Indian singer with 150 million Spotify followers beats Taylor Swift, BTS to become most-followed artist globally
Also read: K-pop group once dubbed 'female BTS' hit hiatus at career peak, dragged into controversy with future uncertain
Arijit, already a household name and widely regarded as one of India's greatest voices, holds multiple hats as a composer, singer, producer, and National Award winner. He's now beaten some of the biggest Western names, including Ed Sheeran (121 million), Billie Eilish (114 million), and The Weeknd (107.2 million). Back in August 2023, he briefly surpassed Swift before slipping down. But in 2024, only three artists crossed the 100 million mark, including Ed Sheeran. By 2025, the list expanded to names like Ariana Grande (105.8 million) and Eminem (101.7 million). K-pop legends BTS currently sit at around 80 million. Arijit's steady rise on the global streaming platform is nothing short of a milestone, not just for him, but for Indian music as a whole, especially considering Spotify only entered the Indian market in 2019. His recent numbers are a loud reminder that Arijit's influence goes well beyond India's borders.
Also read: BTS' Suga warns 'the market's not the same' as group confirms 2026 comeback and tour
After Arijit, it's only another legendary musician, AR Rahman from India, who made it to the top 20 list, with 49 million followers. Singh recently teamed up with Ed Sheeran for their much-hyped track Sapphire. Meanwhile, Taylor Swift, who dropped her latest album The Tortured Poets Department last year, wrapped up her record-breaking Eras Tour, which pulled in a mind-blowing USD 2 billion in ticket sales. She recently won back the masters of her early discography and hinted at revisiting a few songs, but as of now, 2025 hasn't seen any new album release from her. Billie Eilish, riding high on her Academy Award win, released Hit Me Hard and Soft, her third studio album in 2024.
Singh, meanwhile, continues to enjoy global popularity, headlining back-to-back sold-out shows overseas. Another Indian star making serious noise on the international scene is Diljit Dosanjh, with nearly 33 million followers and a fanbase that refuses to quit growing.
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