January 1, Bad Bunny Tops Spotify Streams Facing Criticism

Wyatt’s Take

• Bad Bunny is Spotify’s most played artist for 2025
• His Super Bowl spot drew backlash from Trump
• Spanish-language music is taking over global charts

Bad Bunny is Spotify’s most listened-to artist this year, with hits breaking streaming records. His album DeBÍ TiRAR MÁS FOToS shot to the top, while his earlier work is still among the most played worldwide.

Spotify now boasts over 700 million users, and Bad Bunny’s music has racked up billions of streams.

The company points to the global popularity of Spanish-language songs, saying:

“This four-time achievement isn’t just about one artist’s success. It’s about the global nature of today’s music audience.”

Bad Bunny, now performing salsa after starting as a rapper, has made headlines for his political views as well.

He spoke out against Trump’s immigration agenda and backed Kamala Harris in 2024.

This year, the Super Bowl picked him as the 2026 halftime act. That move drew backlash, especially from former President Trump.

“I never heard of him. I don’t know who he is, I don’t know why they’re doing it. It’s like, crazy. Then they blame it on some promoter that they hired to pick up entertainment,”

—Trump, October

Spotify also put out a short video celebrating Bad Bunny’s success, starring an animated frog named Sapo Concho.

Keep up with Middle America news that impacts you—even when pop culture steps onto the gridiron.

Wyatt Matters

Big media choices like this show how culture and politics cross paths in ways that touch everyday Americans.

It’s a reminder that decisions about entertainment aren’t just about music—they shape how we see ourselves and our country.

Full story here