Dance music grows in streaming popularity

BPI and the Official Charts Company analyzed data about the most popular genres in streaming. The numbers showed that streaming of dance music is growing faster than other styles, with the number of audio streams in the year-to-date increasing 107% over 2014. Contemporary urban showed the second most growth in streams at 104%, followed by pop at 91%.

Several dance music acts turned out the year’s highlights. “Lean On” by Major Lazer became Spotify’s most-streamed track of all time. Diplo, one of Major Lazer’s members, was the most-Shazamed artist of the year.

BPI also recently shared data it developed with the Entertainment Retailers Association that found connections between streaming music and CD buying. The report pointed toward higher rates of CD purchases among streaming subscribers in a trend the groups called multi-channeling.