Spotify has announced its annual review of its streaming numbers and there are few surprises. The site’s most popular artist of 2017 is Ed Sheeran, succeeded by Drake, The Weeknd, Kendrick Lamar and The Chainsmokers. As well as the Grammy nominations, this top 5 alludes to the supremacy of R&B and Hip-Hop music within popular music culture. It also points to male dominance, as the list doesn’t reach a female artist, Rhianna, until the 15^th place. Taylor Swift, Selena Gomez, Ariana Grande and Sia follow Rihanna for the top female performers.

The biggest American tracks were ‘Humble’ by Kendrick Lamar, ‘XO Tour Llif3’ from Lil Uzi Vert, ‘Shape of You’ by Ed Sheeran, ‘Congratulations’ from Post Malone and Luis Fonsi’s ‘Despacito’ (Remix) ft. Daddy Yankee and Justin Bieber. The positioning of Hip-Hop influenced music is a reflection of the growing divide between radio which emphasis pop songs and streaming services, which are more frequently  utilised by younger people, so hip-hop songs are more prevailing.

Dua Lipa tops the Spotify list for the most streamed UK female of the year so far. The emerging 22 year old has climbed to eminence this year, with her songs ‘New Rules’ and ‘Scared to be Lonely’ being of particular success. The biggest female artists in the UK were Dua Lipa, Rihanna, Ariana Grande, Taylor Swift and Beyonce. Whilst, the top five male artists in the UK were Ed Sheeran, Drake, Eminem, The Weeknd and Calvin Harris. These lists confirm the worldwide authority of American culture and verify the cultural element bounded in our ‘special relationship’ with the states.

The Swedish company Spotify is the globe’s largest streaming platform, encompassing more than 60 million paid subscribers, with lots more people using the free web player edition. This means that it has a massive influence in the promotion of musical talent and so has decided to create a list of artists that we should look out for in 2018. According to Spotify, Trap Latino, Vintage Swoon and Chaotic Black Metal may become household names in the next year or so.

Article by Yohannes Lowe. 

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George Millington

Journalist at Contact Me

George Millington is a music journalist and reviewer situated in central London. He does not write about a single genre but rather the commercial music industry as a whole. His first album was by The Beatles, which he purchased secondhand from a charity shop in his neighbourhood.

He discovered the gem when he was 12 years old and still has it now, claiming it to be why he fell in love with music. He likes to play disc golf when he's not writing about music. He is a one-of-a-kind individual who is always the first to bust out his air guitar on the dance-floor.

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