Who dropped the very best in a year full of music? Some of the world’s most influential tastemakers at Spotify have revealed their shortlist.

2024 has been no stranger to huge releases from artists, featuring classic artists bringing new music to fresh drops from the world’s hottest contemporary stars. We’ve had a BRAT summer, Beyoncé entered her cowboy phase, and one of rap’s most significant beefs featuring huge drops from Drake and Kendrick Lamar.

Spotify’s editors are some of the most influential voices in the global music industry. Helping to define Spotify’s huge playlists with millions of listeners tuning in for the latest and greatest music across the planet. Spotify say: “Our editors are always at the forefront of new trends, working to establish new genre spaces, introduce listeners to emerging artists, and provide context for music fans.”

Spotify’s Head of North American Editorial, John Stein writes: “Our team lives and breathes music, with genre experts across the musical landscape listening to thousands of songs each year.” So, who better to listen to when they round up their picks for the greatest songs released in 2024.

Stein adds: “Spotify’s Editors’ Picks: Best Songs of 2024 playlist is our home for the best of the best, the songs we couldn’t stop playing and couldn’t stop talking about this year. We hope you enjoy.”

Every song was hand selected by editors, asking themselves: Is this song unique or in its own lane in 2024? Has it driven meaningful cultural conversation? Is this a beautiful and undeniably artistic song?

The 85 Best Songs of 2024 – Spotify Editors’ Picks

  1. “Sadness As A Gift” – Adrianne Lenker
  2. “We Can’t Be Friends (Wait for Your Love)” – Ariana Grande
  3. “Active” – Asake, Travis Scott
  4. “One Last Dance” – Baby Rose, BADBADNOTGOOD
  5. “II Hands II Heaven” – Beyoncé
  6. “Law & Order” – BigXthaPlug
  7. “BIRDS OF A FEATHER” – Billie Eilish
  8. “S P E Y S I D E” – Bon Iver
  9. “What Now” – Brittany Howard
  10. “Honey” – Caribou
  11. “Good Luck, Babe!” – Chappell Roan
  12. “Von Dutch” – Charli xcx
  13. “Girl, so confusing featuring lorde” – Charli xcx, Lorde
  14. “In The Night (feat. Jorja Smith & Amaarae)” – Childish Gambino, Jorja Smith, Amaarae
  15. “I Lied, I’m Sorry” – Chloe Qisha
  16. “Juna” – Clairo
  17. “Open Up!” – Clothesline From Hell
  18. “Happy World” – Debbii Dawson
  19. “Breathe” – DOE
  20. “CATFISH” – Doechii
  21. “ATTITUDE (FEAT. CHARLIE WILSON & CASH COBAIN)” – Don Toliver, Charlie Wilson, Cash Cobain
  22. “Push Ups” – Drake
  23. “Broken” – Ela Minus
  24. “Starburster” – Fontaines D.C.
  25. “Feel Like Home” – Fousheé
  26. “Origami” – Freddie Gibbs
  27. “Like That” – Future, Metro Boomin, Kendrick Lamar
  28. “Mahal” – Glass Beams
  29. “TGIF” – GloRilla
  30. “Foxglove” – Haley Heynderickx
  31. “KINTSUGI” – HUMBE
  32. “Angel Of My Dreams” – JADE
  33. “Baddy On The Floor” – Jamie xx, Honey Dijon
  34. “Darlin’” – Jean Dawson
  35. “Life Is” – Jessica Pratt
  36. “Go Back (feat. Julia Church)” – John Summit, Julia Church
  37. “i need you more” – Josiah Queen, Henrik
  38. “SIN MIEDO” – JPEGMAFIA
  39. “zarcillos de plata” – Judeline
  40. “The Architect”– Kacey Musgraves
  41. “Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido” – KAROL G
  42. “The Straw” – Kassi Ashton
  43. “euphoria” – Kendrick Lamar
  44. “Not Like Us” – Kendrick Lamar
  45. “wacced out murals” – Kendrick Lamar
  46. “Suffocate (feat. Poppy)” – Knocked Loose, Poppy
  47. “pero me estoy acabando.” – LATIN MAFIA
  48. “Yes It Is” – Leon Thomas
  49. “The Ballad of Matt & Mica” – Magdalena Bay
  50. “Loud Bark” – Mannequin Pussy
  51. “Slug” – Matt Champion
  52. “No Caller ID” – Megan Moroney
  53. “Joker Lips” – MJ Lenderman
  54. “Alesis” – Mk.gee
  55. “Made For Me” – Muni Long
  56. “stick of gum” – Nemahsis
  57. “Unfinished Business” – Nia Archives
  58. “Hell of a Ride” – Nourished By Time
  59. “NADIE MÁS!” – Nsqk
  60. “FromHere (feat. Snoop Dogg & October London)” – NxWorries, Anderson.Paak, Knxwledge, Snoop Dogg, October London
  61. “Defense” – Panda Bear, Cindy Lee
  62. “RELOJ” – Peso Pluma, Ivan Cornejo
  63. “One Wish (feat. Childish Gambino)” – Ravyn Lenae, Childish Gambino
  64. “Soup” – Remi Wolf 
  65. “Don’t Mind If I Do (ft. Ella Langley)” – Riley Green, Ella Langley
  66. “APT.” – ROSÉ, Bruno Mars
  67. “Daily” – Ryan Ofei
  68. “Espresso” – Sabrina Carpenter
  69. “Please Please Please” – Sabrina Carpenter
  70. “saving flowers” – salute, Rina Sawayama
  71. “Thought of You” – Sam Barber
  72. “H.B.W” – Saya Gray
  73. “American Dreaming” – Sierra Ferrell 
  74. “Love Me JeJe” – Tems
  75. “The Feminine Urge” – The Last Dinner Party
  76. “No One Noticed” – The Marías
  77. “MILLION DOLLAR BABY” – Tommy Richman
  78. “Jump” – Tyla, Gunna, Skillibeng
  79. “Noid” – Tyler, The Creator
  80. “Sticky” – Tyler, The Creator, GloRilla, Sexyy Red, Lil Wayne
  81. “Mary Boone” – Vampire Weekend
  82. “Right Back to It” – Waxahatchee, MJ Lenderman
  83. “symptom of life” – WILLOW
  84. “booboo” – Yaeji
  85. “Pink Skies” – Zach Bryan

Upload your music to Spotify for free and get discovered as one of the best in 2025. A new year provides ample opportunity to upload as much music as you want for free to Spotify and all of the world’s most popular streaming services.

Get discovered on streaming services and get paid with unlimited music distribution for free at www.routenote.com.