Rosé, Bruno Mars, Kendrick Lamar Lead Apple Music’s Global Year-End Chart

Apple Music's comprehensive 2025 year-end charts have been published, revealing Rosé, Bruno Mars, Kendrick Lamar, and SZA as the dominant forces in global streaming. The collaboration "APT." by Rosé and Bruno Mars emerged as the definitive hit of the year, achieving a rare chart sweep. It claimed the top spot on the overall global songs ranking while also leading the Shazam, global radio, and lyrics charts. Originally released in late 2024, this vibrant track has sustained its popularity, securing major Grammy nominations for the upcoming 2026 ceremony. Industry observers point to its success as evidence that meticulously crafted pop-R&B crossovers can achieve both critical acclaim and mass commercial dominance.

Kendrick Lamar and SZA's "luther" took the number two position on the global songs list. The top five was completed by Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars's "Die With A Smile," Lamar's solo anthem "Not Like Us," and Billie Eilish's "BIRDS OF A FEATHER." Lamar's influence was particularly pronounced; he secured five entries in the top 25 and nine in the top 100, giving him more top 25 songs than any other artist this year. His second collaboration with SZA, "30 for 30," also charted strongly at number ten. In a separate metric of sheer volume, country artist Morgan Wallen led for total entries, placing twelve songs in the global top 100, highlighting the genre's powerful streaming footprint.

Specialized charts showcased other significant performances. Lola Young's "Messy" was the year's second-most Shazamed song and ranked third for global radio plays. Alex Warren's "Ordinary" achieved a dual feat, landing at number four on both the Shazam and global radio charts. Meanwhile, "Golden," a collaborative track by Huntr/x and others, resonated deeply with listeners who sought out its words, earning the number four spot on the lyrics chart. This trend underscores a broader shift in listener behavior, where even danceable tracks are being appreciated for their lyrical content. As music analyst Dr. Elena Shaw noted, "The lyric chart data suggests audiences are engaging with music on multiple levels simultaneously, using platforms not just for background sound but for meaningful connection."

The chart revelation coincided with the launch of Apple Music's personalized Apple Replay '25 year-in-review. This feature allows subscribers to explore their own annual listening statistics, including total minutes streamed, their most consecutive days listening to a single artist, and music discovery patterns. For creators, the platform has introduced upgraded analytics tools, offering detailed reports on listener growth and year-over-year performance comparisons. This dual release strategy provides a complete picture, from worldwide musical trends down to the unique habits of individual users.

The success of "APT." is powered by two music industry titans. Rosé, a member of the record-shattering K-pop phenomenon BLACKPINK—whose 2022 album 'BORN PINK' debuted at number one on the Billboard 200—teamed with Bruno Mars, the multi-Grammy and Billboard Music Award-winning artist renowned for his retro-infused funk and R&B. Their collaboration's ability to top charts measuring passive identification (Shazam), traditional broadcast (radio), and active lyrical engagement demonstrates a remarkably wide and sustained appeal, cementing its status as a true cross-format phenomenon of the year.