In Canada: Drake, Taylor Swift & Morgan Wallen Dominate Spotify Year-End Charts
Spotify recently unveiled the most-streamed artists in Canada for 2025, with Toronto’s own Drake leading the pack. Following him are global superstars Taylor Swift and Morgan Wallen, while Scarborough native The Weeknd comes in at fourth place. Rounding out the top five is Kendrick Lamar, known for his fierce rivalry with Drake. Notably, Canadian pop sensation Tate McRae also made the list, securing the seventh position. This ranking highlights the diverse musical landscape in Canada, showcasing both homegrown talent and international stars.
Interestingly, Drake has been vocal about his concerns regarding Spotify’s practices, alleging that the platform engages in an illegal “scheme” involving bots and payola to promote Kendrick Lamar’s diss track “Not Like Us.” Despite this controversy, Drake continues to dominate the streaming charts, illustrating his unwavering popularity among Canadian listeners. In terms of albums, Morgan Wallen’s “I’m The Problem” emerged as the most-streamed album in Canada, followed closely by the “KPop Demon Hunters” soundtrack and SZA’s “SOS Deluxe: LANA.” Canadian artists also made their mark, with McRae’s “So Close to What” ranking as the top album by a Canadian artist, further solidifying her place in the industry.
The rankings reflect not only the artists’ popularity but also the evolving music scene in Canada, where genres like hip-hop, pop, and country coexist and thrive. The presence of multiple Canadian artists in the top ten underscores the country’s rich musical heritage and the increasing global influence of its homegrown talent. As the music industry continues to evolve, these streaming statistics provide a fascinating glimpse into the tastes and preferences of Canadian audiences, showcasing a blend of established icons and emerging stars.
Spotify has shared the top artists streamed in Canada, with rapper
Drake
taking the top spot, followed by
Taylor Swift
and
Morgan Wallen
. Scarborough native
The Weeknd
comes in at No. 4, while Drake’s rival
Kendrick Lamar
ranks at No. 5. Two spots down at No. 7 is Canadian pop singer
Tate McRae
.
Despite Drizzy
accusing the streaming service
of contributing to an illegal “scheme” involving bots, payola and other methods to push Lamar’s diss track “Not Like Us,” the Toronto rapper has maintained a spot at the top of listeners’ playlists.
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Canada’s Top Artists of 2025
Drake
Taylor Swift
Morgan Wallen
The Weeknd
Kendrick Lamar
Zach Bryan
Tate McRae
Travis Scott
SZA
Kanye West
Morgan Wallen’s chart-topping
I’m The Problem
was the most-streamed album in Canada, followed by the
KPop Demon Hunters
soundtrack and
SZA
’s lengthy
SOS Deluxe: LANA
.
The top album by a Canadian was Tate McRae’s
So Close to What
, which comes in at No. 4, while Drizzy’s team-up with fellow Canadian
PARTYNEXTDOOR
,
$ome $exy $ongs 4 U
, ranks at No. 7. Despite releasing in October, Taylor Swift’s
chart-topping
album,
The Life of a Showgirl
, comes in at No. 10.
Canada’s Top Albums of 2025
“I’m The Problem” by Morgan Wallen
“KPop Demon Hunters” by
KPop Demon Hunters
Cast
“SOS Deluxe: LANA” by SZA
“So Close To What” by Tate McRae
“You’ll Be Alright, Kid (Chapter 1)” by Alex Warren
“Short n’ Sweet” by Sabrina Carpenter
“$ome $exy $ongs 4 U” by PARTYNEXTDOOR, Drake
“One Thing At A Time” by Morgan Wallen
“Stick Season” by Noah Kahan
“The Life of a Showgirl” by Taylor Swift
Head
here
to read all about the Canadian most-streamed lists, including songs and Franco-Quebec artists and songs. —
Heather Taylor-Singh
Marc Miller Named New Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture After Steven Guilbeault’s Abrupt Resignation
Canada has a new Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture.
As part of a cabinet shuffle this week,
Marc Miller
was appointed to fill a position made vacant on Nov. 27 when
Steven Guilbeault
resigned
from the Mark Carney-led cabinet to protest the Prime Minister’s controversial energy deal with Alberta. Guilbeault was also Minister Responsible for Official Languages and Minister of Nature and Parks Canada, as well as Carney’s Lieutenant in Quebec.
Related
The 10 Biggest Music and Politics Stories of 2025
The former Justin Trudeau-era minister was sworn in along with two other new ministers during a brief ceremony at Rideau Hall late Monday afternoon.
As
Billboard Canada
noted last week, the Ministry of Canadian Identity and Culture has a direct impact on the Canadian music industry via its administration of the
recently-renewed
Canada Music Fund, which supports both FACTOR and Musicaction. These granting bodies provide artists, labels and other organizations with funding for a wide range of activities, including recording, touring, marketing and music video production. Many in the industry, including the Canadian Independent Music Association (CIMA),
appealed to Guilbeault
to act for the Canadian music industry during a pivotal moment.
Miller takes on his new role after the Heritage/Culture portfolio has seen a
rapid turnover
in recent years.
The Canadian Live Music Association was quick to congratulate Miller, looking forward to “working together to unlock the full economic and cultural potential of Canada’s live music industry.”
“Live music is one of Canada’s strongest growth opportunities,” said
Erin Benjami
n, president & CEO of the CLMA. “With smart, modern policy, we can strengthen the touring infrastructure that allows artists to thrive, support local businesses in every region, and ensure more fans — from right here at home and around the world — have access to unforgettable live music experiences in their own communities. This is good for artists, it’s good for audiences, and it’s good for the Canadian economy.”
Read more on the new minister and what his appointment means to the Canadian music industry
here
. —
Kerry Doole
Tate McRae’s ‘So Close to What’ Climbs Back to No. 2 on Billboard Canadian Albums Chart Following Deluxe Edition
Tate McRae is so close to a sweet victory on the chart — for the second time.
This week, the Canadian pop singer’s album,
So Close to What
, climbs from No. 10 to No. 2 on the
Billboard Canadian Albums chart
on the chart dated Dec. 6. Its rise follows the release of
So Close to What??? (Deluxe)
last month, in which she added five extra tracks to the record.
Related
Tate McRae Releases ‘So Close to What’ Deluxe Edition With Four New Songs: Stream It Now
Leading up to the deluxe album’s release, McRae released “Tit For Tat,” thought to be inspired by her breakup with fellow pop hitmaker
The Kid LAROI
. It became her third top-five hit on the Canadian Hot 100, debuting at No. 3, and this week, it rises from No. 23 to 16.
The remaining four
SCTW
deluxe tracks have arrived on the Canadian Hot 100 this week too, including “Nobody’s Girl” (No. 13), “Anything But Love” (No. 22), “Trying On Shoes” (No. 28) and “Horseshoe (No. 40).
Three tracks from the standard version have also re-entered the Canadian Hot 100: “Miss Possessive,” “Dear God” and “Siren Sounds” — at No. 84, No. 86 and No. 93, respectively.
So Close to What
scored the Calgary native her first No. 1 on Canadian Albums in March, following the project’s release, sitting at the top for two weeks. It made waves in the U.S., too, claiming the top spot for one week.
Read more on this feat and more from the
Billboard
Canadian charts
here
. —
HTS
