The Weeknd’s ‘Blinding Lights’ Reaches Milestone of 5 Billion Streams on Spotify
The Weeknd’s “Blinding Lights” has made history yet again by becoming the first song on Spotify to reach the milestone of five billion streams. This remarkable achievement was recently announced by Spotify, showcasing the immense popularity and enduring appeal of the 2020 hit. The Weeknd, also known as Abel Tesfaye, excitedly shared this news with his substantial following of 78 million on Instagram, solidifying the song’s status as a cultural phenomenon.
This accomplishment on Spotify follows closely on the heels of another notable achievement for “Blinding Lights.” The song recently claimed the top spot on Billboard’s prestigious Top Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs of the 21st Century chart. This ranking, which measures the performance of songs on the weekly Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart from the beginning of the 2000s through 2024, further cements the track’s legendary status in the music industry.
Originally released in November 2019 as the second single from The Weeknd’s highly acclaimed fourth studio album, “After Hours,” “Blinding Lights” quickly rose to prominence. It dominated the Billboard Hot 100 chart for an impressive four weeks and achieved the remarkable feat of staying in the top 10 for an entire year. In November 2021, it surpassed Chubby Checker’s iconic hit “The Twist” to claim the top spot on Billboard’s Greatest of All Time Hot 100 chart, further solidifying its place in music history.
The remarkable success of “Blinding Lights” continued to soar as it reached the milestone of four billion streams on Spotify in January 2024. In response to this achievement, The Weeknd expressed his gratitude and humility, stating, “I’ll never stop being humbled by anything I create making its way to millions of people let alone billions! I’m so thankful this song makes people feel a way that they keep going back to listen.”
In addition to this exceptional achievement, The Weeknd has a total of 28 songs in Spotify’s exclusive Billions Club, showcasing his unparalleled talent and influence in the music industry. He also had the honor of performing at Spotify’s first-ever Billions Club: Live concert in December, further solidifying his status as one of the most successful and revered artists of his generation.
The impact and legacy of “Blinding Lights” continue to resonate with audiences worldwide, establishing The Weeknd as a trailblazer in the music industry. With this remarkable milestone of five billion streams on Spotify, the song has solidified its place as an enduring classic and a cultural touchstone for music lovers everywhere.