December brought some real movement in the all-time streaming rankings. Billie’s still climbing like she’s got somewhere to be, Harry Styles crossed another massive threshold, and TikTok did its usual chaos magic on songs that should’ve stayed retired.
Here’s what actually moved this month, according to Spotify’s official streaming data.
Blinding Lights Just Won’t Stop
The Weeknd’s “Blinding Lights” hit 5.16 billion streams at the end of November and it’s still adding 10 million a week. Which is mental, really. The song came out six years ago. Most tracks are lucky to last six months in rotation.
At this rate it’ll cross 5.2 billion before Christmas, and there’s genuinely nothing close to catching it. Ed Sheeran’s “Shape of You” sits at 4.57 billion, which is absurd in its own right, but it’s adding about 8 million weekly. The gap keeps getting wider. For the full story of how this track became the most streamed song in Spotify history, it was perfect timing: 80s nostalgia meeting a global pandemic when everyone needed escapist pop.
Billie Eilish Is Coming For Everyone
Billie Eilish’s “Birds of a Feather” jumped from 3.02 billion to 3.06 billion streams in December. That’s 40 million streams in four weeks, which makes it the fastest-growing track in the top 50 by a distance. If this momentum holds, it’ll crack the top 25 by February and probably the top 20 by summer. Wouldn’t bet against it going higher.
Bruno Mars and Lady Gaga’s “Die With a Smile” isn’t even in the all-time top 100 yet but it’s gaining streams at a ridiculous pace. Could easily break into the rankings by January. The combination of Mars’ vocal runs and Gaga’s drama is basically engineered for repeated listening.
Sabrina Carpenter’s “Espresso” passed 1.7 billion and it’s still everywhere. Summer anthem from 2024 that refused to die when autumn arrived. Added another 100 million since October, which is wild for a song that should’ve peaked months ago.
Who Just Joined the 4 Billion Club
Harry Styles’ “As It Was” crossed 4 billion streams in early December and honestly, nobody’s surprised. The song came out in 2022 and became completely unavoidable within weeks. That opening “Harry, you’re no good alone” sample hooks people immediately, then the melancholy underneath keeps them coming back. It’s now fifth on the all-time list and climbing faster than almost everything ahead of it.
Lewis Capaldi’s “Someone You Loved” hit 4.06 billion, which is genuinely impressive for a piano ballad with basically no production tricks. Just a massive chorus about missing someone. Turns out that’s all you need when millions of people are going through breakups simultaneously.
The Neighbourhood’s “Sweater Weather” reached 4.05 billion, making it the most-streamed song by a band in Spotify history. Which is bizarre when you remember the track came out in 2013, did fine, then sat there for years before TikTok resurrected it in 2020. Now it’s competing with Harry Styles for sixth place. The algorithm works in mysterious ways.
Post Malone and Swae Lee’s “Sunflower” reached 3.97 billion and should cross 4 billion by mid-January. The Spider-Verse soundtrack cut has maintained absurd consistency since 2018. It became the most-streamed song ever in the United States with 3.96 billion domestic plays, which is wild. Film soundtracks don’t usually do this.
Who’s Close to 4 Billion
A few tracks are hovering just under 4 billion, which could properly reshuffle the top 10 over the next few months.
Drake’s “One Dance” sits at 3.8 billion. The 2016 Afrobeats-influenced hit keeps climbing steadily and should join the club by March at current rates. According to Wikipedia’s streaming records tracking, the song’s maintained remarkable consistency since release. Makes sense. The vibe works year-round.
The Kid Laroi and Justin Bieber’s “Stay” has 3.67 billion and gains about 6 million weekly. Will probably cross 4 billion by early summer, making it one of the youngest songs to reach that level. The track came out in 2021, which means it’ll hit 4 billion in under five years. That’s fast.
Ed Sheeran’s “Perfect” holds at 3.63 billion. Wedding playlist staple, so it gains streams consistently year-round. First dances keep happening. Sheeran keeps earning. Should hit 4 billion by April.
Taylor Swift’s Catalogue Is Still Growing (Somehow)
“Cruel Summer” has 3.09 billion streams now. The song came out in 2019. Wasn’t even a single initially. Just sat there on Lover doing respectable numbers while other tracks got pushed. Then 2023 happened, fans demanded it on tour, and suddenly it’s one of the biggest songs in her catalogue. Added 50 million streams in December alone.
This is what Swift’s streaming data looks like: songs that should’ve peaked years ago just keep growing because her fanbase never stops listening. “Anti-Hero” and “Shake It Off” are both approaching 3 billion. Deep cuts from Folklore still gain millions monthly. Given Spotify’s payment structure, this sustained streaming translates to serious ongoing revenue. Most artists would kill for this kind of catalogue longevity.
TikTok Keeps Resurrecting Dead Songs
The app did it again. Several older tracks got major boosts this month from random viral moments.
Arctic Monkeys’ “I Wanna Be Yours” jumped 30 million streams in December, bringing it to 3.32 billion total. The song came out in 2013. Gen Z discovered it in 2022 and decided it’s their relationship anthem now. Fair enough, it’s a great track, but it’s still weird watching a 12-year-old song climb like it just dropped.
Coldplay’s “Yellow” gained 25 million streams this month. A new TikTok trend using it for nostalgic content drove the spike. The song is 25 years old. Older than most people using TikTok. Yet here we are.
Blood Orange’s “Champagne Coast” from 2011 actually re-entered the UK Top 40 last month and held momentum through December. It’s not in the all-time top 100 yet but it’s climbing fast. If the TikTok handshake trend keeps going, who knows where it ends up.
Rock’s Not Dead, Actually
Despite everyone claiming guitar music is finished, rock and alternative tracks are holding firm in the top 50. Arctic Monkeys, Imagine Dragons, Glass Animals, The Neighbourhood. All sitting comfortably with billions of streams. The guitar hasn’t disappeared the way people predicted. It’s just sharing space now.
Hip-hop’s interesting though. Drake, Post Malone, and The Kid Laroi dominate, but notice how they’re all crossover acts. Pure rap struggles to hit these numbers. Crossover hip-hop with pop hooks wins streaming every time.
Ballads keep proving they’re unkillable. Lewis Capaldi built his entire career on sad piano songs and it worked. James Arthur’s still getting millions of streams from “Say You Won’t Let Go”. Ed Sheeran’s slower tracks outlast his uptempo stuff. People return to emotional songs repeatedly when life gets messy, and streaming compounds that behaviour over years.
Country’s finally making moves after Morgan Wallen became the first country artist in Spotify’s Billions Club with three tracks. The genre’s finding audiences streaming never gave it before. Traditional country radio had limits. Streaming’s global. Changes everything.
Mariah Carey Owns December (Again)
Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You” added 200 million streams in the first three weeks of December. Two hundred million. In three weeks. The song now sits at about 2.1 billion total and it gains more every single December.
Won’t ever compete with year-round hits in the all-time rankings because it’s dormant for nine months, but its December dominance is absolute. Nobody else comes close. Wham’s “Last Christmas” and Brenda Lee’s “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” both surged past 1.5 billion but they’re still miles behind Mariah.
Holiday tracks compound differently than regular songs. They don’t stream constantly. They spike massively once a year, every year, forever. Completely different game.
What Happens in January (Probably)
“Blinding Lights” will cross 5.2 billion. That’s basically guaranteed at this point. It’s adding 10 million weekly like clockwork.
Harry Styles’ “As It Was” should hit 4.05 billion and possibly overtake “Sweater Weather” for sixth place. Could happen. Might not. They’re neck and neck.
“Sunflower” will join the 4 billion club, making it the eighth song ever to reach that level.
Billie’s “Birds of a Feather” should hit 3.1 billion and jump a few more positions. Where it stops, nobody knows. The momentum’s mental.
“Die With a Smile” will probably crack the all-time top 100, possibly as high as the 80s if the momentum holds. But these things can stall overnight, so we’ll see.
Wildcard prediction: something completely random gets revived on TikTok and gains 50 million streams out of nowhere. Happens every month. Usually can’t predict which song. That’s what makes it interesting.
The Steady Climbers Nobody Talks About
Some tracks aren’t the fastest but they’re consistent, which matters more long-term. Understanding these streaming patterns across different catalogues shows how sustained popularity builds without viral moments.
Dua Lipa’s “Don’t Start Now” passed 3.04 billion this month. Been climbing steadily since 2019 without massive TikTok boosts or viral challenges. Just constant playlist inclusion and radio play. Turns out that still works.
The Chainsmokers’ “Closer” with Halsey has 3.42 billion despite being nearly nine years old. Summer 2016 anthem that everyone got sick of, but apparently millions of people still play it monthly. Nostalgia’s powerful. Comparing songs that dominated 2015 to current patterns shows how Spotify’s reach expanded exponentially.
Imagine Dragons’ “Believer” sits at 3.59 billion with steady weekly gains. Works for gym playlists, motivational content, general background music. Multiple contexts means streams compound from different sources simultaneously.
2026’s Going to Be Interesting
Only one song’s realistically chasing 5 billion right now: Ed Sheeran’s “Shape of You”. It’ll take roughly a year to get there, probably late 2026. Unless something dramatic changes, it’s happening.
The 4 billion club will expand massively though. Seven songs there now. Could be 12 or more by year’s end. “One Dance,” “Stay,” “Perfect,” probably “Birds of a Feather” if the momentum holds. That’s where the real race is.
Can anything catch “Blinding Lights”? Right now, no. Nothing has the momentum. But streaming produces surprises. A massive film placement, a viral TikTok moment, something could change everything overnight. Probably won’t, but could.
Harry Styles might end up with multiple songs in the 4 billion club within two years. “As It Was” is already there. “Watermelon Sugar” sits at 3.1 billion and climbing. His catalogue’s building differently than most pop stars. Worth watching.
Honestly, the most interesting question is which random 2010s song TikTok resurrects next. That’s what actually shakes up these rankings. Not new releases. Old songs getting second lives.
🔍 NeonSignal: Streaming Longevity vs Viral Peaks
Signal: Catalogue Endurance Over Flash Chart Spikes
Status: Accelerating
Timeframe: Next 1–4 months
Why this matters:
2025’s streaming data shows that older songs – from relaxed ballads to decade-old hits – continue accruing massive plays long after their release, illustrating that repeat listens and emotional attachment outweigh short-lived hype spikes for long-term success.
What happens next:
We’re likely to see more legacy tracks maintain momentum on streaming platforms, and newer releases will succeed when they can generate repeat, context-agnostic engagement rather than just temporary virality.
How This Actually Works
Songs don’t just spike and fade anymore. They accumulate plays across years, building towards numbers that seemed impossible when Spotify launched. The music streaming industry’s growth completely changed how success gets measured.
Look at December’s fastest climbers. “Birds of a Feather” is recent. “Cruel Summer” is six years old. “Yellow” is 25. They’re all gaining streams simultaneously because TikTok and playlist culture killed the old music lifecycle. Songs can sit dormant for a decade then suddenly explode.
What works hasn’t changed though: songs people return to repeatedly, tracks that fit multiple contexts, music that stays culturally relevant beyond its promo cycle. Whether people stream on Spotify, Apple Music, or whatever else, the pattern’s the same. Repetition compounds.
Next month’s chart watch will track whether these predictions held up and what new chaos TikTok created. Streaming data changes daily. January’s post-holiday patterns usually produce surprises.
The rankings shift constantly, but the underlying mechanics stay consistent: songs that work in multiple contexts, that people genuinely return to, win the long game. Everything else is just noise.
You might also like:
- The Most Streamed Songs on Spotify (2025 List Updated)
- 15 Old Songs That TikTok Resurrected Into Modern-Day Hits
- How Much Do Artists Make on Spotify in 2025?
- Morgan Wallen Joins Spotify’s Billions Club: First Country Artist
- TikTok Handshake Challenge and the Song Revival Trend
- Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You” Breaks New Records in 2024