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BTS was crowned as Spotify’s most-streamed artist in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region in 2022, the streaming platform revealed to Forbes Middle East.
The septet was also the fourth most-streamed artist and had the most-streamed album in the UAE with ‘Proof’ in the UAE this year. BTS was the most-streamed artist in Saudi Arabia and the UAE in 2021.
Top artists
Members V and Jung Kook were also among the most popular K-Pop artists in the MENA region.
BLACKPINK, who will be performing in Abu Dhabi and Riyadh next year for their “BORN PINK” world tour, was the second K-Pop artist among listeners in the MENA region.
Stray Kids and labelmates TWICE came third and fourth, respectively.
YG Entertainment’s BLACKPINK and YG Entertainment’s TWICE were the only K-Pop girl bands on the ranking this year.
TOMORROW X TOGETHER, SEVENTEEN, and ENHYPEN came in at number five, seven, and ninth on Spotify’s most popular K-Pop artists list in the MENA region.
Top songs
BTS had the most popular K-Pop songs this year in the region, including English-language tracks Dynamite’ and ‘Butter’. ‘My Universe’ with British rock band Coldplay, and “Run BTS’ were also in the top 10.
V’s OSTs ‘Christmas Tree,’ which was the top pick in the MENA region, and ‘Sweet Night’ were included, Spotify revealed.
Jung Kook’s collab track ‘Left and Right”’ with Charlie Puth was the second most popular song. ‘Stay Alive (Prod. SUGA of BTS)’ ranked ninth on the ranking.
BLACKPINK’s ‘Pink Venom’ and member Lisa’s ‘Money’ landed at number four and third, respectively.
Fun facts
Spotify users spent 2.2 billion hours listening to K-Pop in the MENA region. There was also a 37% year-over-year growth in listenership on the music streaming service, with half of the streamers between the ages of 18-24.
Saudi Arabia had the most K-Pop listeners this year on Spotify, followed by UAE, Morocco, and Egypt, in chronological order.