5 Most Streamed Songs of 2023 So Far

Halfway into 2023, there’s a crop of songs that have risen to the top in streaming.

As streaming remains a dominant driver in sales of songs and a gauge of what songs may chart more successfully, some tracks are individually surpassing the hundreds of millions and even the one billion mark in streams these days.

Globally, streaming has already passed the one trillion mark within the first three months (Q1) of 2023, according to a recent study by Luminate, which exceeds 2022 numbers during the same period. Each day, according to the report, 120,000 new tracks are now released on streaming services worldwide.

On-demand audio streaming in 2022 also increased by 22.6 over 2021 figures, according to the Luminate Year-End report.

As the year progresses, here’s a look at the five most streamed songs of 2023, so far.

5.  “Calm Down” Rema and Selena Gomez
Written by Divine Ikubor (Rema) and Selena Gomez
*601 million on-demand global audio streams in 2023, so far

Featured on Rave & Roses, the debut album of Nigerian artist Rema, “Calm Down” reached No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100. Co-written with Selena Gomez, the song is about Rema’s journey toward true love.

“‘Calm Down’ is about the events that led me to finding love at the time,” said Rema of the track. “It started at a party where I saw a girl who stood out from other girls so I felt like shooting my shot. We spoke and danced, but her friends didn’t let me get any closer which killed the vibe. Afterwards, when they weren’t there, we stayed in touch and hit it off.”

4.  “Shakira: BZRP Music Sessions, Vol. 53,” Bizzarap and Shakira 
Written by Shakira, Gonzalo Julian Conde (Bizarrap), Francisco Zecca, Kevyn Mauricio Cruz Moreno, Santiago Pablo, Exequiel Alvarado
* 627M on-demand global audio streams in 2023, so far

Known as “Pa’ Tipos Como Tú” in Spanish and “Out of Your League” in English, the track was co-written and performed by Shakira and the Argentine DJ Bizarrap.

Initially released on Bizarrap’s Bzrp Music Sessions series on his YouTube channel, the song is an anthem of female empowerment and also takes a shot at Shakira’s ex-husband footballer Gerard Piqué. This is for you to be mortified, to chew and swallow, swallow and chew / I won’t get back with you, not if you cry, not even if you beg me / It’s clear that it’s not my fault if they criticize you / I only make music, sorry if it splashes you / You left me with your mom as a neighbor.

3. “Die For You,” The Weeknd
Written by Abel Tesfaye (The Weeknd), Martin McKinney, Mejdi Rhars, Dylan Wiggins, Magnus Høiberg, William Thomas Walsh, Henry Walter
*629M on-demand global audio streams in 2023, so far

Hitting No. 1 on the Billboard Mainstream Top 40 and No. 6 on the Hot 100, The Weeknd‘s “Die For You,” was first released on his third album Starboy in 2016 and had a resurgence on TikTok in 2022.

In 2023, The Weeknd, released a remix of the song, featuring Ariana Grande, which hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.

2. “Kill Bill,” SZA
Written by Solána Rowe (SZA), Carter Lang, Rob Bisel
*885 Million on-demand global audio streams in 2023, so far

Off SZA‘s second album, SOS, “Kill Bill” went to No. 1 in seven territories, worldwide, and gave the rapper her first No. 1 on Billboard Global 200, a weekly chart ranking the top songs, globally, based on digital sales and online streaming.

Inspired by heartbreak and Quentin Tarantino’s 2003 martial arts action films, “Kill Bill” also became the first song to hit No. 1 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart for 21 weeks after its release.

1. “Flowers,” Miley Cyrus
Written by Miley Cyrus, Gregory Aldae Hein, Michael Ross Pollack
*1.16B on-demand global audio streams in 2023, so far

The lead single of Miley Cyrus’ eighth album, Endless Summer Vacation, “Flowers” tops the most-streamed list. It’s Cyrus’ new anthem of independence —I can buy myself flowers / Write my name in the sand / Talk to myself for hours / Say things you don’t understand.

Endless Summer Vacation peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 while “Flowers” hit No. 1 on the Hot 100.

*Note: Streaming figures reflect streams recorded (by Luminate) as of March 30, 2023.

Photo: Mauricio Santana/Getty Images