Billie Eilish rounds out the top five with 1,735 appearances (0.46%). Her collaboration with Khalid, “lovely,” has accumulated more than 3.43 billion streams, making it one of the most-played relaxing songs.
The Weeknd ranks sixth with 1,732 appearances (0.46%) across relaxing playlists. His viral hit “Blinding Lights” has achieved nearly 5 billion streams, the highest stream count among all artists in the top ten.
SZA takes seventh place with 1,554 appearances (0.41%). Her song “Kill Bill” has been streamed over 2.5 billion times, contributing to her strong presence in the relaxation music category.
Travis Scott secured the eighth position with 1,540 appearances (0.41%). His track “goosebumps” has reached nearly 3 billion streams, confirming his impact on listeners seeking calm through music.
Kanye West places ninth, with 1,505 appearances (0.40%) in relaxation playlists. His most popular song for a chilled, peaceful vibe is “Heartless,” with over 1.73 billion streams.
Frank Ocean completes the top ten with 1,497 appearances in playlists associated with relaxing, representing about 0.40% of all tracks. His hit song “Pink + White” is the most listened to, with over 1.9 billion streams.
Ty Letang, Founder of AmberWillo, commented on the findings:
“The study reveals surprising patterns in what listeners consider relaxing. Despite suggesting that classical or ambient music would dominate relaxing playlists, hip-hop artists represent half of the top ten. This challenges traditional assumptions about which genres promote relaxation.
“The popularity gap between streaming numbers and relaxation playlist appearances is also notable. The Weeknd’s “Blinding Lights” has the highest stream count at nearly 5 billion, yet he ranks only sixth in relaxing playlist appearances, suggesting that not all listeners associate his music style with relaxation.
“Many people associate relaxation with slow, quiet music, but this data shows that familiar voices and beats can be equally calming for listeners. Those who look up to certain artists see them as a comfort, which may explain why music that wouldn’t be typically considered as “relaxing,” is for some.
“Songs that help us regulate our emotions don’t always need to be traditionally calm in tempo or style. Sometimes it’s about the emotional connection we have with an artist or the memories a song resurfaces.”
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