Spotify, YouTube, Apple announce most streamed songs in New Zealand in 2021

Olivia Rodrigo, Dua Lipa and Bruno Mars are behind the most listened to tracks in 2021 by New Zealanders on the major streaming platforms.

Statistics released by Apple Music, Spotify and YouTube at the start of December for the year-to-date reveal what tunes Kiwis have listened to the most during a period that included Aotearoa's longest COVID-19 lockdown yet.

In the number one positions, Olivia Rodrigo's 'Drivers License' topped Spotify's list, Dua Lipa's 'Levitating' was atop Apple Music's while Bruno Mars' 'Leave the Door Open' was the most-watched music video by Kiwis on YouTube this year.

Glass Animals hit 'Heat Waves' and Doja Cat's 'Kiss Me More' were also highly ranked among the most streamed songs of the year, while a '70s hit from Fleetwood Mac managed to make it onto Apple's top 10 more than four decades after its initial release.

'Drivers License' is the nation's single most popular track of the year across all three platforms, with an average rank of 2.3.

The most streamed songs during 2021 in New Zealand on each platform are as follows:

Spotify 

1. Olivia Rodrigo - 'Drivers License'
2. Glass Animals - 'Heat Waves'
3. Doja Cat - 'Kiss Me More' (ft. SZA)
4. Olivia Rodrigo - 'Good 4 U'
5. Dua Lipa - 'Levitating' (ft. DaBaby)

Apple Music

1. Dua Lipa - 'Levitating' (ft. DaBaby)
2. Olivia Rodrigo - 'Drivers License'
3. The Weeknd - 'Blinding Lights'
4. Doja Cat - 'Kiss Me More' (ft. SZA)
5. Ariana Grande - 'Positions'
6. Glass Animals - 'Heat Waves'
7. L.A.B - 'In the Air'
8. Joel Corry - 'Head & Heart' (ft. MNEK)
9. 24kGoldn - 'Mood' (ft. Iann Dior)
10. Fleetwood Mac - 'Dreams'

YouTube

1. Bruno Mars, Anderson Paak, Silk Sonic - 'Leave the Door Open'
2. Justin Bieber - 'Peaches' ft. Daniel Caesar, Giveon
3. Doja Cat - 'Kiss Me More' (ft. SZA)
4. Olivia Rodrigo - 'Drivers License'
5. The Weeknd - 'Save Your Tears'
6. Lil Nas X - 'Montero (Call Me By Your Name)'
7. Olivia Rodrigo - 'Good 4 U'
8. Sons of Zion - 'Love on the Run' ft. Jackson Owens
9. Ed Sheeran - 'Bad Habits'
10. Bella Poarch - 'Build a B*tch'

As for New Zealand artists doing the best internationally, Spotify's top five most listened to Kiwis globally are:

1. Lorde
2. Jawsh 685
3. Benee
4. Six60
5. Drax Project

Other Spotify number ones:

• Six60 are the most streamed artist in New Zealand out of any artist in the world, with Taylor Swift in number two
• 'Why Oh Why' by L.A.B. is the most streamed song by a New Zealand artist in Aotearoa
• The Joe Rogan Experience is the most streamed podcast in Aotearoa.

Other Apple Music number ones:

• Tones And I 'Dance Monkey' was the song with the most-read lyrics in Aotearoa
• Niko Walters 'Not My Neighbour' was the most Shazamed song in Aotearoa
• L.A.B - L.A.B. IV was the most streamed New Zealand album in Aotearoa.

Other YouTube number ones:

• Mixed martial artist Israel Adesanya is the most subscribed to New Zealand YouTube channel in Aotearoa
• Sons of Zion - 'Love on the Run' ft. Jackson Owens is the most-watched music video in Aotearoa by a New Zealand artist 
• MrBeast is the top global creator in Aotearoa.