‘Tis the season for gift-giving, family feasts and companies turning their harvested user data into lighthearted recaps. Valve’s take on the year-end rewind, Steam Replay, is now available. It follows similar offerings from Spotify, Apple Music, PlayStation and, increasingly, just about every service you use. Hell, even Uber and The New York Times somehow justified getting in on the action this year.
This is the fourth edition of Valve’s wrap-up, which looks back on the titles you spent the most time with in 2025. You’ll find your top games, the number of titles you played, achievements unlocked and longest streaks. You can see how your habits break down by genre, Steam Deck use and whether they’re new releases, recent or classic games. Monthly breakdowns and the percentage of time played (by title) are also included.
The review compares your stats to the average Steam user. For example, I played 28 games this year; the Steam median is only four. My longest play streak was 15 days; the median is six. I’m only an intermittent gamer, so people who barely play at all are clearly weighing down the averages.
You can check out your Steam Replay 2025 by heading to the website and logging in.
Sonos Black Friday deals present good opportunities to upgrade your home audio setup. A number of Sonos speakers and soundbars are on sale right now, including the Era 300 speaker, which is $100 off and down to $379. Engadget’s Nathan Ingraham called it “a great speaker, whether or not it is playing songs in Dolby Atmos.”
That Dolby reference points to the Era 300’s core novelty. It produces spatial audio without requiring additional speakers. (You can use Apple Music or Amazon Music to stream compatible tracks.) Expect those Dolby Atmos tracks to sound better with newer music than older songs remixed for Dolby’s tech.
Sonos
Save $100 on the Sonos’ standalone spatial speaker.
Even if you don’t bother with its spatial tricks, the Era 300 is a terrific-sounding speaker. It delivers rich, detailed and balanced audio that can hang with just about anything else Sonos offers.
The speaker supports voice control via Alexa or Sonos Voice Control. It also offers Trueplay tuning, which listens to how your room shapes the sound and adjusts accordingly. In this model, you don’t need to use your phone: Its built-in mics scan your room for you. That’s especially handy for Android users, since phone-based Trueplay (from other models) is iOS-only.
If the Era 300 is a bit out of your budget, Sonos has loads of other products on sale for Black Friday. You can get the smaller — but still mighty — Era 100 for $169 (23 percent off). The portable Move 2 is down to $399 (20 percent off). Even the company’s headphones, Sonos Ace, are on sale for $279 (30 percent off).
Sonos home theater products are discounted, too. You can get the Arc Ultra soundbar for $879 (20 percent off), or the Sub 4 subwoofer for $719 (also 20 percent off). Or, if you’re in the market for both and have the budget, save even more on a bundle: Get the Arc Ultra and Sub 4 for $1,499 (25 percent off).
Sonos Black Friday deals present good opportunities to upgrade your home audio setup. A number of Sonos speakers and soundbars are on sale right now, including the Era 300 speaker, which is $100 off and down to $379. Engadget’s Nathan Ingraham called it “a great speaker, whether or not it is playing songs in Dolby Atmos.”
That Dolby reference points to the Era 300’s core novelty. It produces spatial audio without requiring additional speakers. (You can use Apple Music or Amazon Music to stream compatible tracks.) Expect those Dolby Atmos tracks to sound better with newer music than older songs remixed for Dolby’s tech.
Sonos
Save $100 on the Sonos’ standalone spatial speaker.
Even if you don’t bother with its spatial tricks, the Era 300 is a terrific-sounding speaker. It delivers rich, detailed and balanced audio that can hang with just about anything else Sonos offers.
The speaker supports voice control via Alexa or Sonos Voice Control. It also offers Trueplay tuning, which listens to how your room shapes the sound and adjusts accordingly. In this model, you don’t need to use your phone: Its built-in mics scan your room for you. That’s especially handy for Android users, since phone-based Trueplay (from other models) is iOS-only.
If the Era 300 is a bit out of your budget, Sonos has loads of other products on sale for Black Friday. You can get the smaller — but still mighty — Era 100 for $169 (23 percent off). The portable Move 2 is down to $399 (20 percent off). Even the company’s headphones, Sonos Ace, are on sale for $279 (30 percent off).
Sonos home theater products are discounted, too. You can get the Arc Ultra soundbar for $879 (20 percent off), or the Sub 4 subwoofer for $719 (also 20 percent off). Or, if you’re in the market for both and have the budget, save even more on a bundle: Get the Arc Ultra and Sub 4 for $1,499 (25 percent off).
(CNN) — Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny is taking the biggest stage in football.
The musician, who recently wrapped a residency in Puerto Rico, was announced as the Super Bowl LX halftime show performer on Sunday.
“What I’m feeling goes beyond myself. It’s for those who came before me and ran countless yards so I could come in and score a touchdown… this is for my people, my culture, and our history,” Bad Bunny said in an NFL statement announcing the halftime show.
The Super Bowl is scheduled to take place at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, on Sunday, February 8, 2026.
The choice is significant. The three-time Grammy winner is having arguably the biggest moment of his career, recently wrapping a two-month residency at the Coliseo de Puerto Rico José Miguel Agrelot in San Juan – a series that wrapped with a concert streamed on Amazon.
“What Benito has done and continues to do for Puerto Rico is truly inspiring. We are honored to have him on the world’s biggest stage,” said Jay-Z, whose Roc Nation is partnering with the NFL and Apple Music to produce the halftime show.
Oliver Schusser, Apple’s Vice President of Music, Sports and Beats, described Bad Bunny’s rise in the industry as “meteoric” and praised his broader impact on Latin culture.
“His music has not only broken records but has elevated Latin music to the center of pop-culture,” Schusser said in the NFL statement.
Headlining the Super Bowl will only expand the artist’s reach. The big game’s last halftime performance by Kendrick Lamar was the most-watched Super Bowl halftime in history and received four Emmy nominations and a win for Outstanding Music Direction, according to the NFL release.
Bad Bunny is expected to kick off a world tour in November with stops in Latin America, Europe, Asia and Oceania.
The singer has been vocal about foregoing tour stops in the US, citing fears that US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) would raid the concert venues.
Apple Music has a great deal going on right now for those interested in the Family Plan. New subscribers can get three free months of that plan — which, at $17 per month normally, comes out to $51 in savings for the whole period. Just note that the last day you can get the promotion is September 24.
The Family Plan allows six different users to access the platform. It offers cross-device support and each user is tied to an Apple ID, so their favorite music won’t mess with anyone else’s algorithm.
Apple
Remember to cancel at the end of the free trial if you aren’t digging it.
Apple Music actually topped our list of the best music streaming platforms, and for good reason. It sounds great and it’s easy to use. What else is there? All music is available in CD quality or higher and there are plenty of personalized playlists and the like. The platform also operates a number of live radio stations, which is fun.
The service is available for Android devices, but it really shines on Apple products. To that end, the web and Windows PC apps aren’t as polished as the iOS version. It doesn’t pay artists properly, but that’s true of every music streaming platform. Apple Music does pay out more than Spotify, but that’s an incredibly low bar.
Offer for new subscribers redeeming on eligible devices. Auto-renews at $16.99/mo until cancelled. Requires Family Sharing. Terms apply.
Check out our coverage of the best Apple deals for more discounts, and follow @EngadgetDeals on X for the latest tech deals and buying advice.
Apple Music has a great deal going on right now for those interested in the Family Plan. New subscribers can get three free months of that plan — which, at $17 per month normally, comes out to $51 in savings for the whole period.
The Family Plan allows six different users to access the platform. It offers cross-device support and each user is tied to an Apple ID, so their favorite music won’t mess with anyone else’s algorithm.
Apple
Remember to cancel at the end of the free trial if you aren’t digging it.
Apple Music actually topped our list of the best music streaming platforms, and for good reason. It sounds great and it’s easy to use. What else is there? All music is available in CD quality or higher and there are plenty of personalized playlists and the like. The platform also operates a number of live radio stations, which is fun.
The service is available for Android devices, but it really shines on Apple products. To that end, the web and Windows PC apps aren’t as polished as the iOS version. It doesn’t pay artists properly, but that’s true of every music streaming platform. Apple Music does pay out more than Spotify, but that’s an incredibly low bar.
Offer for new subscribers redeeming on eligible devices. Auto-renews at $16.99/mo until cancelled. Requires Family Sharing. Terms apply.
Check out our coverage of the best Apple deals for more discounts, and follow @EngadgetDeals on X for the latest tech deals and buying advice.
After a summer of beta updates, iOS 26 is here. As long as you have a compatible iPhone, you can install the new software right now. Head to Settings > General > Software Update, and get ready for a Liquid Glass makeover.
iOS 26 offers Apple’s biggest visual change to its software since iOS 7. (That was when Jony Ive’s flat design replaced Scott Forstall’s skeuomorphic one.) This time around, the software adopts a translucent material theme: Liquid Glass. Although it isn’t a return to skeuomorphism, it does reincorporate a sense of depth, simulating a pleasantly refractive glass. Expect colors and visual effects that respond to their onscreen surroundings.
Apple has taken flak from industry pundits for not rushing headfirst into AI. (Or, at least it hasn’t with the same manic frenzy as its competitors.) The company is taking a more measured approach, gradually incorporating it into its software. This year’s Apple Intelligence additions include live translation in messages, FaceTime and Phone. Visual Intelligence also expands beyond the camera and into screenshots. And your Genmoji and Image Playground creations might look less… strange than last year’s versions.
Even Apple Music gets a new AI feature. Its new automix generates transitions between songs, aiming for DJ-like progressions. I find that it works best with danceable genres like EDM or hip-hop. It usually won’t bother trying to mix less beat-driven singer-songwriter-type stuff.
Arguably handier than new AI features is Apple’s revamp of its communication apps. Call screening lets you gather info from callers before deciding whether to pick up. Hold Assist saves you from having to listen to the Muzak. And the Messages app adds new screening options and filters. You can also add custom backgrounds and even conduct polls in your messaging threads. Finally, the Phone app cleans up its interface, unifying its tabs into a single list.
Apple Music is running a promo in which new subscribers can get three free months of the Family Plan tier. That’s a savings of $51, which is nothing to sneeze at. After this lengthy free trial is up, it costs $17 per month.
The Family Plan allows six different users to access the platform. It offers cross-device support and each user is tied to an Apple ID, so their favorite music won’t mess with anyone else’s algorithm.
Apple
Remember to cancel at the end of the free trial if you aren’t digging it.
Apple Music actually topped our list of the best music streaming platforms, and for good reason. It sounds great and it’s easy to use. What else is there? All music is available in CD quality or higher and there are plenty of personalized playlists and the like. The platform also operates a number of live radio stations, which is fun.
The service is available for Android devices, but it really shines on Apple products. To that end, the web and Windows PC apps aren’t as polished as the iOS version. It doesn’t pay artists properly, but that’s true of every music streaming platform. Apple Music does pay out more than Spotify, but that’s an incredibly low bar.
Offer for new subscribers redeeming on eligible devices. Auto-renews at $16.99/mo until cancelled. Requires Family Sharing. Terms apply.
Check out our coverage of the best Apple deals for more discounts, and follow @EngadgetDeals on X for the latest tech deals and buying advice.
Apple Music has a great deal going on right now for those interested in the Family Plan. New subscribers can get three free months of that plan — which, at $17 per month normally, comes out to $51 in savings for the whole period.
The Family Plan allows six different users to access the platform. It offers cross-device support and each user is tied to an Apple ID, so their favorite music won’t mess with anyone else’s algorithm.
Apple
Remember to cancel at the end of the free trial if you aren’t digging it.
Apple Music actually topped our list of the best music streaming platforms, and for good reason. It sounds great and it’s easy to use. What else is there? All music is available in CD quality or higher and there are plenty of personalized playlists and the like. The platform also operates a number of live radio stations, which is fun.
The service is available for Android devices, but it really shines on Apple products. To that end, the web and Windows PC apps aren’t as polished as the iOS version. It doesn’t pay artists properly, but that’s true of every music streaming platform. Apple Music does pay out more than Spotify, but that’s an incredibly low bar.
Offer for new subscribers redeeming on eligible devices. Auto-renews at $16.99/mo until cancelled. Requires Family Sharing. Terms apply.
Check out our coverage of the best Apple deals for more discounts, and follow @EngadgetDeals on X for the latest tech deals and buying advice.
Apple Music is one of the few streaming services that offers high-resolution audio (aka “lossless”) at no extra charge. But enjoying that extra quality on your phone usually requires some extra hardware. That is the purpose of this guide, — to help you find exactly what you need depending on how you prefer to listen. Every product listed below will help you squeeze more audio quality out of your Apple Music subscription. In fact, whatever music service you use, your listening experience will be enhanced. Best of all, most of these recommendations are compatible with Android, Mac and Windows devices, too.
Fortunately, as data plans become more generous and technology advances, listening to these larger-files in their full glory is less of a challenge. There are still some hardware hurdles though, especially if you use AirPods (or any wireless headphones) as Bluetooth technology is theoretically capable of delivering some higher-resolution audio, and Apple products don’t support the required technology (codecs such as Aptx, LDAC etc.). Confusingly, there are also different levels of “lossless” on Apple Music, with standard “CD quality” audio and then “Hi-Res Lossless” files that are recorded at even higher data rates. But don’t worry, we have a solution for you below, no matter how you prefer to listen to your music.
Of course, a DAC or dongle is only part of the equation — your headphones or speakers are also just as important. So if you’re looking for the absolute best audio experience be sure to check out our guide to the best headphones. Although these options are wireless, many can be used with a cable, too, making them the perfect pairing for our recommendations below.
Best DACs for 2025
James Trew for Engadget
Fiio’s affordable KA11 dongle contains a DAC with a maximum resolution of 32bit/384kHz — which is well above Apple Music’s top-tier “Hi-Res” lossless format (24bit/192kHz) — so you can be sure that you’re getting every last bit of quality out of whatever you’re listening to. Best of all, the KA11 is powerful, too, with a higher volume output than Apple’s on headphone adapter (more on this below). At around $30, this dongle is the best bang for your buck when it comes to upgrading the audio experience on your iPhone, Android, PC or Mac. There’s even a Lightning version available for those with older iPhones and iPads.
We particularly like the simplicity of Fiio’s KA11 as it’s plug-and-play with no need to charge it. It’s only slightly bigger than a typical headphone adapter and it comes with a rugged, woven cable, so it can handle a lot of wear and tear. There’s even a small LED on the front that lets you know if you’re listening to standard, high, or higher-resolution files so you can be confident you’re getting the most out of your music in real time.
Yes, it’s the Apple headphone adapter you know and (maybe) love, but it’s worth considering if you want something super lightweight and even more affordable. Apple’s dongle doesn’t support the larger, Hi-Res files available on its music service, but it can handle the standard lossless (24bit/48kHz) format no problem. As you’d expect, it’s available in Lightning and USB-C versions depending on which Apple device you’re connecting it to.
Sure, the most demanding listeners might lament the lack of support for the higher resolutions, and it can be a little quiet with some headphones that are high impedance (typically more expensive “audiophile” models). For the vast majority of users, though, Apple’s dongle will do the job. If you’re not sure, check the manual for your headphones and look for Impedance (often listed as Ohms) — anything below around 150Ohms and you should be fine. Anything above that, and you might want to consider Fiio’s dongle instead.
While this guide is primarily focused on Apple Music, most of the gear here will unlock lossless audio no matter where you listen. If Tidal is your platform of choice, you might be familiar with the MQA codec, which the company used for its high-resolution audio until eventually switching to FLAC in 2024. MQA might not be as common in streaming anymore, but if you still want to make sure you can listen to music from stores or services that provide it, the iFi GO Link will have you covered, along with the standard Apple Music high resolution audio formats, and anything else, up to 32-bit/384kHz.
Sennheiser’s BTD700 is a wireless adapter that plugs into your phone, upgrading its Bluetooth capabilities with the latest high-resolution codecs such as Aptx Adaptive and Aptx Lossless. iPhones don’t support any of these natively, but with this small dongle, you can unlock the full potential of Bluetooth audio and the higher bitrates (and in theory audio quality) Aptx Lossless offers. There’s a small caveat, though: you will need Bluetooth headphones that also support one of these codecs such as these or these (or check the product page of the set you own or are considering).
The BTD700 is simple to use, just plug it in to your phone’s (or other device’s) USB-C port, pair your headphones to it and off you go. An LED on the dongle lets you know which of the six different Bluetooth “qualities” (codecs) you’re enjoying so you will know when you’re listening to lossless audio. The handy part? Once you’ve paired your headphones with the dongle, you won’t need to re-pair if you connect the BTD700 to a PC or Mac. This little adapter effectively gives anything with a USB-C port an audio upgrade, and there’s even a low-latency mode for gaming. Note, there’s no Lightning option here, so if you’re on an older phone you might have to live with using an adapter.
If you’re looking to take things to the next level without spending “high-end” money, there’s a lot to love about the Melody DAC from Snowsky. Unlike a simple dongle, the Melody has onboard controls and two headphone jacks. One of those is for regular 3.5mm headphones, but the other is for 4.4mm “balanced” headphones, which means the Melody can grow with you if your audio journey takes you deeper into the world of audiophilia.
The wood finish gives it a classy feel and although it’s light, it still delivers that quality “Hi-Fi” feel. As for sound quality, there’s support for 384K/32bit sample rates, which covers everything Apple Music can deliver. The built-in amplifier can easily go louder than you should probably ever listen and there are other luxuries, too, such as support for inline microphones — so you can still handle calls and take meetings on your phone. We also love that you can tailor the sound to your preference via the Fiio Control companion app.
While you can squeeze an impressive amount of audio tech into a headphone adapter, a slightly bigger device affords a decent step up in both specs and features. Moondrop’s Moonriver T2i DAC is slightly larger than a pack of gum, and it has a stylish design that doesn’t look like a boring, generic dongle.
Importantly, the Moonriver T2i builds on the success of the company’s Moonriver 2 DAC. The “2” partly refers to the use of dual DAC chips here, which delivers a “balanced” signal. Each channel can handle up to 32bit/384KHz resolution and there are two headphone ports. One for standard 3.5mm headphones and another for 4.4mm connections — making use of that balanced output. If this is your first step into the world of Hi-Fi DACs, you’re totally fine with 3.5mm headphones, but some prefer the 4.4mm connector as it provides more power and potential signal benefits, especially if you’re using a headphone amp.
With the Moonriver T2i you have a couple more practical advantages. For one, there are physical volume controls on the device itself. If you ever felt that the 16 levels of loudness on the iPhone (I just counted) weren’t enough, then the 100 steps of adjustment on the Moonriver T2i (via companion software) eliminate any worries about setting the music to the perfect level. If your headphones have an in-line microphone, the good news is that this dongle will pass that through to your phone or PC so you won’t need a separate device for calls.
Most importantly, the sound that comes out of the Moonriver T2i is bright and bold. You’ll hear audiophiles talk about sound stage, detail and width, all you need to know is that this DAC ticks off all the buzzwords and serves up bright, robust sound that’s going to make any lossless/hi-res music really shine.
Who said a DAC needs to be a dongle? If you’re looking for something a little more all-in-one then the SP3 BT active speakers from Fiio are a great option. We like that, for the same price as many standalone DACs, you have everything you need to decode high-resolution music from almost any source with USB-C and Aux inputs for phones along with standard Hi-Fi connections such as optical, RCA and coaxial.
These speakers didn’t make it to our testing bench, but the SP3 BTs regularly receive praise for their sound and premium build quality at a reasonable price. For Bluetooth listening, there’s support for both Aptx Adaptive and HD along with Sony’s rival LDAC making these speakers something of an audio swiss-army knife. While these speakers will make a perfect companion to your home office or workspace, they can easily find a home in your living room or den connecting to any other music players you might have (for vinyl you’ll still need a pre-amp).
If you’ve had some experience with DACs and are looking to ratchet things up a notch or three, then the Mojo 2 from British company Chord wants to have a word. At $650, this is definitely in the high-end price range, but the experience and features it offers make it worth considering for serious audiophiles. But the brains behind the Mojo 2 have been making digital to analog converters pretty much since there was digital music to even convert. That experience is what makes the Mojo 2 a favorite among music fans.
Most options in this guide are designed for mobile devices first, the Mojo 2 is more of a hybrid device. The mobile dongles above all take their power from the player you connect them to, which is convenient, but obviously is less kind to your phone’s battery life. The Mojo 2 has an internal cell so won’t tax the one in your phone or laptop. It’s small enough to be portable, but substantial enough to live on your desk.
Unlike most DACs that use off the shelf chips to handle the digital-to-audio conversion, the Mojo 2 uses field programmable gate array (FPGA) technology to create its own custom “chip.” It’s also powerful enough to act as both a DAC and a preamp, driving even power-hungry headphones with ease. We’ve seen FPGA gain popularity in gaming circles for its ability to imitate various consoles, but that same flexibility is what makes it interesting to the audio engineers at Chord.
If you need something that’s capital L loud, then the Mojo 2 will not disappoint. Proceed with caution here. It’s actually powerful enough to drive two pairs of headphones at the same time and has two 3.5mm ports so you can do exactly that. The curious circular buttons can also be used to change sound profiles with an excruciating level of detail.
The Mojo 2 has standard USB-C, microUSB, optical and coax inputs so it’s more flexible than a lot of its competition in this regard. Although it’s worth noting that you can only charge the Mojo 2 via microUSB. Of course, there’s a cable provided for this, but if you’ve fully made the switch to USB-C, it’ll mean you have to guard the charging cable closely.
DAC stands for digital to analogue converter. A digital-to-analog converter takes the digital (D) music from your phone or computer and converts (C) it into analog (A) sound you can hear. All phones and PCs have them, but since handsets moved to USB-C, Lightning or Bluetooth for music, the task of converting that signal was generally outsourced to either your adapter or your wireless headphones.
DACs can be used with phones, laptops and desktops but tend to be much simpler than a regular external audio interface. One basic distinction is that DACs are usually for listening only whereas an audio interface might have ports to plug in microphones and instruments (but an external audio interface is also technically a DAC). Some high-end DACs even include XLR outputs for better connectivity with professional audio equipment.
The best DACs tend to be lightweight, making them more suitable for mobile use, although it still gets a little tricky with the iPhone as you still might need to add another dongle to make it play nice with Lightning. Also, not all DACs support all the higher audio resolutions like DSD. Most standalone DACs require external power or an onboard battery, though some can use the power from whatever you plug them into — in which case expect a hit to your battery life.
Why do I need new hardware to listen to music?
The short answer is, you don’t. You can play “hi-res” audio files on most phones and PCs, you just might not be getting the full experience. If your device’s audio interface tops out at 44.1 or 48kHz (which is fairly common and covers the vast majority of music online) then that’s the experience you’ll get. If you want to enjoy better sounding music at a higher sample rate and bit-depth (aka resolution), you’ll need an interface that supports it and wired headphones, potentially using a headphone amp for an enhanced experience.
It’s worth pointing out that “lossless” and “hi-res” are related terms, but not the same thing and will vary from service to service. Apple uses ALAC encoding which is compressed, but without “loss” to the quality (unlike the ubiquitous .aac or .mp3 file formats). CDs were generally mastered to at least 16-bit / 44.1kHz which is the benchmark that Apple is using for its definition of lossless. In audio circles, a general consensus is that hi-res is anything with a sample rate above 44.1kHz. Increasingly, though, the term is being used for anything 96kHz and above.
This, of course, isn’t only about Apple’s new streaming formats. External DACs and audio interfaces are a great way to get the best sound and upgrade your listening experience generally. Especially if you want to get into the world of more exotic (read: pricey) headphones, as they often even require a DAC to provide enough clean digital signal to drive them. For audiophile headphones, a phone or laptop’s internal sound chipset often doesn’t have the oomph needed to deliver a hi-fi experience, meaning a better DAC could make all the difference in sound quality.
Okay, but can’t I just use the headphone adapter for my phone?
No. Well, yes, but see above. A Lightning or USB-C to 3.5mm headphone adapter often is an audio interface and most of the ones you’re buying for $7 (or that come free in the box) do not support hi-res audio beyond 48kHz / 24-bit. Android is a little more complicated, as some adapters are “passive” and really just connect you to the phone’s internal DAC like old school headphones. Others (active ones) have a DAC built-in and good luck finding out what your specific phone and the in-box adapter delivers. (Hint: connect it to a PC and see if it comes up as an audio interface. You might find some details there if it does).
What about Bluetooth headphones?
Chances are that over the last few years you’ve migrated from wired to wireless headphones (thanks, Apple). The world of Bluetooth headphones changes things a little when it comes to seeking better audio performance. What matters here is twofold, the headphones you’re using (as those will technically be the “DAC”) and the codec — the method used to send the musical data over to the headphones.
It’s also worth checking to see if your headphones support aptX and which version. Look out for aptX HD, aptX Adaptive and (for the highest quality) aptX Lossless which are all better than standard and becoming more common, albeit slowly. It’s worth noting that both your phone or media player and your headphones need to support the same aptX codec. Currently, no iPhone supports any type of aptX, though dongles exist that will offer that functionality.
Other higher-resolution Bluetooth codecs exist, like Sony’s LDAC, but Qualcomm’s AptX has wider support thanks to its prevalence in Android devices. Some high-end wireless headphones might even come with a headphone jack for wired connections when higher-quality audio is needed.
For those who grew up buying records, part of the fascination was not just listening, but reading. The inner sleeve of records often had extensive notes, lyrics and credits for everything from the songwriter to the cover art designer. Before the days of streaming and the internet, this was often how music information was discovered. If you liked a producer or a guitar player on a record, you would find out who it was from the liner notes and look for that person’s work elsewhere.
This was particularly important for musicians. Credits on albums and songs are like credits for actors, except musicians don’t have an IMDB.
In fact, since streaming essentially swallowed whole the music world, liner notes have all but disappeared. Spotfiy, Apple Music, Tidal and others will display limited credits (if you dig for them), but only what the record label provides. Unlike the film industry where strong unions protect the rights of actors, screenwriters and the like, musicians don’t have anyone speaking for them and, as a result, their names often remain unheard.
For older music where credits were more common, you can often find that information on Wikipedia or AllMusic.com, but not for everything and certainly not organized and categorized in the way IMDB and other film credit databases are. And yet, the contributions made by musicians every day, even now in the age of AI and digital music, are critically important to every new song that drops.
And before you ask why anyone should care about the drummer playing with Taylor Swift (it’s Matt Billingslea, by the way), it’s because musicians are an essential part of forming the sound that made her famous. And knowing the specific people helps not only provide them with the accolades they deserve, but it furthers our knowledge of music.
For years, musicians would listen to records, see who played their instrument on the album by looking at the liner notes, and go find other artists using the same musician. You might be able to follow a bass player from Miles Davis to Sting to the Rolling Stones (Darryl Jones) or find out that before Led Zeppelin, Jimmy Page was a sought after guitarist playing with Donovan, Joe Cocker, the Who and numerous others.
And those are just the credits we can glean from recordings. Never mind the hundreds of busy touring musicians who no one really even thinks about. Ask Eric Hernandez. He’s Bruno Mars’ brother…and also his drummer.
Much of what you hear on a daily basis was created by people who spent their lives hunting for their instrumental predecessors. It doesn’t seem like that much effort to give them the credit they so richly deserve.
With TikTok closing its own streaming service (TikTok Music) at the end of November, the company is making moves to prove it’s still a dominant player in music discovery and music promotion.
One such move? TikTok is testing full-album pre-saves.
TikTok enables more off-platform music engagement
Fans can already use the ‘Add to Music App‘ feature to dive deeper into tracks being discovered on TikTok, helping the user automatically save that music to their own libraries or playlists on other streaming platforms.
And it now seems that TikTok will soon add album pre-saves. The upcoming feature will allow users to take another off-platform action in support of the artists they enjoy.
According to Music Ally, who discovered the pre-save feature being tested:
TikTok has confirmed to Music Ally that this feature is in beta…
There is no news on when the feature will launch fully out of its beta stage yet though. When we spotted the original ‘Add to Music App’ feature in its similarly-early tests… the official launch came six months later…
You now have a fun new way to promote shows (and tracks) on Apple Music using their Set Lists feature.
According to Apple Music:
Turn a set list from your latest show into a playlist on Apple Music for Artists. Share your Set List playlist with fans on Apple Music and social media to:
promote upcoming tour dates
let fans relive your concerts
and connect with listeners
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We’ve got secrets. It’s time to admit that we are deeply in love with Gracie Abrams. Was that really a secret, though? Ever since Gracie dropped her latest project, The Secret Of Us, we’ve been hooked on songs like ‘Blowing Smoke’ and ‘Good Luck Charlie.’ The whole album is a musical masterpiece and our headphones have been working overtime lately.
If you’re a major Gracie fan and want to support her during the album release, here are six ultimate fangirl tips straight from the hive.
Record Store Selfie
If you’ve been following Gracie on Instagram, you would know that a new trend with the cover art is emerging. It’s simple! Head to your nearest local record shop and grab a copy of The Secret Of Us on vinyl. Then, hold it up to your face and get a friend to snap a photo! Gracie’s head on the cover art should be aligned with yours so that it looks like you have a mega-Gracie head. If your stores are anything like ours, then The Secret Of Us is probably already sold out, but the challenge to find it and get that selfie starts now. Happy hunting!
Dance To ‘Close To You’ Online
Another re-emerging digital trend that has come from the album release is Video Star. If you grew up in the 2000’s like us you definitely know what the Video Star app is. It was TikTok before TikTok even existed. Using fun colorful filters and video effects, you and your friends could create music videos to your favorite pop songs. The app has been gone for a while, but Gracie is bringing it back! To promote ‘Close To You’ she hopped on Video Star and made a fun music video with a friend. We challenge you to do the same!
i wrote Close To You seven years ago and we made a demo that i posted 20 seconds of and you somehow cared about it enough for us to revisit the song seven years later. Close To You was not initially a part of TSOU — it’s from a different time entirely, we had finished the whole record top to bottom, but i heard you loud and clear. consider this one a bonus track pre-deluxe?? with everyone getting their vinyls this week, i got impatient and wanted you all to have it early. or seven years late, actually. CLOSE TO YOU OUT EVERYWHERE THIS FRIDAY AND ONLY 17 DAYS UNTIL THE SECRET OF US 😭💛💛💛💛💛💛💛
Take Gracie’s video as inspiration and get to dancing!
Attend The Secret Of Us Tour
One of the best ways to support your favorite artists is by going to see them on tour. Whether you’re in the nosebleeds or front and center on the barricade, your fave will be grateful to see your face in the crowd.
Starting in September, Gracie will be taking the new album on the road to perform all your favorite tracks. Here is a glance at the stops she’ll be making. Grab your tickets before they sell out completely!
09/05/24 Portland, OR at Alaska Airlines Theater of the Clouds 09/06/24 Seattle, WA at WAMU Theater 09/08/24 Berkeley, CA at The Greek Theatre 09/09/24 – 09/12/24 Los Angeles, CA at Greek Theatre 09/15/24-09/16/24 Denver, CO at Fillmore Auditorium 09/19/24 Irving, TX at The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory 09/20/24 Houston, TX at 713 Music Hall 09/22/24 Austin, TX at Moody Amphitheater at Waterloo Park 09/24/24 Kansas City, MO at Uptown Theater 09/25/24 Minneapolis, MN at The Armory 09/27/24 Chicago, IL at Byline Bank Aragon Ballroom 09/29/24 Nashville, TN at Ryman Auditorium 09/30/24 Atlanta, GA at Coca-Cola Roxy Theatre 10/02/24 Washington DC at The Anthem 10/04/24-10/06/24 New York, NY at Radio City Music Hall 10/08/24 Philadelphia, PA at The Met Philadelphia presented by Highmark 10/09/24 Boston, MA at MGM Music Hall at Fenway 10/10/24 Portland, ME at State Theatre
Now that you’ve got the vinyl in hand and you are heading out on tour, it’s time to buy your favorite Gracie merch items. On her online store, she’s got everything from hoodies to car bumper stickers so we know you’ll be sure to find something in your style. You get double honey points from us if you wear your new merch on tour!
We already bought the postcard set, the baseball cap, and the tote bag. What about you??
Watch Gracie’s Interviews
One of the best parts about being a fangirl? Interviews. We could spend all day on YouTube streaming Gracie’s interviews, especially during album release week. She recently hit up Apple Music, The TODAY Show, Buzzfeed, and The Tonight Show so don’t worry, you’ve got plenty of watching to get to.
Once you’re done watching all of those interviews, watch her music videos and start memorizing lyrics for tour!
Stream The Secret Of Us
Lastly, we have to tell you to continue streaming The Secret Of Us. If there is one thing that you can do as a fan, it’s to stream your favorite songs day and night. Just keep it on a continuous loop! Whether you are listening on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, or a CD we give you a high-five. Play the album in the car, at work, on your summer girls’ trip, and on your hot girl walks!
How are we halfway through June already? It actually seems illegal how fast the summer passes by, there’s so much I want to accomplish in no time whatsoever. But enough about me, the main point here is that we’re looking at the weekend once again.
Whether this was the best or worst week of your life, there’s one thing we can all agree on: music will help any situation. Yes, there’s a song out there that will make you forget about everything else in life while it’s playing…you just have to find it.
And you may be wondering: yeah, but why do you care? Well, dear reader, you’ve actually stumbled upon the place for new music released today. Every Friday, hundreds of new songs are released…and sure, you can comb through every New Music Friday playlist curated on your Spotify or Apple Music. But wouldn’t it be easier if one place made a playlist with the best-of-the-best on it?
Yes. It would. And that’s why we’re all here: I make a weekly playlist with the best new songs released so you don’t have to do all that aimless searching and listening on your own. It’s okay to be lazy when you’re listening to my Weekend Playlists!
This week, we have a bunch of fresh new tracks that can easily get you through the weekend. Without further ado, let’s get listening!
R3HAB, Don Diablo, NEEKA- “Disco Marathon”
Welcome back to the 70’s…because it’s a disco summer! The EDM/house world is fully leaning into the club disco track, which is why R3HAB, Don Diablo, and NEEKA teamed up for “Disco Marathon.” If you want a feel good track that gets you and your friends dancing, this is a great start to your playlist.
“Disco Marathon” is captivating from the very start- a sonic shift for both R3HAB and Don Diablo that blends their sounds perfectly.
Ashton Irwin- “Straight To Your Heart”
We recently got the chance to sit down with Ashton ahead of his sophomore solo album release, Blood on the Drums. After speaking a bit about “Straight To Your Heart” I learned that Ashton was really inspired by the bands of the 80’s who leaned heavily into synths. Now, as he releases the first part of Blood on the Drums, “Straight To Your Heart” is here for the world.
It’s a testament to his prowess as a songwriter and singer, a multi-instrumentalist who has years’ experience under his belt. “Straight To Your Heart” is pure fun all the way through.
Jelly Roll- “I Am Not Okay”
Just in time for Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month, Jelly Roll releases “I Am Not Okay”- an introspective track about needing help but not wanting to talk about it. With lyrics like “I woke up today/I almost stayed in bed/Had the devil on my back”, it’s a prevalent reminder that although we all have our dark moments, have have to keep going.
Jelly Roll has been a longtime advocate for mental health awareness through his music, and his mission continues by spreading the word in “I Am Not Okay.”
Benjamin Ingrosso- “Look Who’s Laughing Now”
Benjamin Ingrosso’s vocal ability shines through in his new single, “Look Who’s Laughing Now.” The song almost was made for live performances, with big sounds building to a crescendo throughout the entire song. It’s an easy listen, both uplifting and confident all in one. Ingrosso says,
“Look who’s laughing now is about announcing to yourself and the world you can be whoever you want to be in all of your imperfections and still have the best time of your life and come out winning.”
Tove Lo, SG Lewis- “HEAT”
What makes a collaboration successful is the ability for both artists to blend their sounds in a way that makes sense, that makes people want to hear more from them. It doesn’t work every time, but with Tove Lo and SG Lewis, the four tracks that make their EP, HEAT, it works tremendously. The energy is palpable throughout each and every song, and you never want it to end.
The four tracks- title track “HEAT”, “Let me go OH OH”, “Busy Girl”, and “Desire”- are equally exciting across the board. They find a way to combine sex appeal with synths and bass, and then you add in Tove Lo’s crooning vocals and you have yourself a hit collection of songs.
What if you scored a free trial of Apple TV+ for three months, or you have six free months of Apple Music through an offer you redeemed? Unfortunately, Apple One will cut those free trials down to the standard one-month period, after which you will start to pay the Apple One plan price you chose. Note: You don’t get any free trial allowance back if you cancel your Apple One plan.
Apple One Services
Courtesy of Apple
What exactly do some of these services offer? Here’s a closer look:
Apple Music
Apple Music appears in our Best Streaming Services guide because the entire library of more than 90 million songs is available in lossless format, and you get immersive 3D sound with albums tuned in Dolby Atmos. It has an excellent iPhone app and Siri support, but the Android app is just OK, and we’re not fans of the desktop app. Social playlist sharing and curation don’t quite match up to our favorite service, Spotify, but the gap is closing. If you want to switch from Spotify to Apple Music, you can also take your playlists.
Apple TV+
With a focus on quality over quantity, Apple TV+ isn’t competing with the enormous libraries offered by Netflix, Disney+, and Hulu, and it deserves its place in our Best Streaming Services guide. It’s light on movies, though there are highlights, like Killers of the Flower Moon, Wolfwalkers, and Finch. But the real appeal of Apple TV+ is unmissable hit shows like Severance, Foundation, Ted Lasso, and The Morning Show, and it boasts excellent music documentaries, too. Everything is offered in 4K with HDR, and no, you don’t need an Apple TV to watch content in Apple TV+.
Apple Arcade
Closing in on three years since its release, the impact of Apple Arcade on mobile gaming is still unclear. What isn’t up for debate is the fact it offers some of the best mobile games without ads or in-app purchases. There are more than 200 titles in the Apple Arcade now, many of them exclusive. Some of our favorites include Mini Motorways, Sayonara Wild Hearts, Sneaky Sasquatch, Bloons TD6, and Assemble With Care.
iCloud+
Everyone gets 5 GB of storage space in iCloud for free, but that soon fills up with device backups, photos, and videos. You can upgrade to iCloud+ to get 50 GB, 200 GB, or 2 TB, and each option supports family sharing. There are several alternative cloud storage services that work well with Apple devices, but iCloud is tightly integrated. Aside from the extra space, another reason to upgrade to iCloud+ is for HomeKit Secure Video. It allows HomeKit security cameras and video doorbells to record 10 days of activity, viewable in the Home app. The 50-GB plan supports a single camera, the 200-GB plan covers up to five cameras, and the 2-TB plan supports unlimited cameras. These HomeKit videos don’t count against your iCloud storage limit. Every iCloud+ subscription also includes Private Relay, which encrypts your Safari web browsing, and Hide My Email, which gives you unique, random email addresses to use when you’d prefer to keep yours private.
Apple News+
If you love to read great magazines like (ahem) WIRED, National Geographic, The New Yorker, Time, People, Vogue, Rolling Stone, and Popular Science, or newspapers like The Wall Street Journal and Los Angeles Times, you can find them and many more, cover-to-cover, in the News app with an Apple News+ subscription. The service saves you from paywalls, features slick presentation, and offers curation based on your interests. On the downside, it doesn’t include everything—The New York Times and The Washington Post are famously unavailable. It also only works on Apple devices.
Apple Fitness+
Workout subscription services grew popular at the start of the pandemic, as people could no longer visit the gym. Apple Fitness+ offers various workout types, from yoga to strength training, audio-guided walks and runs, and meditations, along with plenty of real-time metrics. It works via the Fitness app on an iPhone, iPad, or Apple TV, and it requires an Apple Watch Series 3 or newer. You can read more about it in our review, but the service has since expanded. (Apple adds around 30 new workouts and meditations every week.)
How to Subscribe to Apple One
If you are sold on Apple One, signing up on an Apple device is easy. Go to Settings, Account (tap on your name), Subscriptions, and you will see Apple One with the option to Try It Now. That’s it!
A man in Denmark was sentenced to 18 months in prison today for using fake accounts to trick music streaming services into paying him 2 million Danish kroner ($290,000) in royalties. The unusual case reveals a weak spot in the business model behind the world’s biggest music platforms.
The 53-year-old consultant, who had pleaded not guilty, was convicted of data fraud and copyright infringement after using bots to listen to his own music through fake profiles on both Spotify and Apple Music, collecting royalties in the process. The data fraud took place between 2013 and 2019.
Fake or “artificial” streams are a big problem for the streaming industry. Between 1 billion and 3 billion fake streams took place on popular music platforms in 2021, according to a study by France’s National Music Center. Fake streams are a problem, according to the music industry, because they divert royalty payments away from real artists and pollute streaming platforms’ data.
“This is an example of a problem that’s becoming a liability within the music industry,” says Rasmus Rex Pedersen, an associate professor in communication at Roskilde University in Denmark, who researches music streaming. “The streaming services have had several years to develop tools to combat this type of fraud and apparently they haven’t been doing a very good job.” There are still services advertising sales of fake streams, he adds.
In February, a court in the Danish city of Aarhus heard how the man, whose name was withheld, was accused of using bots to generate a suspiciously high number of plays on 689 tracks, which he had registered as his own music. In one week, 244 music tracks were listened to 5.5 million times, with 20 accounts responsible for the majority of the streams. The defendant had previously argued these playbacks were linked to his job in the music industry. He plans to appeal, his lawyer Henrik Garlik Jensen told WIRED.
The man created software that played the music automatically, claims Maria Fredenslund, CEO of the Danish Rights Alliance, which protects copyright on the internet and first reported the case to the police. “So he didn’t really listen to the music. No one really listened to the music.” According to the Danish Rights Alliance, the defendant had 69 accounts with music streaming services, including 20 with Spotify alone. Due to his network of accounts, he was at one point the 46th highest-earning musician in Denmark.
While the defendant created much of the music himself, 37 tracks were altered versions of Danish folk music, where the tempo and pitch had been changed, adds Fredenslund, who attended court.
Starting in 2016, Danish artists noticed altered versions of their tracks circulating on streaming platforms. They reported the suspicious activity to Koda, a Danish organization that collects and distributes fees for songwriters and composers when their music is played online. In an investigation, Koda uncovered how amounts paid to the consultant went from zero to substantial sums in a short time. Koda then reported the case to the Danish Rights Alliance, which investigates fraudulent behavior. “It’s not just immoral, but blatantly unfair to manipulate payments that should rightfully go to dedicated and hardworking music creators,” says Jakob Hüttel, legal chief at Koda.
Apple has a Spotify problem—and it just cost the iPhone maker a $2 billion fine from the European Commission.
For years, the two companies have been at war as the streaming service lured users away from Apple’s iTunes and accused the tech giant of exploiting its dominance to stifle innovation. In their long-running conflict, each has made incursions into the other’s territory. When Apple launched its own streaming service, Apple Music, in 2015, Spotify claimed Apple was able to undercut the platform’s prices because Apple didn’t have to pay the same App Store fees as rivals. In 2019, Spotify began an ambitious podcast spending spree, splashing out on high-profile shows, in another direct challenge to Apple.
The feud’s early days were civil, with few barbs traded in public. “We worry about the humanity being drained out of music,” said Apple CEO Tim Cook in 2018, a cryptic comment widely interpreted as a jibe at Spotify’s heavy use of algorithmic recommendations. But Spotify became more outspoken as EU politicians started to call for laws to reign in Big Tech. The €1.8 billion ($1.9 billion) fine on Apple announced by the European Commission today shows that its tactics are working.
The fine originates in a legal complaint filed with the European Commission by Spotify in 2019, challenging the restrictions and fees Apple places on developers listing their apps in the App Store. Today the European Commission agreed, saying that Apple’s App Store restrictions amount to unfair trading conditions that may have led iOS users to pay significantly higher prices for music streaming subscriptions.
“For a decade, Apple abused its dominant position in the market for the distribution of music streaming apps through the App Store,” said Margrethe Vestager, the EU’s competition chief, in a statement. “They did so by restricting developers from informing consumers about alternative, cheaper music services available outside of the Apple ecosystem.”
Apple’s App Store rules restrict music streaming companies and other apps from informing their users on Apple devices about how to upgrade or sign up for subscription offers outside of the app. Instead, app users can only see sign-up options for in-app subscriptions via Apple’s payments system, where prices are likely to be higher because Apple takes a cut. Some app makers, including Spotify, do not offer in-app purchases because they don’t want to pay this commission. “Some consumers may have paid more because they were unaware they could pay less if they subscribed outside the app,” Vestager said. “This is illegal under EU antitrust rules.” Apple, which says the EU has failed to provide credible evidence of consumer harm, has pledged to appeal.
Big Number
The fine is far bigger than expected, prompting Apple’s stock to drop 3 percent on Monday. Media reports based on unnamed sources had predicted a penalty of around €500 million. It’s also one of the biggest fines the EU has ever issued against a tech company, ranking below only two Google fines of $5.1 billion and $2.4 billion. Vestager explained in a press conference that the scale of the fine is intended to prevent the company from breaking rules in the future. She added that the amount includes a “lump sum” to “achieve deterrence.” $1.9 billion amounts to 0.5 percent of Apple’s global turnover, she said.
Although Spotify CEO Daniel Ek has expressed disapproval of Apple’s business tactics, he’s also something of a reluctant figurehead in Europe’s fight against Apple. The self-described introvert has adopted the role of spokesperson for disgruntled European app developers who finally feel their complaints about Big Tech are being heard.
On Monday, Ek posted a video on X in which he described Apple as a threat to the open internet. “Apple has decided that they want to close down the internet and make it theirs, and they view every single person using an iPhone to be their user and that they should be able to dictate what that user experience should be,” he said. Ek also claimed Apple wants to effectively levy a tax on Spotify while exempting its own music service, Apple Music.
Taylor Swift is literally at the top of the world. She’s won nearly every big award we can think of, performed all over the world, and has a legion of diehard fans. And yet, she’s NEVER — not once — done the Super Bowl halftime show! How is that possible?!
Well, there are actually a ton of reasons why this hasn’t happened yet!
While the Anti-Hero artist is one of the biggest singers these days, when she started, she wasn’t exactly considered the kind of artist who everybody would want to jam out to — especially not a ton of sports fans. In fact, it wasn’t until her 2012 hit We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together that she really started to make those kinds of waves, followed by her mega-successful album 1989, which spawned hits Shake It Off,BlankSpace, and Bad Blood in 2014. This would’ve been an AH-mazing year for her to do the big show — except there was just one huge problem!
In 2013, Taylor signed a “long-term” endorsement deal to be the face of Diet Coke — but up until 2022, Pepsi was the big sponsor for the NFL concert. Obviously, this was a conflict of interest! But, as Swifties know, the musician also didn’t release any new music from 2014 to 2017, so it wouldn’t have made much sense for her to take the stage anyway.
That said, when Apple Music took over the halftime show, they quickly tried to tap her for the role. They even asked her to do the honors at last year’s Super Bowl LVII, but the Lover artist declined. Why?! At the time, she supposedly said she couldn’t do it because she was preoccupied with rerecording all her albums. TMZ sources claimed something similar in 2022, saying the 34-year-old didn’t want to do the show without owning all her music, and she has yet to re-release her self-titled album and Reputation. That makes a lot of sense, honestly!
Besides, while the songwriter has proven she can do a million things at once, it would’ve been hard for her to put together a glitzy performance amidst her hectic Eras Tour schedule. Usher, on the other hand, has been doing a Las Vegas residency — making it that much easier to prep! And while a halftime show (or even a cameo) would have been incredible, at least we still got lots of Taylor content at the game! And maybe one day in the future, especially if her romance with the Kansas City Chiefs star Travis Kelce continues to blossom, she’ll finally do the honors! Fingers crossed!
Reactions, Perezcious readers? Let us know (below)!
There were 4.1 trillion music streams worldwide in 2023, according to a report released Wednesday, the first time streaming has ever crossed the four-trillion mark in a single year.
The milestone number of global audio streams marked a 22.3% increase from 2022, according to data provider Luminate.
The U.S. accounted for just over a quarter of that total, or 1.2 trillion streams, also a bump up from the previous year.
To no one’s surprise, pop star Taylor Swift’s music drove a large chunk of that, making up 1.79% of total streams in the U.S. — meaning about one in every 78 audio streams was a Swift song, the Luminate report said.
One of the report’s biggest takeaways was that U.S. listeners are streaming more non-English music. It found that the fastest-growing audio streaming genres were world and Latin, which saw increases of 26% and 24% respectively compared to 2022.
Luminate also found that the share of English-language content in the top-10,000 audio and video streaming tracks in the U.S. has dropped 3.8% since 2021, while the Spanish-language share has increased by the same percentage over that period.
Overall, Spanish audio content was the second most popular to English content in the U.S., making up 8% of total audio streams, per the report.
Last year, Bad Bunny roped in 3.6 billion on-demand audio streams in the U.S., while Peso Pluma brought in about 1.9 billion, the report found. They were among six Spanish-language artists who crossed the one billion mark.
Taylor Swift and Bad Bunny pose during the 65th annual Grammy Awards at Crypto.com Arena on Feb. 5, 2023, in Los Angeles.
Johnny Nunez/Getty Images for The Recording Academy
The Regional Mexican music genre also saw a massive boom, growing 60% compared to last year in on-demand audio streams.
U.S. millennials and Gen Zers are driving the interest in foreign language music, the report found, with over 63% of both age groups saying they “listen to new music to experience new cultures and perspectives.”
But many within those generations are also powering the fast growth of country music in the U.S., with younger fans supporting artists like Luke Combs and Morgan Wallen. Wallen’s “Last Night” was the most streamed song in the U.S., according to the report, with over one billion streams.
Although foreign-language and country music saw big streaming gains, listeners in the U.S. still tuned into R&B and hip-hop more than any other genre, the report found, with almost a third of the total streams in the U.S. It was fitting, as 2023 marked the 50th anniversary of hip-hop.
