Hip-Hop Listeners Embrace Streaming More Than Other Genres

Hip-hop listeners have embraced streaming more than listeners of other genres, according to the numbers from the various streaming services. It appears that hip-hop and R&B artists have far more total monthly streams than any other type of music, including rock, which was previously thought to be the genre of choice for streamers.

For instance, Drake's “If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late” had 48 million streams in one week, according to Nielsen, while Kendrick Lamar’s “To Pimp a Butterfly” opened with 38 million and The Weekend’s “Beauty Behind the Madness” started with 57 million one week and 52 million the next.

Compare that with the top non-hip-hop artist, Mumford & Sons "Wilder Mind" at 15.4 million one week back in May, and it looks like streaming has a much different demographic than was previously thought.

No one has a good answer for why this is occurring, although many feel it has to do with increase in social presence from the major R&B artists. Some feel that Apple Music's Beats 1 radio service may be an influence, as an analysis of its playlists indicate that it skews towards hip-hop and R&B.

Whatever the reason, the numbers are a surprise and will warrant closer watching in the future.

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