Drake, Bad Bunny, Dua Lipa and The Weeknd are among the most-streamed artists of 2020, according to figures from Spotify.
Drake was the most popular artist in the UK, reclaiming the number one position from Ed Sheeran.
The Weeknd’s Blinding Lights was the most-played song in the UK, while Lewis Capaldi’s Divinely Uninspired To A Hellish Extent was the top album.
And Bad Bunny was the biggest artist globally, amassing 8.3bn streams.
The Puerto Rican star’s second album YHLQMDLG notched up 3.3 billion streams, followed by The Weeknd’s After Hours and Post Malone’s Hollywood’s Bleeding (You can read more about Bad Bunny’s success at the bottom of this article).
Harry Styles’ Fine Line and Dua Lipa’s Future Nostalgia took fourth and fifth place respectively.
Spotify said the most popular genre of 2020 was pop music – reflecting a rise in happier, uptempo music during the pandemic.
Podcaster Joe Rogan, who signed an exclusive deal with Spotify earlier this year, was responsible for the service’s most listened-to podcast. Other popular shows included Rosie and Chris Ramsey’s Sh**ged Married Annoyed, and The Times’ daily News Briefing.
On Apple podcasts, the most popular show of 2020 was BBC Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs, with Louis Theroux’s Grounded podcast – also a Radio 4 production – the most listened-to newcomer.
Who is Bad Bunny?
With the UK’s resistance to foreign language pop still firmly entrenched, Bad Bunny doesn’t feature in the country’s list of most-streamed artists – but in the rest of the world, he’s a phenomenon.
His music was streamed 8.3 billion times by Spotify’s 320 million users this year. His most popular song, Safaera, has been played a staggering 407 million times alone.
Taken from his second album, the track is Bad Bunny’s very own Bohemian Rhapsody – moving through eight different beats in multiple movements, and sampling everything from Missy Elliot’s Get Ur Freak On to John Williams’ Jaws theme.
Rolling Stone magazine called it “five-minutes of unadulterated chaos” that allowed the rapper to pay tribute to the reggaetón artists that preceded him.
Born Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio in 1994, he started singing at the age of five, and recorded his earliest songs while working as a bagger in a grocery store.
He stage name came from a time when he was forced to wear a rabbit costume for his school’s Easter celebrations. A photograph from the time shows the musician looking particularly grumpy. “I think that I was six years old,” he told E! News. “I was so mad [that] the teacher picked me to dress up”.
After picking up attention on Soundcloud, his first chart successes came as a featured artist – most notably on Cardi B’s smash hit I Like It, which reached number one in summer 2018.
Political protests
The star’s first album, X100 Pre (an abbreviation of Por Siempre, or Forever, in Spanish) followed later that year. Praised for it’s “off-kilter creativity“, the album unapologetically crushed together elements of reggaetón, trap, Latin hip-hop, garage rock and pop punk – and earned the musician a Grammy nomination for best alternative Latin album.
The eclectic, experimental nature of the record surprised many fans who’d been listening to his more club-orientated hits, but Ocasio said that was the plan all along.
“I was super prepared for that first impact and for people to be confused,” he told GQ. “But just as I was prepared, I had a lot of faith that, in the end, people would understand me.”
But Bad Bunny is just not just fearless musically. He has spoken out against the US government’s response to Hurricane Maria; and injustices such as the killings of women and transgender Puerto Ricans.
In February, he used a performance on Jimmy Fallon’s US chat show to pay tribute to Alexa Negrón Luciano, a homeless, transgender woman who was murdered in Toa Baja, Puerto Rico. Taking to the stage in a black skirt, the musician revealed a shirt that read “Mataron a Alexa, no a un hombre con flada” – They killed Alexa, not a man in a skirt”.
He was also a major figure in the summer 2019 protests that ended with the resignation of Governor Ricardo Rosselló, even releasing a song, Afilando los Cuchillos (Sharpening the Knives) which accused the politician of corruption, neglect and homophobia.
At the age of 26, he is almost indecently prolific. This year alone, he has appeared at the Super Bowl and released three albums – starting with February’s YHLQMDLG ( “Yo hago lo que me da la gana”, or “I Do Whatever I Want”), which is Spotify’s most=streamed album of 2020, with 3.3bn plays so far.
He followed it up with Las Que No Iban a Salir – a selection of off-cuts from the YHLQMDLG sessions; then surprised fans last week with a brand new record.
The indie-influenced El Ultimo Tour Del Mundo was written and released in response to people who complained the Covid-19 pandemic kept them from partying.
“This is a more sentimental album, more chill, the kind of thing you can listen to in your room,” said the star.
It came out in the same week that the star was nominated for two further Grammy Awards – including best Latin Pop album for YHLQMDLG.
RUAN-Badkid.96 is a Nigerian recording artist whose music refuses to live inside a single genre. Blending Afrobeat, Afrofusion, trap, hip-hop, melodic rap, R&B, and global influences, he creates records that move effortlessly between raw street energy, soulful storytelling, and infectious melodies. Whether delivering hard-hitting bars, emotional love songs, or rhythm-driven African records, his sound is defined by authenticity rather than limitation.
Inspired by both African culture and international music, RUAN-Badkid.96 embraces the confidence and ambition of global hip-hop while staying deeply connected to his roots. His lyrics explore love, heartbreak, betrayal, friendship, social injustice, hope, and the everyday realities of life. He doesn’t create music to follow trends, he creates music to reflect truth, emotion, and human experience.
Behind his fearless image is an artist who believes in kindness, equality, justice, and genuine human connection. His appearance may be intimidating, but his message is rooted in compassion and authenticity. Every record carries a piece of his journey, proving that strength and vulnerability can exist in the same voice.
For RUAN-Badkid.96, music is more than entertainment, it’s a language, a testimony, and a lifelong mission to connect with people through honesty, versatility, and unforgettable sound.
Entertainment Gists
Meet the Man Who Turned Hype Into a Science: Emmy Blaq, Nigeria’s G.O.A.T. of Hype
If you have ever been at a Nigerian event and found yourself on your feet before the main act even stepped on stage, there is a good chance a hype man was responsible. But not just any hype man. Emmy Blaq, born Ikechukwu Emmanuel Chima and raised in Auchi, Edo State, has spent the last few years quietly becoming the most talked-about name in that profession, and the Nigerian press has taken notice. Punch, Vanguard, The Guardian Nigeria, The Nation, and Independent Newspaper have all sat down with him, and every conversation leads back to the same thing: this man does not just make noise; he makes moments.
What makes Emmy Blaq different is the journey behind the energy. Before the stages, the collaborations with Waje on her “Waje 2.0” album, DJ Consequence, and DJ Kaywise on the massively streamed “Joor Party Mix” series, he was repairing generators, cutting hair, and sewing clothes in Auchi. His first professional hype gig happened at a local fast food spot called Valchi, and the crowd response that night changed everything. He told The Nation directly: “My passion for entertainment and desire to make people happy led me into the craft.” Punch also captured his bigger mission when he said that hype men deserve more than what they currently earn, a statement that sparked a real conversation across Nigerian entertainment circles.
With over 1.7 million TikTok followers, 23.6 million TikTok likes, a viral “Wife Material” challenge that landed on Pulse Nigeria’s top ten social media moments of 2021, and an international performance at the Cameroon International Music Festival that Cameroonian media described as electrifying, Emmy Blaq is not building toward something. He is already there. The G.O.A.T. of Hype is not a title he gave himself and hoped would stick. It is one the rooms keep confirming every single time he grabs the mic.
MANAGER PROFILE
Uncle Wisdom is a Lagos-based music executive and visionary leader known for blending structure, strategy, and creativity in artist management. With a background in Mathematics and Statistics from UNICROSS formerly, Cross River University Of Technology. He brings analytical precision into talent development, positioning artists for both creative excellence and commercial success.
CAREER JOURNEY
Began his career in 2017 as an event coordinator for Eksu Olofofo, where he gained foundational experience in live events and audience engagement. By 2018, he transitioned into full-time artist management, driven by a clear goal to build a more structured and results-oriented system within the music industry.
In 2019, Started working as a road manager for Barry Jhay, gaining hands-on experience in touring, logistics, and artist operations, a refined career and mental awareness coach . He was also instrumental behind Barry Jhay’s 2025 sold-out homecoming concert, a key moment that fueled momentum for a successful UK tour, including sold-out shows in London and Birmingham.
PHLOX MGMT
Founded from the ground up, Phlox Mgmt is a forward-thinking management company focused on Career coaching, A&R, artist development, and strategic positioning. The company is built on a clear philosophy:
Develop the sound. Define the brand. Position the artist to win.
Phlox Mgmt has connections with @Roadgod_of Roadgod Agency and connects artists with top-tier producers, engineers, and creatives, ensuring a refined sound and strong market presence. The company continues to grow as a trusted platform for emerging and established talent.
INDUSTRY NETWORK & COLLABORATIONS
Uncle Wisdom has built valuable relationships across the industry, working with and alongside talents such as:
Barry Jhay • Asake • Ceeza Milli • Berri Tiga • Laime • Spellz • and many others
LEADERSHIP APPROACH
John Wisdom operates with a long-term vision, focusing on structure, consistency, and execution. His approach goes beyond traditional management he builds systems around artists that support sustainable growth, strong branding, and global competitiveness.
CONTACT & SOCIALS
Instagram & X: @Johnwisdm @phlox_mgmt
TikTok: @unclewisdom7
Email: phloxentertainment@gmail.com
Phone: 08038448478 | 09015668027
-
Audio10 years agoPage – Day Break Everywhere Burst
-
Audio5 years agoShadykarz – Forever
-
Audio10 years agoJuniorboy ft. 9ice – IRAPADA
-
Entertainment Gists5 years agoEx-Beauty Queen, Sandra Benede Shares Sexy Photo
-
Audio5 years agoSimi – Happy Birthday ft. Adekunle Gold, DeJa
-
Audio5 years agoRuger – Bounce
-
Mixtapes4 years agoMixtape: DJ DimpleNipple – The Best Of Amapiano Thrills
-
Editorials3 years agoSa’eedah Imam On Creating Her Imprint In The Nigerian Music Industry As An Emerging Creative Writer