Though we near the end of the year, music has remained a constant in students’ lives at RHS. Whether it be walking the halls, doing homework, or looking out the window on the bus ride home, many students enjoy listening to their favorite artists. To celebrate the music that carried listeners through 2025, Spotify released its highly anticipated Spotify Wrapped on December 3, marking the program’s 11th year of Wrapped. With its release, students are allowed to fondly recall the music that has accompanied them over the course of the year.
Global Top 10 Artists
- Bad Bunny
- Taylor Swift
- The Weeknd
- Drake
- Billie Eilish
- Kendrick Lamar
- Bruno Mars
- Ariana Grande
- Arjit Singh
- Fuerza Regida
For the fourth time, Bad Bunny earns Spotify’s Top Artist of the year title, previously winning in 2020, 2021, 2022, and now again in 2025. With a grand 19.8 billion streams this year, Bad Bunny also claims the Global Top Album of 2025. To commemorate this achievement, Spotify will be releasing a short film, titled Leap Year, to honor his fans and the star himself.
While global rankings display artists like Bad Bunny and Taylor Swift, data collected from multiple RHS students demonstrate a wide range of listening preferences. Artists such as Kendrick Lamar, The Weeknd, Tyler, The Creator, and Gorillaz appeared among students’ top artists, demonstrating both mainstream popularity and alternative influence.
Global Top 10 Songs
- “Die With A Smile” by Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars
- “BIRDS OF A FEATHER” by Billie Eilish
- “APT.” by ROSÉ and Bruno Mars
- “Ordinary” by Alex Warren
- “DtMF” by Bad Bunny
- “back to friends” by sombr
- “Golden” by HUNTR/X, EJAE, AUDREY NUNA, REI AMI, KPop Demon Hunters Cast
- “luther (with sza)” by Kendrick Lamar and SZA
- “That’s So True” by Gracie Abrams
- “Wildflower” by Billie Eilish
Students’ top songs varied widely, from emotionally driven tracks like “Love Me Not” by Ravyn Lenae to Kendrick Lamar’s “90210,” known for its layered intensity and cinematic sound. The differences in students’ individual tastes capture their personal preferences rather than a single shared trend.
Aside from the previous features that we are all used to, Spotify introduced multiple new elements in 2025 Wrapped. For example, listeners can now view their ranking on the Fan Leaderboard, their Listening Age, and the Wrapped Club to which they belong. Many students were in agreeance to their presented Listening Age, ranging from as low as 21 to as high as 78!
This exciting new component allows the music you stream to be categorized in one of six ‘Wrapped Clubs’ that capture the qualities of your music. Spotify determines each user’s Club and role through song descriptors and their listening behavior, calculating a score that assigns listeners to a position that best reflects their personal taste. The six Wrapped Clubs include:
Cloud State Society:
Those who are in this club find peace through music.
“New members are gifted houseplants.”
Grit Collective:
People in this club find value in music through rebellion.
“There is no club rulebook.”
Club Serotonin:
This club’s listeners thrive off of good, fun vibes.
“Members insist on natural lighting.”
Full Charge Crew:
Members of this club are full-time partiers.
“Club events are high energy, zero chill.”
Cosmic Stereo Club:
Members find joy in exploring music of all kinds, especially experimental sounds.
“Clubhouse seating is entirely beanbags.”
Soft Hearts Club:
Members of this club believe that great music is achieved through vulnerability.
“Its doors are always open.”
Leaders: Their music greatly aligns with club values.
Scouts: Often listen to new releases.
Archivist: Often listens to older music.
Curator: A seasoned playlist maker.
Collector: They save music to their library often.
Recruiter: Share their music with others.
Loyalist: Rarely skips songs.
Supporter: Favor one artist in particular.
Broadcaster: Listen to podcasts.
Specialist: Enjoy experimental sounds within their club.
Among the students surveyed, Wrapped Clubs also differed. One student interviewed was placed in Cloud State Society, the club designed for listeners who find peace through music, while another was named leader in Grit Collective, a club associated with rebellion and intensity– a categorization that fits well according to their Top Songs. For many students, these categories closely resonated with their listening habits.
Last year, the internet was enraged with Wrapped 2024 because of its blatant embracing of generative AI. However, the public’s reactions suggest that the platform has redeemed itself this year. Spotify Wrapped 2025 introduced a bold new aesthetic, featuring a lime green, black, and white color palette. This year’s design is dynamic and high-contrast, reflecting the unrelenting and highly personalized nature of music streaming today. The sharp graphics and vibrant colors aim to achieve a nostalgic, “visual mixtape” design with elements like cutouts, doodles, and retro textures.
Marc Hazan, Spotify’s Senior Vice President of Global Marketing and Partnerships, emphasizes that, “this year, we focused on Wrapped’s feeling more human than ever, and that started with the design.” With the rise of AI in music, Spotify’s decision to ensure an authentic, human touch in Wrapped 2025 reinforces its role as more than a low-effort data recap, instead becoming a shared commemoration of how listeners connect with music throughout the year.
Whether through global trends or individual Wrapped results, Spotify Wrapped once again sheds light on the beautiful diversity of music enjoyed by RHS students. Ranging from the timeless influence of The Beatles to the energetic, new releases of Stray Kids, students spent their time listening to what they liked best.
Looking forward, according to BBC Radio 1’s Sound of 2026, many new artists are expected to rise in popularity next year. Artists like sombr, Chloe Qisha, and Jim Legxacy are quickly gaining traction with their unique music. It seems like 2026 will be another exciting year for music!
