The Weeknd’s ‘Blinding Lights’ Becomes First Song Ever to Hit Five Billion Spotify Streams
The Weeknd has broken a world record with Blinding Lights.
The Weeknd has once again rewritten music history. His global smash hit Blinding Lights has become the first song ever to cross five billion streams on Spotify, securing its place as the most-streamed track in the platform’s history.
Released on November 29, 2019, as the second single from his fourth studio album After Hours, the synth-driven anthem reached the record-breaking milestone on August 31, 2025. The track has been a juggernaut since its release, blending retro 80s-inspired production with modern pop sensibilities to become a defining sound of the 2020s.
This is not the first time Blinding Lights has claimed the crown. In January 2023, it overtook Ed Sheeran’s Shape of You (2017), which had long held the title of Spotify’s most streamed track. Its longevity on the charts is equally impressive: 57 weeks in the US Billboard Hot 100 Top 10 and 43 weeks in the Top 5, both records.
The milestone adds to The Weeknd’s growing list of accolades. In February 2023, he became the first artist to surpass 100 million monthly listeners on Spotify, a figure that now stands at over 110 million. He also boasts 22 JUNO Awards, the most for any male artist, and shares the record for most JUNOs for Album of the Year (three wins) alongside icons like Céline Dion and Michael Bublé.
His winning albums include Beauty Behind the Madness (2016), After Hours (2021), and Dawn FM (2023). Beauty Behind the Madness also set a record in 2015 for the most-streamed album in a year, with more than 60 million unique listeners.
Beyond numbers, Blinding Lights has embedded itself in pop culture as one of the most iconic hits of the modern era. Its viral dance challenge swept TikTok, its retro-futuristic sound influenced a wave of global pop releases, and it continues to dominate playlists worldwide.
As The Weeknd continues his After Hours Til Dawn world tour, his latest milestone is more than just a streaming record — it’s proof of his status as one of the defining artists of his generation.
Emmanuel Umahi
