The 20 Most Streamed Songs on Spotify from Each Decade: 1950s – 2020s.  Some Will Surprise You!

(December 19, 2025):  Since 2012, streaming has been a major factor in how people consume music.  It’s since overtaken physical media such as CDs and vinyl records — as well as radio airplay — as the top means of music consumption worldwide.

The biggest streaming platform is Spotify based on usage and market share, with other major players like YouTube Music, Apple Music, and Amazon Music also holding large audiences.  For years, major chart publication Billboard Magazine has used data from these companies to determine its charts each week.

With Billboard’s recent announcement of major changes to the weighting of its streaming input — as well as the removal of YouTube data — beginning in January, DJROBBLOG thought it would be interesting to see what have been Spotify’s most streamed songs worldwide based on their years of release.  I found a remarkable source — kworb.net — that compiles this information real-time on a daily basis.  Their database matches information DJROBBLOG cross-referenced on the Spotify platform itself and, as such, the blog has sorted and compiled the information for readers right here.

Below are the 20 most-streamed songs worldwide on Spotify based on their decade of release.  For example, if a song was released at the tail-end of 2019, it is counted for the 2010s even if the bulk of its streams came in 2020 or beyond.  This explains, for instance, the placement of the Jackson 5’s “I Want You Back” in the 1960s vs. 1970s (when it topped the American charts).  Or why Taylor Swift’s biggest streaming hit — “Cruel Summer” with more than 3.1 billion clicks — didn’t make the 2010s top 20 threshold (3.3 billion) and isn’t listed in the 2020s data, despite most of its consumption happening after its release year of 2019.

The below data also doesn’t appear to distinguish between subscription-based and ad-based on-demand streaming, but likely doesn’t include data for songs that are heard passively as part of curated playlists.

Where applicable, DJROBBLOG combined information for multiple versions of the same song — for example original and remixed versions of The Weeknd’s “Save Your Tears” or Ed Sheeran’s “Perfect.”

Also, the information is very fluid and is based on a snapshot as of Dec. 18.  With songs gaining as much as 6 million daily streams (particularly holiday tunes during the current season), the relative rankings could change very quickly if one were to check our source tomorrow.  

So, without delay, here are the 20 most streamed songs on Spotify — the world’s biggest DSP — as of Dec. 18, 2025.  All figures shown in parentheses are in billions of streams.

1950s:

What emerges immediately is how modern streaming has embraced seasonal music, classic rock staples, and songs with second (or third) lives through film, television, TikTok, and gaming.

1. “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” – Brenda Lee (1.459)
2. “Jingle Bell Rock” – Bobby Helms (1.370)
3. “Let It Snow” – Dean Martin (0.933)
4. “Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!” – Frank Sinatra (0.707)
5. “Johnny B. Goode” – Chuck Berry (0.661)
6. “Jailhouse Rock” – Elvis Presley (0.650)
7. “It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas” – Perry Como (0.548)
8. “Put Your Head On My Shoulder” – Paul Anka (0.522)
9. “Blue Christmas” – Elvis Presley (0.496)
10. “Christmas Cards” – Alma Cogan (0.458)
11. “Jingle Bells” – Frank Sinatra (0.375)
12. “La Vie en Rose” – Louis Armstrong (0.359)
13. “Hound Dog” – Elvis Presley (0.312)
14. “Take Five” – The Dave Brubeck Quartet (0.303)
15. “Mele Kalimimaka (Merry Christmas)” – Bing Crosby (0.291)
16. “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” – Frank Sinatra (0.289)
17. “Beyond The Sea” – Bobby Darin (0.287)
18. “Great Balls Of Fire” – Jerry Lee Lewis (0.281)
19. “I’ve Got A Woman” – Ray Charles (0.276)
20. “I’ve Got You Under My Skin” – Frank Sinatra (0.253)

1960s:

The Beatles may have owned the 1960s, but their late entry into the streaming field likely cost them a few spots.

1. “Fortunate Sun” – Creedence Clearwater Revival (1.802)
2. “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” – Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell (1.767)
3. “Here Comes The Sun” – Beatles (1.730)
4. “Paint It, Black” – Rolling Stones (1.596)
5. “Stand By Me” – Ben E. King (1.527)
6. “Brown Eyed Girl” – Van Morrison (1.417)
7. “House Of The Rising Sun” – The Animals (1.272)
8. “My Girl” – Temptations (1.239)
9. “Can’t Help Falling In Love” – Elvis Presley (1.229)
10. “California Dreaming” – The Mamas & the Papas (1.207)
11. “Bad Moon Rising” – Creedence Clearwater Revival (1.142)
12. “It’s The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year” – Andy Williams (1.130)
13. “I Want You Back” – Jackson 5 (1.106)
14. “(Sittin’ On) The Dock Of The Bay” – Otis Redding (1.027)
15. “Come Together” – Beatles (0.907)
16. “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” – Rolling Stones (0.896)
17. “Sweet Caroline” – Neil Diamond (0.886)
18. “For What It’s Worth (Stop, Hey What’s That Sound)” – Buffalo Springfield (0.828)
19. “All Around The Watchtower” – Jimi Hendrix (0.828)
20. “Yesterday” – Beatles (0.818)

1970s:

No decade benefited more from streaming’s long-tail effect than the 1970s, where deep-catalog rock songs now outperform many former chart-toppers.  

1. “Bohemian Rhapsody” – Queen (3.002)
2. “Don’t Stop Me Now” – Queen (2.516)
3. “Dreams” – Fleetwood Mac (2.454)
4. “Have You Ever Seen The Rain” – Creedence Clearwater Revival (2.225)
5. “September” – Earth, Wind & Fire (2.191)
6. “Highway To Hell” – AC/DC (2.141)
7. “Hotel California” – Eagles (2.063)
8. “Stayin’ Alive” – Bee Gees (1.857)
9. “Dancing Queen” – ABBA (1.847)
10. “Sultans Of Swing” – Dire Straits (1.647)
11. “We Will Rock You” – Queen (1.606)
12. “Sweet Home Alabama” – Lynyrd Skynyrd (1.602)
13. “The Chain” – Fleetwood Mac (1.584)
14. “Paranoid” – Black Sabbath (1.530)
15. “Dream On” – Aerosmith (1.502)
16. “I Was Made For Lovin’ You” – KISS (1.432)
17. “Rocket Man” – Elton John (1.422)
18. “Three Little Birds” – Bob Marley & the Wailers (1.309)
19. “Go Your Own Way” – Fleetwood Mac (1.297)
20. “Ain’t No Sunshine” – Bill Withers (1.276)

1980s:

A heavy dose of Brit Bands, heavy metal, and, of course, Michael.

1. “Every Breath You Take” – Police (3.108)
2. “Don’t Stop Believin’” – Journey (2.673)
3. “Take On Me” – a-ha (2.585)
4. “Sweet Child O’ Mine” – Guns N’ Roses (2.521)
5. “Billie Jean” – Michael Jackson (2.451)
6. “Africa” – Toto (2.403)
7. “Everybody Wants To Rule The World” – Tears for Fears (2.332)
8. “Another One Bites The Dust” – Queen (2.319)
9. “Livin’ On A Prayer” – Bon Jovi (2.103)
10. “Last Christmas” – Wham! (2.089)
11. “Under Pressure” – Queen & David Bowie (2.044)
12. “Back In Black” – AC/DC (2.037)
13. “Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)” – Eurythmics (1.837)
14. “Eye Of The Tiger” – Survivor (1.690)
15. “You Shook Me All Night Long” – AC/DC (1.581)
16. “Summer Of ‘69” – Bryan Adams (1.575)
17. “I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)” – Whitney Houston (1.573)
18. “Beat It” – Michael Jackson (1.571)
19. “Girls Just Want To Have Fun” – Cyndi Lauper (1.567)
20. “Welcome To The Jungle” – Guns N’ Roses (1.566)

1990s:

Interestingly, the ‘90s hodgepodge doesn’t hold up as well as the ‘80s—numbers wise.  Garth Brooks’ decision to withhold his catalog looms large.

1. “Iris” – The Goo Goo Dolls (2.966)
2. “Smells Like Teen Spirit” – Nirvana (2.686)
3. “Wonderwall” – Oasis (2.602)
4. “Creep” – Radiohead (2.584)
5. “All I Want For Christmas Is You” – Mariah Carey (2.394)
6. “Gangsta’s Paradise” – Coolio (2.333)
7. “Thunderstruck” – AC/DC (2.068)
8. “I Want It That Way” – Backstreet Boys (1.945)
9. “Enter Sandman” – Metallica (1.932)
10. “Californication” – Red Hot Chili Peppers (1.864)
11. “Come As You Are” – Nirvana (1.864)
12. “Losing My Religion” – R.E.M. (1.858)
13. “Under The Bridge” – Red Hot Chili Peppers (1.820)
14. “Still D. R. E.” – Dr. Dre (1.794)
15. “Zombie” – Cranberries (1.646)
16. “Everlong” – Foo Fighters (1.585)
17. “Nothing Else Matters” – Metallica (1.534)
18. “Hypnotize” – The Notorious B.I.G. (1.517)
19. “It Was A Good Day” – Ice Cube (1.473)
20. “No Scrubs” – TLC (1.461)

2000s:

Jumbotron legacy aside, Coldplay owns the 2000s, with Eminem a close second.

1. “Yellow” – Coldplay (3.474)
2. “Viva La Vida” – Coldplay (3.101)
3. “In The End” – Linkin Park (2.929)
4. “Mr. Brightside” – The Killers (2.916)
5. “Without Me” – Eminem (2.889)
6. “Lose Yourself” – Eminem (2.755)
7. “The Scientist” – Coldplay (2.670)
8. “505” – Arctic Monkeys (2.580)
9. “Numb” – Linkin Park (2.543)
10. “The Real Slim Shady” – Eminem (2.338)
11. “Somewhere Only We Know” – Keane (2.327)
12. “Mockingbird” – Eminem (2.325)
13. “I’m Yours” – Jason Mraz (2.312)
14. “Hips Don’t Lie” – Shakira ft. Wyclef Jean (2.284)
15. “Feel Good Inc.” – Gorillaz (2.140)
16. “Seven Nation Army” – The White Stripes (2.082)
17. “Umbrella” – Rihanna ft. Jay-Z (2.072)
18. “Party In The U.S.A.” – Miley Cyrus (2.055)
19. “Fix You” – Coldplay (1.990)
20. “In Da Club” – 50 Cent (1.985)

2010s:

These are the streaming era’s titans — appropriately since the medium exploded during the 2010s.

1. “Blinding Lights” – The Weeknd (5.190) – most streamed song of all time
2. “Shape Of You” – Ed Sheeran (4.690)
3. “Perfect” – Ed Sheeran (4.600)
4. “Starboy” – The Weeknd (4.356)
5. “Die For You” – The Weeknd (4.315)
6. “Sweater Weather” – The Neighbourhood (4.255)
7. “Someone You Loved” – Lewis Capaldi (4.167)
8. “Sunflower – Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” – Post Malone ft. Swae Lee (4.059)
9. “One Dance” – Drake (3.929)
10. “Believer” – Imagine Dragons (3.685)
11. “Lovely” – Billie Eilish (3.581)
12. “Closer” – The Chainsmokers (3.523)
13. “The Night We Met” – Lord Huron (3.494)
14. “I Wanna Be Yours” – Arctic Monkeys (3.493)
15. “Say You Won’t Let Go” – James Arthur (3.489)
16. “Something Just Like This” – The Chainsmokers (3.449)
17. “Riptide” – Vance Joy (3.418)
18. “Dance Monkey” – Tones And I (3.367)
19. “Another Love” – Tom Odell (3.360)
20. “rockstar” – Post Malone (3.297)

2020s (so far):

With only four years left, there are no discernible trends in the 2020s.  Only The Weeknd and Olivia Rodrigo appear twice, and there’s no Taylor (or Shaboozey).

1. “Save Your Tears” – The Weeknd (4.631)
2. “As It Was” – Harry Styles (4.16)
3. “Stay” – The KID LAROI ft. Justin Bieber (3.75)
4. “Levitating” – Dua Lipa (3.65)
5. “Heat Waves” – Glass Animals (3.607)
6. “Birds Of A Feather” – Billie Eilish (3.317)
7. “Die With a Smile” – Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars (3.255)
8. “Flowers” – Miley Cyrus (2.732)
9. “Seven” – Jung Kook (2.698)
10. “Espresso” – Sabrina Carpenter (2.697)
11. “drivers license” – Olivia Rodrigo (2.695)
12. “Kill Bill” – SZA (2.679)
13. “Beautiful Things” – Benson Boone (2.659)
14. “Cold Heart” – Elton John ft. Dua Lipa (2.577)
15. “good 4 u” – Olivia Rodrigo (2.552)
16. “DÁKITI” – Bad Bunny (2.348)
17. “One Of The Girls” – The Weeknd w/ JENNIE, Lily-Rose Depp (2.341)
18. “Easy On Me” – Adele (2.336)
19. “La Bachata” – Manuel Turizo (2.316)
20. “Kiss Me More” – Doja Cat (2.282)

For grins, I thought you might also be interested in what were the top two streaming songs from the 1940s.  They both happen to be very seasonal (and No. 1 is probably to no one’s surprise).

1. “White Christmas” – Bing Crosby (0.624)
2. “Here Comes Santa Claus” – Gene Autry (0.285)

The above lists certainly offer a glimpse into what have been the most popular, most consumed, and most enduring songs from each generation in the current streaming age.  It also may settle a few debates about what were the greatest songs of eras past, despite what they accomplished on the charts during their initial release cycles.

Let us know what you think.  Were there any surprises?

Ultimately, these lists remind us that charts measure moments—but streaming measures memory.  A song’s original peak position now matters less than whether it survives weddings, movies, car rides, gym playlists, holiday seasons, and the algorithmic afterlife of streaming.  That’s how Queen can dominate the 1970s half a century later, Coldplay can quietly rule the 2000s, and The Weeknd can turn a 2019 synth-pop throwback into the most streamed song of all time.

In the streaming era, longevity is the hit—and Spotify’s numbers may be the clearest scoreboard we’ve ever had for musical endurance.

DJRob

DJRob (he/him) is a freelance music blogger from the East Coast who covers R&B, hip-hop, disco, pop, rock and country genres – plus lots of music news and current stuff!  You can follow him on Bluesky at @djrobblog.bsky.social, X (formerly Twitter) at @djrobblog, on Facebook or on Meta’s Threads.

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