Spotify Reveals the Trends of Our Quarantined Summer

I don't know about you, but I've been on Spotify so much more lately due to quarantine. I listen to music as I work, as I clean, as I workout, and even as I sleep. Before, I only ever listened to Spotify while running - and that wasn't exactly something that I did on a regular basis. :p Well, it seems I'm not alone.

Based on Spotify data pulled between April 17 - May 17, listeners are soundtracking activities from homeschooling to painting to dyeing their hair. And let’s not forget cleaning: there has been a more than 40% increase in listeners around the world creating playlists to enthusiastically clean their homes to (and not-so-enthusiastically, based on TLC’s “No Scrubs” being a popular song choice in these playlists). 

For Filipinos in particular, popular song additions to “cleaning” themed playlists include “Shake It Off” by Taylor Swift, “Party in the U.S.A.” by Miley Cyrus, “thank u, next” by Ariana Grande, “IDGAF” by Dua Lipa, and “Shut Up and Dance” by WALK THE MOON.  

Here’s a round-up of some of the other trends on Spotify:

Hair gone wild

There has been about a 50% increase in the creation of playlists to inspire people while dealing (struggling?) with hair maintenance as people searched for keywords like “haircut” “dyeing hair” and “hair dye.” Some popular song additions to these hair-themed playlists include: “Complicated” by Avril Lavigne, “Sugar, We're Goin Down” by Fall Out Boy, “The Middle” By Jimmy Eat World, “High Hopes” by Panic! At The Disco, “Stressed Out” by Twenty One Pilots, and “Hair Cutter” by Animal Collective. 

Homeschool hysteria

Parents and students are turning to music to get through the challenges of homeschooling, as well, with a more than 1,000% increase in the creation of homeschool-themed playlists. Popular tracks added to these playlists include “Supalonely” by BENEE and Gus Dapperton, “Sucker” by Jonas Brothers, “Circles” by Post Malone, and “Don’t Start Now” by Dua Lipa.

Animal Crossing

It’s not all work and no play, though. There has been a more than 1000% jump in playlists being created around Nintendo’s popular 'Animal Crossing: New Horizons', a family-friendly life simulation video game that’s providing an escape.

Exploring creativity

There has been an increase of about 40% in coloring-themed playlists being created globally, as well as a more than 90% increase in painting-themed playlists. Ed Sheeran’s “Shape of You” is a popular song pick in these. To get the arts and crafts juices flowing, there has been a more than 125% increase in streaming of “Just Wanna Quilt” and a more than 60% increase in “WeCrochet”. 

Working from home

There has been a more than 1,400% increase in working from home-themed playlists, too. The most added track to these playlists is “Work from Home” by Fifth Harmony (feat. Ty Dolla $ign). Other popular songs added to these playlists include: “9 to 5” by Dolly Parton, “Blinding Lights” by The Weeknd, “Light On” by Maggie Rogers, “10,000 hours” by Dan + Shay (with Justin Bieber), “Boss Bitch” by Doja Cat, “Delicate” by Taylor Swift, and “The Less I Know the Better” by Tame Impala. Sonatas from Beethoven and Bach are also popular additions, with pianist Lang Lang’s version of “Für Elise” a top classical pick. 

Baking is the new “Ommmm…”

There has been a more than 120% increase in baking-themed playlists being created. Popular songs added include: “Sunday Best” by Surfaces, “Banana Pancakes” by Jack Johnson, “Watermelon Sugar” by Harry Styles, “Sugar” by Maroon 5, and “everything i wanted” by Billie Eilish. Listeners also created approximately 225% more banana bread-themed playlists between April 17 and May 17. There are now more than 2,750 banana bread playlists on Spotify.

Have you created any special playlists to tide you over during quarantine? Share them with me! I would love to listen to them! :D

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Unless otherwise stated, all data was collected between April 17 to May 17, 2020. Where percentage increases are shown, we compared data from April 17 to May 17 to the last week in February 2020. Data is global unless otherwise stated.