The Weeknd’s ‘Blinding Lights’ sets record with five billion streams on Spotify

Canadian superstar Abel Tesfaye, better known as The Weeknd, has set a new global music record as his hit track Blinding Lights became the first song to surpass five billion streams on Spotify.

Spotify confirmed the milestone in a post on its official Instagram page, which the singer later shared with his followers. Released in November 2019 as the second single from his After Hours album, Blinding Lights quickly became a worldwide sensation, topping the Billboard Hot 100 for four weeks and making history as the first song to remain in the chart’s top 10 for an entire year.

The track’s enduring popularity earned it the title of Billboard’s Greatest Hot 100 Song of All Time in 2021, and it was recently ranked No. 1 on Billboard’s list of the Top Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs of the 21st Century.

The Weeknd, reflecting on the song’s streaming success when it hit four billion plays earlier this year, said he remained humbled by the connection his music has with listeners across the globe.

With this latest achievement, the artist further cements his dominance in the streaming era, boasting 28 songs in Spotify’s exclusive Billions Club, more than any other musician.