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TOP OF THE SPOTS

Taylor Swift may be Queen of the Stream but one UK star’s Spotify Wrapped chart has his own music at number 1

IT IS becoming one of the biggest days in the pop calendar – the one when you are brought back down to Earth and told with scientific certainty you’re nowhere near as cool as you think you are.

Music streaming giant Spotify has once again mailed users its annual listening round-up, reminding fans of what tunes they truly rate.

Among the top names in the mix are, as expected, A-listers — with Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran and Harry Styles dominating many of the lists
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Among the top names in the mix are, as expected, A-listers — with Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran and Harry Styles dominating many of the listsCredit: Getty
Olivia Rodrigo features with Sour in the Top Albums In The UK chart
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Olivia Rodrigo features with Sour in the Top Albums In The UK chartCredit: Getty
Queen rock up in the Top UK Artists Globally list
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Queen rock up in the Top UK Artists Globally listCredit: Redferns
Elton is still a musical icon loved by many, and was even announced to be headlining Glastonbury music festival next Summer
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Elton is still a musical icon loved by many, and was even announced to be headlining Glastonbury music festival next SummerCredit: Getty

So while you may be down the pub bragging about being into “this really underground indie band”, or declaring Dave’s album “seriously deep and inspiring, man”, you’ve actually dedicated hundreds of hours to Nineties Britpop, melancholy ballads and the Very Best Of George Michael . . . or perhaps that’s just me?

Either way, there’s no more pretending — with the platform yesterday unveiling the truth behind our listening habits, both at home and abroad. It crowned the biggest artists, songs and podcasts of the year after totting up the billions of listening hours by its 456million users.

Among the top names in the mix are, as expected, A-listers — with Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran and Harry Styles dominating many of the lists.

But there are some surprises too, with Seventies and Eighties siren Kate Bush racking up millions of streams after hit Netflix drama Stranger Things revived her classic Running Up That Hill. And Disney’s shows the enduring power of a family favourite with its soundtrack making the top albums list.

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For many in the UK, the world’s most streamed artist will raise eyebrows — with Puerto Rican rapper Bad Bunny taking the No1 spot for a third consecutive year.

The singer, real name Benito Antonio Martinez Ocasio, pulled in more than 18billion streams this year.

Harry and Ed cemented themselves as our most successful exports, ahead of fellow superstars including Adele, Coldplay and Dua Lipa, and the enduring power of legends Elton John and Queen.

Ed Sheeran continues to rank highly in categories across the charts
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Ed Sheeran continues to rank highly in categories across the chartsCredit: GETTY
Harry Styles storms the charts with multiple appearances
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Harry Styles storms the charts with multiple appearancesCredit: Getty
Bad Bunny is another winner, with entries across the charts
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Bad Bunny is another winner, with entries across the chartsCredit: Getty
Elton John and Dua Lipa appear together with Cold Heart (PNAU Remix) in Top Tracks Globally
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Elton John and Dua Lipa appear together with Cold Heart (PNAU Remix) in Top Tracks GloballyCredit: AP

And Lewis Capaldi’s bumper comeback was rounded off when he scored an astonishing new record, with his anthem Someone You Loved becoming the most streamed song of all time on the platform.

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 Yesterday he dubbed himself “a truly humbled King” in a tongue-in-cheek acknowledgement of the feat.

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Lewis Capaldi has taken the UK, and the world, by storm with his brand of soulful popCredit: MEGA
Drake appears in two sections across the charts
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Drake appears in two sections across the chartsCredit: Getty
Kanye West also finds himself in two of the Spotify charts
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Kanye West also finds himself in two of the Spotify chartsCredit: Getty

Somewhat embarrassing

Away from music, all eyes were on Prince Harry and Meghan’s controversial Archetypes podcast.

It was notably absent from the top ten in both the UK and around the world, despite a rumoured £20mill­ion deal and a hefty advertising push which included billboards in New York’s Times Square plus global press coverage.

While the first episode was among one of the most listened to releases of the year, podcast fans quickly switched off after finding it was less about A-list guests and more focuss­ed on moaning Meghan. It was left languishing as only the 31st most popular series on the platform.

 Not one of its 12 episodes is currently inside the top 100. There’s a lesson there, somewhere . . . 

Whatever your habits, it’s time to step up and own it, just like Olly Murs, who somewhat embarrassingly revealed his most-played artist is . . . Olly Murs. 

So if you’ve played the Grease Megamix 10,000 times, embrace it. If you’re mad for Mmmbop that’s fine too. And if Chesney Hawkes is on your list, you’re probably not The One And Only.

And there’s always 2023 to try to be cool . . . 

Disney’s Encanto shows the enduring power of a family favourite with its soundtrack making the top albums list
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Disney’s Encanto shows the enduring power of a family favourite with its soundtrack making the top albums listCredit: Alamy

TOP ARTISTS IN THE UK

 1. Taylor Swift

 2. Drake

 3. Ed Sheeran

 4. Harry Styles

 5. Kanye West

 6. The Weeknd

 7. Dave

 8. Eminem

 9. Arctic Monkeys

10. D-Block Europe

TOP SONGS IN THE UK

 1. As It Was – Harry Styles

 2. Heat Waves – Glass Animals

 3. Starlight – Dave

 4. Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God) – Kate Bush

 5. Seventeen Going Under – Sam Fender

 6. Where Are You Now – Lost Frequencies

 7. Afraid To Feel – LF System

 8. Shivers – Ed Sheeran

 9. Bad Habits – Ed Sheeran

10. Baby (feat Ashanti) – Aitch

TOP ALBUMS IN THE UK

1. Harry’s House – Harry Styles

2. = – Ed Sheeran

2. = Encanto – Lin-Manuel Miranda

4. Sour – Olivia Rodrigo

5. Midnights – Taylor Swift

TOP ARTISTS GLOBALLY

The Weeknd take number 4 in Top Artists Globally
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The Weeknd take number 4 in Top Artists GloballyCredit: Getty

 1. Bad Bunny

 2. Taylor Swift

 3. Drake

 4. The Weeknd

 5. BTS

 6. Ed Sheeran

 7. Harry Styles

 8. Justin Bieber

 9. Kanye West

10. Eminem

TOP TRACKS GLOBALLY

 1. As It Was – Harry Styles

 2. Heat Waves – Glass Animals

 3. Stay (with Justin Bieber) – The Kid LAROI 

 4. Me Porto Bonito – Bad Bunny

 5. Tití Me Preguntó – Bad Bunny

 6. Cold Heart (PNAU Remix) – Elton John and Dua Lipa

 7. Quevedo: Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 52 – Bizarrap

 8. Enemy (with JID) – Imagine Dragons

 9. Ojitos Lindos – Bad Bunny

10. Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God) – Kate Bush

TOP UK ARTISTS GLOBALLY

Adele is confirmed as one of our most successful exports
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Adele is confirmed as one of our most successful exportsCredit: Getty Images - Getty

 1. Ed Sheeran

 2. Harry Styles

 3. Dua Lipa

 4. Coldplay

 5. Adele

 6. Arctic Monkeys

 7. Queen

 8. One Direction

 9. Calvin Harris

10. Elton John

TOP ALBUMS GLOBALLY

1. Un Verano Sin Ti – Bad Bunny

2. Harry’s House – Harry Styles

3. Sour – Olivia Rodrigo

3. = – Ed Sheeran

5. Planet Her – Doja Cat

MOST POPULAR PODCASTS

Chris and Rosie Ramsey
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Chris and Rosie RamseyCredit: Getty

 1. The Joe Rogan Experience

 2. The Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett

 3. Off Menu with Ed Gamble and James Acaster

 4. Call Her Daddy

 5. The Fellas

 6. Times News Briefing

 7. Rob Beckett And Josh Widdicombe’s Parenting Hell

 8. Sh**ged Married Annoyed (by Chris & Rosie Ramsey, below)

 9. JaackMaate’s Happy Hour

10. Saving Grace

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KING LEWIS THE FIRST

LEWIS Capadli said he was a “truly humbled king” after pulling in a billion streams this year.

His No1 Someone You Loved is the most streamed song in UK chart history.

TOM KEEPS IT IN FAMILY

Tom Grennan pulled in 347.6million streams over the past 12 months
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Tom Grennan pulled in 347.6million streams over the past 12 monthsCredit: PA

DON’T Break The Heart singer Tom Grennan pulled in 347.6million streams over the past 12 months.

Tom said: “It’s a family thing. Wait until next year. I hope you’re ready. ”

CHARLI’S XCXSTATIC

WHILE she didn’t share her own list, Charli XCX said: “Am I in your Spotify wrapped?

Do you have amazing taste? Are you paying my bills? If so – thanks.”

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