Having previewed the most popular channels on YouTube, it's time to put Spotify under the microscope.
Which artists and/or bands are the most popular on Spotify? In this article we will count the top 20 artists on Spotify based on the number of followers.
And at the end of the article, we have our own shared playlist featuring a popular song from each of these popular artists. See you on the other side!
10.5 million followers
Selena Gomez, born in Texas, began her career as an actress on The Disney Channel. After moving into the world of music, she released three albums with her old band, The Scene..
The 25-year-old's first solo album, Stars Dance, didn't arrive until 2013. The electropop record debuted at number one on the US charts.
Most popular song:It Ain't Me (735 million views)
10.6 million followers
Katy Perry made her name in 2008 with I Kissed a Girl, but it was the release of her second album, Teenage Dreams, that made her a global pop superstar. Perry co-wrote all 12 dance-pop songs and earned seven Grammy nominations for her efforts.
Her most recent album, Witness, was released in June 2017 to mixed reviews..
Most popular song:Dark Horse (530 million plays)
10.7 million followers
Pop rock band Imagine Dragons were Billboard's "Band of the Year" in 2017. Their 2013 hit Radioactive holds the record for the most consecutive weeks on the US chart.
The band's last album, Evolve, produced three top-notch singles:Believer, Thunder and Whatever It Takes.
The most popular song:Thunder (763 million plays)
10.8 million followers
Maluma is the first of two Colombians to make the top 20 list. The reggaeton singer has a tenor voice that has earned him great popularity throughout the Spanish-speaking world.
In 2014, he was the lead vocalist for Elvis Crespo's Ole Brasil, a track that was recorded for the soccer World Cup held that summer..
His latest album, F.A.M.E., includes duets with Timbaland, Jason Derulo and Prince Royce..
Most popular song:Happy 4th (515 million plays)
11.4 million followers
The Weeknd-real name Abel Tesfaye is the artist behind the 2015 megahit, Can't Feel My Face.
The song won a host of awards, but perhaps the most surprising recognition was a Nickelodeon nomination for the Kids' Choice Awards. Given the adult nature of their lyrics, should YouTube music videos have age ratings? Should YouTube Music Videos Have Age Ratings? Rihanna, Robin Thicke and Miley Cyrus. There's little doubt that music videos have gotten riskier in recent years, but is it right to impose age ratings on music videos on YouTube and Vevo? Read More
Most popular song:Starboy (999 million plays)
11.7 million followers
Since her debut album in 2010, Nicki Minaj has become the most recognized female hip-hop star in the world. For better or for worse.
She has more Billboard 100 entries than any other woman in history and is the only woman on Forbes' 'Hip-Hop Cash Kings' list.
Most popular song:Swalla (618 million plays)
12.0 million followers
Spearheaded by The Voice judge Adam Levine, Maroon 5 is one of the most successful bands of the century.
The pop-rock group released six studio albums and won three Grammy Awards, three American Music Awards, three People's Choice Awards and four Billboard Music Awards. His 2012 hit One More Night was notable for keeping Gangnam Style from reaching number one in the US.
Most popular song:Sugar (716 million plays)
12.3 million followers
At number 13 we find Calvin Harris, the first British entry on the list.
Harris can firmly claim that he is the most successful EDM artist of all time. He has topped Forbes' top DJ list for the past five years and has won or been nominated for 143 major awards since his debut in 2007.
The most popular song:this is what you were looking for (829 million views)
12.4 million followers
There are no prizes for guessing the identity of the second Colombian on the list. Shakira began her musical life singing Spanish rock; she had already sold 10 million albums in Latin America during the 1990s before releasing her first album in English in 2001.
Today, she is the most successful Latin American pop star in the English-speaking world..
Most popular song:Blackmail (feat. Maluma) (518 million plays)
13.1 million followers
The British band Coldplay is the pot of the rock world:they are loved and hated in equal measure.
Whatever your opinion, the success of the band cannot be questioned. Chris Martin and co. burst onto the scene with Yellow in 2000 and never looked back. To date, they have sold over 100 million albums, making them one of the best-selling groups of all time.
Most popular song:Something Just Like This (867 million views)
13.7 million followers
Taylor Swift, who just broke into the top 10, is a country-pop crossover star.
Her 2006 song Our Song made her the youngest person in history to write and sing a number one hit on Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart, a record she still holds to this day. /P>
Today, Swift is best known for her contemporary sounds. Her first pop album, 1989, was the best-selling album in the United States in 2014..
Most popular song:I don't want to live forever (730 million views)
14.5 million followers
Beyoncé's entrance at number nine is perhaps the first real surprise in this countdown. We thought it would have been a few higher places..
The former Destiny's Child superstar needs little introduction. Since her first solo hit Crazy in Love in 2003, she has almost always been present at the top end of the Billboard charts..
Want a fun Beyoncé fact? Her post announcing her pregnancy in 2017 racked up the most likes on Instagram. How to get more likes and comments on Instagram, according to Science. It racked up more than 6.3 million likes in its first eight hours.
Most popular song:Halo (436 million plays)
14.7 million followers
Hawaii-born Bruno Mars has had seven number one singles in the US. He is also the only artist to simultaneously hold number one and number two, while Just the Way You Are and Grenade are the most successful digital singles of all time.
But forget all that. He has also written top 10 hits for Alexandra Burke, Travie McCoy, Adam Levine, Brandy, Sean Kingston and Flo Rida. Oh, and he can also play drums, guitar, keyboard, bass, and piano. Talented boy.
Most popular song:That's what I like (743 million views)
15.0 million followers
The only EDM star who can rival Calvin Harris is Frenchman David Guetta. Known for his laid-back style, it took Guetta nine years after his 1992 hit Up and Away to release a second single (Just a Little More Love), and three more years to release Guetta's first album. he..
General success came in 2009 with the release of One Love. The 15-song album spawned four UK numbers and propelled him onto the global scene.
Most popular song:Titanium (510 million plays)
16.5 million followers
Ariana Grande began her career on Broadway in 2008. After starring in 13 for two years, she moved to television and played the role of Cat Valentine on the Nickelodeon show Victorious. Ella's pop career began in 2014 with the release of My Everything. It debuted at number one in the United States.
Despite her musical successes, Grande is perhaps best known for tragic reasons. In 2017, she had just played at the Manchester Arena when a suicide bomber killed 22 people in the lobby of the venue..
Her benefit concert was held at Manchester Cricket Ground two weeks after the tragedy, raising more than $23 million for the families of the victims.
Most Popular Song:Side by Side (679 million plays)
18.3 million followers
Hip-hop star Eminem is both one of the most talented and controversial artists of modern times.
He is also the only artist who has eight consecutive albums debuting at number one in the United States and has sold more than 220 albums worldwide..
However, away from his music, he has been accused of everything from assault to slander. You can make your own decision.
Most popular song:Lose Yourself (566 million plays)
23.2 million followers
Drake has been on the charts for over a decade, but has only been catapulted to mega-star status since the release of 2016's dancehall-influenced album Views. Now it's a quadruple-platinum record..
His follow-up, Más vida, became Spotify's most popular opening album, with over 60 million streams in the first 24 hours. Surprisingly, his 2018 album Scorpion broke the record for the second time; It was listened to more than 130 million times in the first 24 hours after the release.
The most popular song:God's plan (904 million plays)
23.8 million followers
Even though the Internet hates Justin Bieber Why the Internet hates Justin Bieber [Weird &Wonderful Web] Why the Internet hates Justin Bieber [Weird &Wonderful Web] Justin Bieber is a phenomenon. He has millions of fans clinging to his every word and action. Yet this '90s kid is hated in no uncertain terms on the internet. But why? Read More Well, it just holds its place in the top three; it would be a surprise if he manages to keep Drake for much longer.
Interestingly, it is currently averaging 17.6 million listens per month. It sounds like a lot, but it's not enough for a spot in the top 80 most-streamed artists on the service.
On the other hand, he is the first artist on the list to have a song with over a billion views, so he deserves congratulations for that. In fact, his two main songs (Sorry and Love Yourself) have more than a billion listens..
Most popular song:Sorry (1.07 billion views)
25.1 million followers
Rihanna is the second most popular artist on Spotify. Since her 2005 debut Pon de Floor, Barbadian has produced an endless string of catchy dance-pop hits.
It was 2007's Umbrella that gave him his worldwide fame, but since then Take a Bow, Disturbia, Only Girl (In the World), S&M, We Found Love, Diamonds, Stay, and Work have become among the best. selling singles of all time.
Most popular song:Needed Me (606 million views)
28.5 million followers.
Topping the list is English singer/songwriter Ed Sheeran.
His huge popularity is even more impressive considering his relatively short time in the music industry. Her debut album didn't hit the shelves until the end of 2011, and she has only released three studio albums to date.
With almost twice as many songs as Bieber's Sorry, Sheeran's single Shape of You from his third album is comfortably the most streamed song on Spotify.
Most popular song:Shape of You (1.8 billion views)
We promised you a playlist, and here it is. Includes the most played song (at the time of writing) from each of the 20 most popular artists on Spotify. It's easy to share this (and any other) Spotify playlist with other users.
And remember, if these mega stars aren't your cup of tea, we've got you covered. There are many ways to discover new music on Spotify How to Discover New Music with Spotify:7 Key Tips and Tricks to Know How to Discover New Music with Spotify:7 Key Tips and Tricks to Know The main reason I love Spotify is that it has helped find so much new music over the years. Here are the built-in features of Spotify that I used to discover amazing music. Read more.
