Listening data released today indicates Kiwis march to the beat of their own drum, audibly at least. 

At the end of each year music audio streaming platform Spotify releases Spotify Wrapped, a marketing campaign providing users with a compilation of data about their activity on the platform. 

In addition to individualised data, Spotify Wrapped gathers information about activity on the platform as a whole, giving us a sense of the audio moments that defined the year in Aotearoa. 

Regional results highlight some interesting ways in which Kiwi listening patterns diverge from global trends. Puerto Rican mega-star Bad Bunny, who topped the global artist and album chart, doesn’t feature in any NZ-specific top-five lists. 

Fourth Wing, the adult fantasy romance novel by Rebecca Yarros, topped the worldwide audiobook chart, but in Aotearoa it was kicked into second spot by Jacinda Ardern’s memoir A Different Kind of Power. 

Kiwis also appear especially fond of Alex Warren, the American singer and influencer who brought a fan’s mum’s ashes on stage at his Auckland concert in August. 

Kiwis are especially fond of Alex Warren. Photo / Getty Images 

The 25-year-old singer’s song Ordinary topped the NZ top-song chart, but was fourth worldwide. The love song was the track played the most in Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin, Hamilton, Invercargill, Queenstown, Wellington and the Waikato region. Gisborne, however, hit play on Back In My Arms by Hori Shaw and Nelson favoured Day Job by Holly’s Hat Trick. 

Another artist New Zealanders have a surprising affinity for is Chris Brown – the R&B singer took fifth spot in New Zealand’s top artists despite not featuring in any of the global top lists. 

New Zealand Top Artists: 

1. Taylor Swift 
2. Drake 
3. Kendrick Lamar  
4. SZA 
5. Chris Brown 

New Zealand Top Songs: 

1. Ordinary by Alex Warren 
2. Die With A Smile by Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars 
3. The Days – NOTION Remix by Chrystal 
4. luther (with sza) by Kendrick Lamar & SZA 
5. Golden by HUNTR/X 

New Zealand Top Albums: 

1. KPop Demon Hunters (Soundtrack from the Netflix film) by KPop Demon Hunters Cast  
2. SOS Deluxe: LANA by SZA 
3. You’ll Be Alright, Kid by Alex Warren 
4. I’ve Tried Everything But Therapy by Teddy Swims 
5. Short n’ Sweet by Sabrina Carpenter 

New Zealand Top Local Artists: 

1. Six60 
2. L.A.B. 
3. Lorde 
4. Te Wehi 
5. Katchafire 

New Zealand Top Local Songs: 

1. APT. by Rosé & Bruno Mars 
2. Back In My Arms by Hori Shaw 
3. In The Air by L.A.B. 
4. Unaware by Te Wehi 
5. Blue Eyed Māori by Corrella 

New Zealand Top Podcasts: 

1. The Joe Rogan Experience 
2. The Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett 
3. The Mel Robbins Podcast 
4. Between Two Beers Podcast 
5. Call Her Daddy 
6. New Zealand Top Local Podcasts: 
7. Between Two Beers Podcast 
8. The Dom Harvey Podcast 
9. The Morning Shift 
10. Not For Radio 
11. Sex.Life 

New Zealand Top Audiobooks in Premium: 

1. A Different Kind of Power by Jacinda Ardern 
2. Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros 
3. Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros 
4. A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas 
5. A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas 

Top Throwback Song (released pre-2000) 

1. Sway by Bic Runga 
2. Swing by Savage 
3. How Bizarre by OMC 
4. Slice of Heaven by Dave Dobbyn, Herbs 
5. They Don’t Know by Aaradhna, Savage 
6. Miss Na Miss Kita by Father & Sons 
7. Dreaming by Scribe 
8. Not Many by Scribe 
9. I Got You by Split Enz 
10. It’s Too Late by Evermore