Top Headlines

Feeds

Spotify reports multilingual surge as English dominance eases

Updated Published Cached
  • Rosalía recently became the first person to win the Brit Award for best international artist for an album predominantly sung in a language other than English
    Rosalía recently became the first person to win the Brit Award for best international artist for an album predominantly sung in a language other than English
    Image: BBC
    Rosalía recently became the first person to win the Brit Award for best international artist for an album predominantly sung in a language other than English (Getty Images) Source Full size
  • Blackpink have scored hits both as a band and individual solo artists, with lyrics in Korean, English, Thai and Japanese
    Blackpink have scored hits both as a band and individual solo artists, with lyrics in Korean, English, Thai and Japanese
    Image: BBC
    Blackpink have scored hits both as a band and individual solo artists, with lyrics in Korean, English, Thai and Japanese (Live Nation / Blackpink) Source Full size
  • Bad Bunny recently headlined the Super Bowl half time show
    Bad Bunny recently headlined the Super Bowl half time show
    Image: BBC
    Bad Bunny recently headlined the Super Bowl half time show (Getty Images) Source Full size

Spotify data shows multilingual surge in Global Top 50 – songs in 16 languages appeared last year, more than double the 2020 figure, signalling a weakening of English‑language dominance on the charts [1].

Spanish‑language artists lead streaming, Bad Bunny tops globally – Bad Bunny was the most‑streamed artist worldwide and Rosalía performed in 14 dialects on her album Lux, underscoring non‑English success [2][3].

Brazilian Funk, K‑Pop, and Trap Latino see rapid growth and high royalties – audience numbers rose 36%, 31% and 29% respectively, with each genre generating over $100 million in Spotify royalties last year [1].

English still dominates album sales, but non‑English acts rise – IFPI reports 14 of the Top 20 best‑selling albums were English‑only, yet South Korean bands (Stray Kids, Enhypen, Seventeen) and Japanese group Mrs Green Apple featured, a trend accelerating since 2017 per a Nature analysis [1][4].

Spotify’s Loud And Clear report shows record royalty payouts – the platform paid $11 billion in royalties in 2025, up from $10 billion in 2024; UK payouts reached £860 million, a 6% rise, with many independent artists earning substantial sums [8][1].

Artist protests over Spotify’s defence‑tech ties spark catalog removals – Massive Attack, Deerhoof and King Lizard and the Gizzard Wizard withdrew their music, citing moral concerns about funding Helsing; Spotify says it and Helsing are separate companies [1].

  • Massive Attack – “The economic burden that has long been placed on artists is now compounded by a moral and ethical burden, whereby the hard‑earned money of fans and the creative endeavours of musicians ultimately funds lethal, dystopian technologies.” (statement announcing removal from Spotify) [1].
  • Spotify spokesperson – Clarified that “Spotify and Helsing are totally separate companies.” [1].
  • Daniel Ek – Noted as recently appointed chairman of German defence‑tech firm Helsing, which develops AI software for fighter aircraft such as the HX‑2 AI Strike Drone. [1].

Links