hip Hop: Drake
  • Jazz: Michael Bublé
  • Latin: Enrique Iglesias
  • Metal: Bring Me The Horizon
  • New Age: Enya
  • Pop: Drake
  • RnB: Rihanna
  • Reggae: Bob Marley & The Wailers
  • Reggaeton: Shakira
  • Rock: Arctic Monkeys
  • Soul: Michael Jackson

Fun facts:

  • Most Musical Day of the Year: 18th November 2016
  • Top sex song: Sex With Me - Rihanna – Bonus Track
  • Top sad song: Say Something - A Great Big World
  • Top breakup song: One Dance (feat. WizKid and Kyla) - Drake
  • Top party/dance song: One Dance (feat. WizKid and Kyla) - Drake
  • Top workout song: This Is What You Came For - Calvin Harris

 

Spotify’s Global Year in Music 2016

Most streamed artists worldwide:

  1. Drake
  2. Justin Bieber
  3. Rihanna
  4. Twenty One Pilots
  5. Kanye West

Most streamed female artists worldwide:

  1. Rihanna
  2. Ariana Grande
  3. Sia
  4. Adele
  5. Fifth Harmony

Most streamed male artists worldwide:

  1. Drake
  2. Justin Bieber
  3. Twenty One Pilots
  4. Kanye West
  5. Coldplay

Most streamed tracks worldwide:

  1. One Dance (feat. WizKid and Kyla) - Drake
  2. I Took A Pill in Ibiza - Seeb Remix - Mike Posner
  3. Don’t Let Me Down (feat. Daya) - The Chainsmokers
  4. Work (feat. Drake) - Rihanna
  5. Cheap Thrills - Sia

Most streamed albums worldwide:

  1. Views - Drake
  2. Purpose - Justin Bieber
  3. ANTI - Rihanna
  4. Blurryface - Twenty One Pilots
  5. Beauty Behind The Madness - The Weeknd

Most popular playlists worldwide:

  1. Today’s Top Hits
  2. Rap Caviar
  3. Hot Country
  4. Peaceful Piano
  5. Baila Reggaeton

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kenny bear

0

The years not over yet, Mariah Carey should probably get a look in for most streamed due to Christmas 🎄!

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Brian Quinn

1

Streaming should be banned. It has drastically altered the singles chart in favour of young people and new artists and therefore ageist. It won't be long before artists like Rihanna and Drake have more chart success than people like Bowie, Rod Stewart, Elton John and The Beatles etc. This is wrong and gives a false impression. Likewise how can it be fair for an artist to release every single from an album. Absolutely ridiculous and the sooner it is stopped the better. Alternatively, when quoting chart success, the Official Charts Company should indicate 'Pre and Post' streaming.

MS

Marcio Silva

0

Welcome to the XXI century.

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Brian Quinn

1

Yes and I don't like what I see. If teenagers had to buy records instead of streaming you would soon see a different picture on the UK Charts. The singles charts are made up of artists that most people have never heard of and most last for about three or four singles. Check out how many albums they have released on the OCC artist lists and you will find that most do not have any, or very few. Further, the trend nowadays is to rely on multiple artists appearing on one single. What is that all about? Have they not got the talent to release a track on their own?

D.

D .

0

YOU ARE SO RIGHT !!!!

G

Guest

-1

what's funny to me is you only mention white artist that you feel would have less chart success to black artist today. However chart success was never fair, because black artist who wrote and invented a song would have limited success but that same song sung by the beatles and they would have more chart success because of the color PO for they skin and was supported by whites.So chart success was never fair in the first place.Also I never heard anyone bringing up that point up when it was in the favor of the artist you mention from back in the day.

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Brian Quinn

1

Colour has nothing to do with it.