Songs with non-English lyrics are becoming more popular
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The reading
Since the advent of rock 'n' roll in the 1950s, music from the USA and UK has dominated global music charts. Both countries have benefited considerably from the "soft power" of hit songs with English lyrics. However, the English-language dominance of the music industry is under threat from songs from non-English-speaking countries. This is according to the music streaming giant Spotify. The company said English-language music was losing its long-time stranglehold. There has been a surge in demand for songs sung in Spanish, Korean, Arabic, and other languages. Spotify said the number of non-English songs in the charts more than doubled between 2020 and 2025.
A prime example of how English is losing its hegemony is the worldwide popularity of the Puerto Rican singer Bad Bunny. He sings exclusively in Spanish and was Spotify's most streamed artist globally in 2025. Meanwhile, Spanish artist Rosalia astounded the music world with her award-winning album "Lux," on which she sings in 13 different languages. Spotify said three music genres have seen their chart presence rise by 30 per cent or more in the past five years. These are Brazilian Funk, K-pop, and Trap Latino. Their streams increased by 36 per cent, 31 per cent, and 30 per cent respectively. The music website NME said: "The trend is likely to continue growing further into 2026."
Sources:
- https://www.musicweek.com/digital/read/spotify-breaks-down-11bn-payout-to-music-industry-including-rise-of-non-english-language-music/093720
- https://www.nme.com/news/music/spotify-reports-growing-surge-of-non-english-pop-music-on-global-chart-3934169
- https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c9v04gney9yo
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