Spotify Releases Year in Music 2018 List With Top Artists, Songs, Albums & More

Another year, another Spotify end-of-year listicle for the most trafficked streaming platform in the world. Spotify’s annual Year In Music 2018 shows a much different landscape than what existed in 2017, but one that could have been easily predicted.

Hip hop reigns supreme as Drake ousts Ed Sheeran for most-streamed artist globally, as the latter falls to the #5 spot, following Post Malone, XXXTENTACION, and J Balvin. However, looking at just the most-streamed females, pop still towers over hip hop as only Cardi B makes it into the top 5 – no surprise there. She’s joined by Ariana Grande at the top spot, folllowed by Dua Lipa, Taylor Swift, and Camila Cabello.

Drake and Post Malone both notch two tracks in the most-streamed category, while XXX’s “SAD!” rounds out the list. It makes sense then that Drake and Post Malone would also notch the two top-streamed albums respectively. XXX comes third with ?, followed by Dua Lipa’s self-titled debut and Ed Sheeran’s Divide.

Sheeran’s inclusion on the list is notable as the only album that was also on last year’s list, actually topping the list in 2017.

In 2018, Spotify takes podcasts into account, as well, highlighting Fest & Flauschig, The Joe Budden Podcast, Amy Schumer, and more.

As for the US, which gets its own list as such a massive consumer of streamed music, the list isn’t much different. In top artists, J Balvin and Ed Sheeran are swapped for Travis Scott and Khalid, respectively. Ariana falls to #2 as Cardi B takes the top spot for US Top Female Artists, while Nicki Minaj and Halsey join the group. In US Top Albums, Cardi B’s Invasion of Privacy and Post Malone’s debut Stoney replace Dua Lipa and Ed Sheeran.

See the full Spotify Year In Music 2018 below!

Spotify’s Global Year In Music 2018

Most Streamed Artists
Drake
Post Malone
XXXTENTACION
J Balvin
Ed Sheeran

Most Streamed Female Artists
Ariana Grande
Dua Lipa
Cardi B
Taylor Swift
Camila Cabello

Most Streamed Tracks
God’s Plan – Drake
SAD! – XXXTENTACION
rockstar (feat. 21 Savage) – Post Malone
Psycho (feat. Ty Dolla $ign) – Post Malone
In My Feelings – Drake

Most Streamed Albums
Scorpion – Drake
beerbongs & bentleys – Post Malone
? – XXXTENTACION
Dua Lipa – Dua Lipa
÷ – Ed Sheeran*

Most Streamed Exclusive Spotify Podcasts
Fest & Flauschig
The Joe Budden Podcast with Rory & Mal
Dissect
Amy Schumer Presents: 3 Girls, 1 Keith
TALK-O-MAT

Most Streamed Podcast Genres
Crime and Mystery
Comedy
News & Politics
Health
Arts