Luminate revealed the most listened to songs in the US during 2025 from the past seven decades, tracking data and insights across music platforms. Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Fortunate Son” led the 1960s with 136.7 million streams, while Fleetwood Mac’s “Dreams” from 1977 dominated the ’70s with 387.4 million streams following its 2020 TikTok resurgence. Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin'” claimed the ’80s with 263 million plays, the 1981 classic that Forbes named the biggest track of all time in 2024 when it went 18x platinum. Goo Goo Dolls’ “Iris” represented the ’90s with 337.9 million streams after connecting with global listeners through its inclusion on the Deadpool & Wolverine soundtrack and the subsequent short-form video trend that formed.
The Killers’ “Mr Brightside” clinched the 2000s spot with 272.1 million listens, the single that beat Oasis’ “Wonderwall” to become the UK’s official biggest single of all time yet to reach Number One in 2024 and later broke two Guinness World Records. Brandon Flowers said at the time, “We just don’t get tired of it.” Chris Stapleton’s “Tennessee Whiskey” topped the 2010s with 306.7 million streams, officially the biggest country song of all time in terms of sales. Alex Warren’s “Ordinary” registered 746.8 million streams as the biggest tune of the 2020s last year, becoming the most listened to song on Spotify in the UK and the fourth biggest track globally on the platform.
Luminate noted that “short-form video platforms are a key driver in the success of many catalogue songs,” highlighting how older tracks continue finding new audiences through viral moments and soundtrack placements. The Goo Goo Dolls’ “Iris” surpassed one billion streams on Spotify in 2022, while Fleetwood Mac’s “Dreams” previously re-entered the US chart thanks to a popular meme before its TikTok revival sustained its streaming momentum through 2025.
U.S. most listened to songs of 2025 by decade is:
1960s – Creedence Clearwater Revival – ‘Fortunate Son’ (136.7million)
1970s – Fleetwood Mac – ‘Dreams’ (387.4million)
1980s – Journey – ‘Don’t Stop Believin” (263.0million)
1990s – Goo Goo Dolls – ‘Iris’ (337.9million)
2000s – The Killers – ‘Mr Brightside’ (272.1million)
2010s – Chris Stapleton – ‘Tennessee Whiskey’ (306.7million)
2020s – Alex Warren – ‘Ordinary’ (746.8million)