Spotify has launched its annual campaign, Spotify Wrapped 2024, celebrating fans, artists and creators who made this year a record-breaking, culture-defining and fandom-shaking one. Some key trends seen across the region include the Arab diaspora taking Arab music global, the dominance of pop and Khaleeji music in the region and hypergrowth genres breaking into the mainstream.
Arab diaspora: taking Arab music global
This year, Arab artists including Elyanna and Saint Levant have captivated international audiences, performing at major global festivals. Belgian-Moroccan artist Dystinct topped France’s Spotify Top 50 with his hit alongside Gims. The Wrapped data also shows diaspora listeners reconnecting with their roots through icons such as Sherine and Amr Diab, illustrating music’s power to bridge generations and geographies.
Pop and Khaleeji thrive
In Saudi Arabia, Khaleeji music continues to lead, with Ayed crowned as Spotify Wrapped’s top Arab artist of the year. His hits resonate across Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Kuwait, marking him as a voice of a new generation. Alongside Ayed, legends such as Abdul Majeed Abdullah and Rashed Al-Majed continue to prove the timelessness of Khaleeji music, ranking second and third in Saudi Arabia, respectively.
Most-streamed Arab artists in Saudi Arabia
- Ayed
- Abdul Majeed Abdullah
- Rashed Al-Majed
- Assala
- Majid Almohandis
- Sherine
- Tamer Ashour
- Mohammed Abdu
- Amr Diab
- Abadi Al Johar
In Morocco, pop music is surging with fresh energy. Rising stars such as Lazaro, whose hit ‘Mahboul Ana’ charted for weeks and secured the #9 spot on Morocco’s Spotify Wrapped top songs, are fuelling this momentum.
Most-streamed artists in Morocco
In Egypt, pop remains dominant with Tamer Ashour’s ‘Haygeely Mawgoo3’ being the number one song. The scene also welcomes new voices including Tul8te, whose indie-pop hit ‘Habibi Leh’ went viral, captivating hearts across the region.
Most-streamed artists in Egypt
- Essam Sasa
- Amr Diab
- Eslam Kabonga
- Tamer Ashour
- Marwan Pablo
- Wegz
- Cairokee
- Sherine
- Ramy Sabry
- Muslim – مُسلِم
Hypergrowth genres break into the mainstream
In Egypt, Mahraganat – a street genre known for its raw, electrifying energy and do-it-yourself (DIY) ethos – is experiencing skyrocketing streams. With artists producing tracks rapidly, the genre now comprises 40 per cent of the top songs on Egypt’s Wrapped list.
Moroccan hip-hop, led by artists including ElGrandeToto and Stormy, is also gaining mainstream traction. This year has been transformative, with many leading Moroccan artists releasing impactful albums and EPs.
Arabic podcasts win big
The podcast scene in Saudi Arabia is flourishing, reflecting the rich tapestry of Saudi culture. Leading the way is the widely acclaimed Finjan Ma’ Abdel El Rahman Abo Maleh, which topped the charts for the second consecutive year. Other favourites include the personal stories and true-crime podcast Jinaayah and the visual podcast Areeka, known for its sharp focus on social issues. Sahib, which delves into reflective life topics, and Yasir Khair were also among the most popular shows this year.
Most Popular Podcasts in Saudi Arabia
- Finjan Ma’ Abdel El Rahman Abo Maleh
- Jinaayah
- Areeka (أريـــكة)
- Sahib(صحب)
- Yasir Khair (يصير خير)
- The Joe Rogan Experience
- دوباميكافين | Dupamicaffeine
- Kanbat Al–Sabt (كنبة السبت)
- Dalilak lel Englezi (دليلك للإنجليزي)
- Tanaffas (بودكاست تَنفَّسْ)
Read all the lists from Campaign Middle East’s The Annual issue here.
