Puerto Rican Bad Bunny and Colombian Karol G stand out as the most listened-to artists of Spotify in its 15-year span. Their continued popularity mirrors the platform’s recent achievements in Spain, where it has become the leading audio company for instreaming worldwide.
These highlights were shared during a Madrid press conference marking the Swedish platform’s anniversary. Rosalia is noted as the global top artist by plays, while other Spanish favorites such as Strange and Quevedo remain among the most followed acts in Spain.
Spotify, founded in Sweden in 2006 and publicly launched in 2008, weathered a transition from download-based models to streaming. Pirate fees eroded traditional markets, and the old model of ringtones for mobile phones gave way to a new reality where music is rented by listeners rather than bought outright. The shift proved to be a durable solution for a market that was faltering in the long run.
Today Spotify operates in 183 markets worldwide and reaches more than 550 million users. Its catalog features over 100 million songs, with more than 220 million listeners paying through some form of subscription.
Spain has seen dramatic growth in Spanish artists since 2008, with the numbers jumping more than 2,300 percent. The pool expanded from about 2,800 artists to roughly 70,400 active creators, and more than 680 of them surpassed one million monthly streams at some point in the platform’s history.
One ongoing challenge for the music industry is ensuring visibility for female artists. Initiatives like Equal Fest, held in Madrid and Buenos Aires last September, have highlighted this issue. While awareness is rising, it still represents only about a fifth of target listings, underscoring the gap that remains in visibility and opportunity.
Industry voices emphasize cautious optimism toward artificial intelligence. The stance is to welcome technological advances that strengthen connections between artists and fans, provided they operate within a legal framework that protects creators’ rights. This view was echoed by leaders in music rights and digital strategy who stress responsible use and clear protections as essential to future growth.
Beyond music, Spotify’s attention is turning to podcasts. The platform now hosts more than 5 million podcast episodes, with around 1 million in Spanish, produced over five years and growing. Popular shows such as Understand Your Mind, No One Knows Anything, and The Wild Project have become top listeners in Spain, illustrating the platform’s expanding role in audio content beyond songs.
The company also teases future expansions for its audiobook catalog. The rollout has already begun in the United Kingdom and Australia, with similar plans for Spain on the horizon, though timing remains unconfirmed. These moves signal Spotify’s broader strategy to diversify audio offerings and deepen engagement across languages and regions.