It’s been a big year for Taylor Swift, and the good news continues for the star as she’s been revealed as Spotify’s most-streamed artist of 2023, ending a three-year reign by Puerto Rican rapper and singer Bad Bunny.
According to Spotify Wrapped, Swift had more than 26.1 billion streams since January 1. She was followed by Bad Bunny, The Weeknd, Drake and Mexican musician Peso Pluma to round out the top five.
Swift took to social media to celebrate the news by announcing her new song was available for streaming, while also thanking those who had listened to her this year.
“Um OK this is unreal?? I just wanted to say to anyone who listened to my music this year, anywhere in the world, thank you. Getting named Spotify’s Global Top Artist in 2023 is truly the best birthday/holiday gift you could’ve given me,” she wrote.
“We’ve seriously had the most fun this year out there on tour and now this. Are you serious. So I was trying to think of a way to thank you, and a lot of you have been asking me to put You’re Losing Me (From The Vault) on streaming ... so here you go! You can finally listen everywhere now.”
To celebrate Swift’s milestone, Spotify unveiled 21 puzzle pieces on billboards around the globe, including Sao Paulo and Jakarta, in the 48-hour lead-up to Wrapped’s launch on Wednesday and the announcement of her being the top streamed artist. Also, as another add on, when fans stream Swift's music on the platform, the progress bar will change colours to reflect the corresponding "era colour", while the progress button turns into a sparkle.
Meanwhile, the most streamed song globally was Flowers by Miley Cyrus, following by SZA’s Kill Bill, As It Was by Harry Styles, Seven by Jung Kook featuring Latto, and Ella Baila Sola by Eslabon Armado and Peso Pluma.
UAE's Spotify trends
Spotify has also released the UAE's music trends for the year, which was also led by Swift. She was followed by The Weeknd, Drake, Arijit Singh and Pritam.
The most streamed songs also followed a similar tend to the global list with SZA's Kill Bill, Calm Down by Rema with Selena Gomez, Flowers by Miley Cyrus, Metro Boomin’s hit Creepin’ with The Weeknd & 21 Savage and Seven (feat. Latto) by Jung Kook in the top five.
Meanwhile, the list also unveiled the top Arab artists streamed in the region, with Egyptian artists making up the top five. They are: Essam Sasa, Wegz, Amr Diab, Ahmed Saad and Cairokee. These were the top Arabic tracks streamed on the platform in the region: Alo Aleky by Mohammed Saeed, ElBakht by Wegz, Mesa Meni Aleko by Essam Sasa, Beraha Ya Sheekha by Bahaa Sultan and Aleb Fel Dafater by Muslim.
Spotify 2023 Wrapped UAE Top Lists
Top 10 Arab artists in the region
1. Essam Sasa
2. Wegz
3. Amr Diab
4. Ahmed Saad
5. Cairokee
6. ElGrande Toto
7. Marwan Pablo
8. Draganov
9. Husayn
10. Kouz1
Top 10 Arabic tracks in the region
1. Alo Aleky by Mohammed Saeed
2. ElBakht by Wegz
3. Mesa Meni Aleko by Essam Sasa
4. Beraha Ya Sheikha by Bahaa Sultan
5. Aleb Fel Dafater by Muslim
6. Yemken Kheir by Ramy Sabry
7. Be2amaret Meen by Farid
8. Mekhasmak By Nawal
9. ElYoum Elhelw Da by Ahmed Saad
10. Basrah w Atooh by Cairokee
UAE’s Most-Streamed Artists
1. Taylor Swift
2. The Weeknd
3. Drake
4. Arijit Singh
5. Pritam
6. Anirudh Ravichander
7. Travis Scott
8. Metro Boomin
9. 21 Savage
10. SZA
UAE’s Most-Streamed Songs
1. Kill Bill by SZA
2. Calm Down (with Selena Gomez) by Rema
3. Flowers by Miley Cyrus
4. Creepin’ (with The Weeknd & 21 Savage) by Metro Boomin
5. Seven (feat. Latto) by Jung Kook
6. As It Was by Harry Styles
7. Cruel Summer by Taylor Swift
8. The Astronaut by Jin
9. Sprinter by Dave
10. Boy's a liar Pt 2 by PinkPantheress
UAE’s Most-Streamed Albums
1. Heroes & Villians by Metro Boomin
2. Starboy by The Weeknd
3. SOS by SZA
4. Midnights by Taylor Swift
5. Lover by Taylor Swift
6. After Hours by The Weeknd
7. Utopia by Travis Scott
8. 1989 by Taylor Swift
9. Rave & Roses Ultra by Rema
10. Proof by BTS
How to find your Spotify Wrapped
In order to find your Spotify Wrapped list, users have to be subscribed to Spotify. Opening the latest version of the app will likely show a user's Spotify Wrapped directly once it’s out.
But if it doesn't, those on desktop and on mobile can simply type in “Wrapped” in the search bar, or find Spotify’s Wrapped button on the home page. They can also visit this link to go directly to it.
Spotify 2023 Wrapped Global Top Lists
Most-Streamed Artists Globally
1. Taylor Swift
2. Bad Bunny
3. The Weeknd
4. Drake
5. Peso Pluma
6. Feid
7. Travis Scott
8. SZA
9. Karol G
10. Lana Del Rey
Most-Streamed Songs Globally
1. Flowers by Miley Cyrus
2. Kill Bill by SZA
3. As It Was by Harry Styles
4. Seven (featuring Latto) by Jung Kook
5. Ella Baila Sola by Eslabon Armado and Peso Pluma
6. Cruel Summer by Taylor Swift
7. Creepin’ by Metro Boomin, the Weeknd and 21 Savage
8. Calm Down by Rema and Selena Gomez
9. Shakira: Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol 53 by Bizarrap and Shakira
10. Anti-Hero by Taylor Swift
Most-Streamed Albums Globally
1. Un Verano Sin Ti by Bad Bunny
2. Midnights by Taylor Swift
3. SOS by SZA
4. Starboy by The Weeknd
5. Manana Sera Bonito by Karol G
6. One Thing at a Time by Morgan Wallen
7. Lover by Taylor Swift
8. Heroes & Villains by Metro Boomin
9. Genesis by Peso Pluma
10. Harry’s House by Harry Styles
Like a Fading Shadow
Antonio Muñoz Molina
Translated from the Spanish by Camilo A. Ramirez
Tuskar Rock Press (pp. 310)
Tamkeen's offering
- Option 1: 70% in year 1, 50% in year 2, 30% in year 3
- Option 2: 50% across three years
- Option 3: 30% across five years
'Texas Chainsaw Massacre'
Rating: 1 out of 4
Running time: 81 minutes
Director: David Blue Garcia
Starring: Sarah Yarkin, Elsie Fisher, Mark Burnham
Scores
Rajasthan Royals 160-8 (20 ov)
Kolkata Knight Riders 163-3 (18.5 ov)
SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20SAMSUNG%20GALAXY%20S24%20ULTRA
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Miss Granny
Director: Joyce Bernal
Starring: Sarah Geronimo, James Reid, Xian Lim, Nova Villa
3/5
(Tagalog with Eng/Ar subtitles)
The specs
Engine: 2.5-litre, turbocharged 5-cylinder
Transmission: seven-speed auto
Power: 400hp
Torque: 500Nm
Price: Dh300,000 (estimate)
On sale: 2022
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
'Jurassic%20World%20Dominion'
%3Cp%3EDirector%3A%20Colin%20Trevorrow%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EStars%3A%20Sam%20Neill%2C%20Laura%20Dern%2C%20Jeff%20Goldblum%2C%20Bryce%20Dallas%20Howard%2C%20Chris%20Pratt%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ERating%3A%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Company%20profile
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Bullet%20Train
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20David%20Leitch%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Brad%20Pitt%2C%20Aaron%20Taylor-Johnson%2C%20Brian%20Tyree%20Henry%2C%20Sandra%20Bullock%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Fight Night
FIGHT NIGHT
Four title fights:
Amir Khan v Billy Dib - WBC International title
Hughie Fury v Samuel Peter - Heavyweight co-main event
Dave Penalosa v Lerato Dlamini - WBC Silver title
Prince Patel v Michell Banquiz - IBO World title
Six undercard bouts:
Michael Hennessy Jr v Abdul Julaidan Fatah
Amandeep Singh v Shakhobidin Zoirov
Zuhayr Al Qahtani v Farhad Hazratzada
Lolito Sonsona v Isack Junior
Rodrigo Caraballo v Sajid Abid
Ali Kiydin v Hemi Ahio
COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Floward%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ERiyadh%2C%20Saudi%20Arabia%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EAbdulaziz%20Al%20Loughani%20and%20Mohamed%20Al%20Arifi%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EE-commerce%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETotal%20funding%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EAbout%20%24200%20million%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EAljazira%20Capital%2C%20Rainwater%20Partners%2C%20STV%20and%20Impact46%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20employees%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E1%2C200%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
THE%20SWIMMERS
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESally%20El-Hosaini%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENathalie%20Issa%2C%20Manal%20Issa%2C%20Ahmed%20Malek%20and%20Ali%20Suliman%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E4%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
FINAL LEADERBOARD
1. Jordan Spieth (USA) 65 69 65 69 - 12-under-par
2. Matt Kuchar (USA) 65 71 66 69 - 9-under
3. Li Haotong (CHN) 69 73 69 63 - 6-under
T4. Rory McIlroy (NIR) 71 68 69 67 - 5-under
T4. Rafael Cabrera-Bello (ESP) 67 73 67 68 - 5-under
T6. Marc Leishman (AUS) 69 76 66 65 - 4-under
T6. Matthew Southgate (ENG) 72 72 67 65 - 4-under
T6. Brooks Koepka (USA) 65 72 68 71 - 4-under
T6. Branden Grace (RSA) 70 74 62 70 - 4-under
T6. Alexander Noren (SWE) 68 72 69 67 - 4-under
The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
THREE
%3Cp%3EDirector%3A%20Nayla%20Al%20Khaja%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EStarring%3A%20Jefferson%20Hall%2C%20Faten%20Ahmed%2C%20Noura%20Alabed%2C%20Saud%20Alzarooni%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ERating%3A%203.5%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Jigra
Starring: Alia Bhatt, Vedang Raina, Manoj Pahwa, Harsh Singh
Company name: Play:Date
Launched: March 2017 on UAE Mother’s Day
Founder: Shamim Kassibawi
Based: Dubai with operations in the UAE and US
Sector: Tech
Size: 20 employees
Stage of funding: Seed
Investors: Three founders (two silent co-founders) and one venture capital fund
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
Cry Macho
Director: Clint Eastwood
Stars: Clint Eastwood, Dwight Yoakam
Rating:**
Who has lived at The Bishops Avenue?
- George Sainsbury of the supermarket dynasty, sugar magnate William Park Lyle and actress Dame Gracie Fields were residents in the 1930s when the street was only known as ‘Millionaires’ Row’.
- Then came the international super rich, including the last king of Greece, Constantine II, the Sultan of Brunei and Indian steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal who was at one point ranked the third richest person in the world.
- Turkish tycoon Halis Torprak sold his mansion for £50m in 2008 after spending just two days there. The House of Saud sold 10 properties on the road in 2013 for almost £80m.
- Other residents have included Iraqi businessman Nemir Kirdar, singer Ariana Grande, holiday camp impresario Sir Billy Butlin, businessman Asil Nadir, Paul McCartney’s former wife Heather Mills.
Hunting park to luxury living
- Land was originally the Bishop of London's hunting park, hence the name
- The road was laid out in the mid 19th Century, meandering through woodland and farmland
- Its earliest houses at the turn of the 20th Century were substantial detached properties with extensive grounds
WOMAN AND CHILD
Director: Saeed Roustaee
Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi
Rating: 4/5
Profile of Udrive
Date started: March 2016
Founder: Hasib Khan
Based: Dubai
Employees: 40
Amount raised (to date): $3.25m – $750,000 seed funding in 2017 and a Seed round of $2.5m last year. Raised $1.3m from Eureeca investors in January 2021 as part of a Series A round with a $5m target.
%3Cp%3EMATA%0D%3Cbr%3EArtist%3A%20M.I.A%0D%3Cbr%3ELabel%3A%20Island%0D%3Cbr%3ERating%3A%203.5%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The%20Beekeeper
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The candidates
Dr Ayham Ammora, scientist and business executive
Ali Azeem, business leader
Tony Booth, professor of education
Lord Browne, former BP chief executive
Dr Mohamed El-Erian, economist
Professor Wyn Evans, astrophysicist
Dr Mark Mann, scientist
Gina MIller, anti-Brexit campaigner
Lord Smith, former Cabinet minister
Sandi Toksvig, broadcaster
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
Bareilly Ki Barfi
Directed by: Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari
Starring: Kriti Sanon, Ayushmann Khurrana, Rajkummar Rao
Three and a half stars
Gulf Under 19s final
Dubai College A 50-12 Dubai College B
Tips from the expert
Dobromir Radichkov, chief data officer at dubizzle and Bayut, offers a few tips for UAE residents looking to earn some cash from pre-loved items.
- Sellers should focus on providing high-quality used goods at attractive prices to buyers.
- It’s important to use clear and appealing photos, with catchy titles and detailed descriptions to capture the attention of prospective buyers.
- Try to advertise a realistic price to attract buyers looking for good deals, especially in the current environment where consumers are significantly more price-sensitive.
- Be creative and look around your home for valuable items that you no longer need but might be useful to others.
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
