Spotify reveals 2019 highlights and 2020 song predictions

As we’ve entered the New Year, updating your workout and self-care routine as well as your most played songs might just be  top of mind. With more than 54 million workout-focused playlists on Spotify, the music streaming giant has taken a closer look at trends – and sharing its 2020 fitness predictions based on current listening habits globally.

Some key highlights from the data:

• The Most Popular Workout and Wellness type: Listeners have created more running playlists than any other workout type. (Shoutout to Denmark where running playlists have been created at the highest rate!) Yoga follows in popularity, and Sweden might be the world’s most zen nation based on the high number of meditation and yoga playlists Spotify listeners have created. In fact, Swedish listeners create these playlists at a 521% rate higher than listeners in other countries.
• 2020 Predictions: Focusing on self-care will continue to reign supreme in 2020. Ariana Grande’s “thank u, next”, Lizzo’s “Good as Hell” and Hailee Steinfeld’s “Love Myself” are popular female empowerment anthems on people’s “self-care” playlists. And Spotify saw a 113% increase in streams of meditation playlists in the past year, higher than for any other workout and wellness type. They also saw an increase in streams of Pilates (71%) and weight-training playlists (66%), and predict these will all continue to grow in popularity in 2020.
• Working on Our ZZZzzz’s: Listening to Health & Fitness podcasts increased 145% in the past year and listeners are falling in love with sleep podcasts. The most popular podcast in the health & fitness category at the moment is Sleepy, where host Otis Gray reads classic stories to help listeners doze off. Sweet dreams!
• So, what songs do listeners sweat to? Eminem’s “‘Till I Collapse” is the most-streamed track in workout playlists at the moment. Ed Sheeran’s “I Don’t Care” with Justin Bieber is the second most-streamed workout song, followed by “Dance Monkey” by Tones and I, “If I Can’t Have You” by Shawn Mendes and “Beautiful People” by Ed Sheeran and Khalid.

Most-streamed workout songs on Spotify, globally

(based on streams from approximately 16 September – 15 December 2019):

1. “‘Till I Collapse” – Eminem, Nate Dogg
2. “I Don’t Care” – Ed Sheeran, Justin Bieber
3. “Dance Monkey” – Tones and I
4. “If I Can’t Have You” – Shawn Mendes
5. “Beautiful People” – Ed Sheeran, Khalid
6. “Sucker” – Jonas Brothers
7. “SICKO MODE” – Travis Scott
8. “Higher Love” – Kygo, Whitney Houston
9. “Lose Yourself” – Eminem
10. “i’m so tired…” – Lauv, Troye Sivan

(based on streams from approximately 16 September – 15 December 2019):

1. ‘’SOS’’ – Avici, feat. Aloe Blacc
2. “I Don’t Care” – Ed Sheeran, Justin Bieber
3. ‘’Takeaway’’ – ILLENIUM, Lennon Stella, The Chainsmokers
4. ‘’Body’’ – Loud Luxury, feat. Brando
5. “Beautiful People” – Ed Sheeran, Khalid
6. “Dance Monkey” – Tones and I
7. “If I Can’t Have You” – Shawn Mendes
8. ‘’Summer Days’’- Martin Garrix feat. Macklemore & Patrick Stump of Fall Out Boy
9. “i’m so tired…” – Lauv, Troye Sivan
10. ‘’Polaroid’’ – Jonas Blue, Lennon Stella, Liam Payne

 Time of day workout playlists stream the most, globally:

1. Evening (17:00-21:00)
2. Early Morning (6:00-9:00)
3. Morning (9:00-12:00)
4. Afternoon (12:00-17:00)
5. Late Evening (21:00-1:00)

Most popular workout and wellness types globally

(based on the number of user-generated playlists):

1. Running
2. Yoga
3. Weight training
4. Meditation
5. Spinning

Most “zen” countries

(based on the number of meditation and yoga playlists per listener):

1. Sweden
2. Norway
3. Iceland
4. Denmark
5. Switzerland
6. Australia
7. Liechtenstein
8. Netherlands
9. New Zealand
10. Austria

Most active countries

(based on the number of workout playlists per listener):

1. Norway
2. Sweden
3. Denmark
4. Ireland
5. Canada
6. Australia
7. UK
8. New Zealand
9. Iceland
10. USA

Most active age-groups, globally

(based on which age-groups stream workout playlists at the highest rate):

1. 25-29
2. 30-34
3. 35-44
4. 45-54
5. 18-24

Get inspired by our Wellness hub or get your heart racing with Spotify’s most-followed workout playlist, Beast Mode.

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