Billionaire pop sensation Taylor Swift has solidified her place at the top of the music world, becoming Spotify’s most-streamed global artist with over 26.6 billion streams in 2024 and dominating Apple Music as its No. 1 artist. But amidst her record-breaking year, a fiery feud between hip-hop heavyweights Kendrick Lamar and Drake grabbed headlines and contributed to both artists’ continued streaming success.
While Swift’s 31-song album, a historic tour, and her title as the wealthiest female musician propelled her to the top, Kendrick Lamar’s diss track “Not Like Us”—a direct jab at Drake—claimed the title of Apple Music’s most-streamed song of the year. It also earned the top spot on Billboard’s R&B/Hip-Hop songs list, cementing its cultural impact.
Drake, undeterred, was named Billboard’s Top R&B/Hip-Hop Artist for the eighth time, doubling the achievements of any other artist in the category’s history. His continued influence also helped land him in Spotify’s top five globally streamed artists, alongside The Weeknd, Bad Bunny, and Billie Eilish.
While Lamar’s absence from Spotify’s top 10 raised eyebrows, his explosive year—including his upcoming Super Bowl halftime show—kept him at the forefront of conversations in the music world.
Meanwhile, Apple Music’s top-streamed songs also included Benson Boone’s emotional hit “Beautiful Things” and Sabrina Carpenter’s caffeinated anthem “Espresso,” proving the diversity of fans’ tastes in 2024.
As for Swift, she didn’t stop at streaming—she also topped Billboard’s Top Artists of 2024 list for the fourth time, with Morgan Wallen, Zach Bryan, and Drake trailing behind. From feuds to chart-topping albums, 2024 has proven to be a year where artists pushed boundaries and made waves across all platforms.
