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Spotify’s Top Songs and Podcasts of Summer 2021

Another summer has flown by, and with it, the songs and shows that have complimented countless beach days, park hangs, pool lounging, and road trips. Now, as August draws to a close, Spotify is once again announcing the top songs and podcasts that filled listeners’ headphones and speakers this season. 

Songs of the summer

With more than 600 million streams globally between May 29 and August 22, this year’s Spotify Song of the Summer is…  “good 4 u” by “drivers license” breakout star Olivia Rodrigo. 

“good 4 u” claimed the top spot globally, and it also topped the list in markets like the U.S., Australia, Canada, Ireland, Singapore, the U.K., South Africa, and the United Arab Emirates. And since the song’s release on May 14, “good 4 u” has been added to more than 18 million playlists. It also served as the inspiration for more than 325,000 user-generated playlist titles, including: 1,500+ “like a damn sociopath” playlists and 700+ “happy and healthy” playlists.

The next four of the global top five songs took us on a journey around the world. Number two globally was Eurovision winner Måneskin’s Beggin’.” And since everything about this list is thanks to everything about you and how you listen, “Todo De Ti” by Rauw Alejandro was all in for number three. 

Lil Nas X was another summer mainstay for listeners, with “MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name)” calling itself fourth on the list, and Doja Cat and SZA’s collab on Kiss Me More,” which kept the summer sizzling, rounded out fifth place.

Most-streamed podcasts

Less than a year after coming to Spotify exclusively, The Joe Rogan Experience has taken the top spot as the most-streamed podcast of the summer globally. Take a look at some other popular pods this summer: 

  • True Crime Fix: For the mystery obsessed, Crime Junkie was your go-to this summer and was the second-most-streamed podcast. 
  • Daddy Gang: Now a Spotify exclusive, Alex Cooper’s Call Her Daddy came in at number three on this summer’s top podcast list. 
  • Headline Hitters: The Daily reigned supreme as the fourth-most-played podcast of the summer, keeping us updated on all the latest news and current events. 
  • Pull Up a Chair: Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard rounded out the top five list, emphasizing that we’re all only human.

Ready for the full top songs and pods lists? Take a listen to the Songs of Summer playlist below, or read on for the complete global lists. 

*NOTE: All data was compiled between May 29 and August 22, 2021.

Most-streamed songs of the summer globally (based on streams from May 29 through August 22, 2021):

  1. good 4 u” by Olivia Rodrigo
  2. Beggin’” by Måneskin
  3. Todo De Ti” by Rauw Alejandro
  4. MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name)” by Lil Nas X
  5. Kiss Me More (feat. SZA)” by Doja Cat
  6. STAY (with Justin Bieber)” by The Kid LAROI
  7. Yonaguni” by Bad Bunny
  8. Bad Habits” by Ed Sheeran
  9. Butter” by BTS
  10. Levitating (feat. DaBaby)” by Dua Lipa
  11. deja vu” by Olivia Rodrigo
  12. I WANNA BE YOUR SLAVE” by Måneskin
  13. Peaches (feat. Daniel Caesar & Giveon)” by Justin Bieber
  14. traitor” by Olivia Rodrigo
  15. Qué Más Pues?” by J Balvin, Maria Becerra
  16. Save Your Tears (with Ariana Grande) (Remix)” by The Weeknd
  17. drivers licence” by Olivia Rodrigo
  18. happier” by Olivia Rodrigo
  19. Leave The Door Open” by Bruno Mars, Anderson .Paak, Silk Sonic
  20. Astronaut In The Ocean” by Masked Wolf

Top podcasts of the summer globally (based on number of listeners from May 29 through August 22, 2021): 

  1. The Joe Rogan Experience
  2. Crime Junkie
  3. Call Her Daddy
  4. The Daily
  5. Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard
  6. Gemischtes Hack
  7. TED Talks Daily
  8. Anything Goes with Emma Chamberlain
  9. Audience Wellness Services
  10. NPR News Now