- Spiritual, calming and relaxing music are the most popular choice during Ramadan, with listeners to such playlists increasing by more than 3,000 percent in the first two weeks.
DUBAI: Streaming and content consumption habits are changing as audiences adjust to new routines during Ramadan, according to new data from Spotify.
This year, Ramadan Hub returned to the streaming platform with a specially curated selection of playlists, music and podcasts.
Based on an analysis of users’ music streaming habits during the first two weeks of Ramadan, Spotify found that most listeners in Saudi Arabia log on to the service around 3 a.m. Spiritual, calming, and relaxing music are the most popular choices, with streams of such playlists increasing by more than 3,000 percent.
“With the Ramadan Hub, Spotify continues to be your companion at every moment of the holy month,” Mark Abu Jaoude, the platform’s head of music for the Middle East, North Africa and Pakistan, told Arab News.
The playlist with the biggest increase in listeners (3,750 percent) was “Duaa,” which includes prayers and supplications. Similarly, “Ramadaniyat,” which includes traditional Islamic songs, saw a nearly 1,890 percent increase in streaming.
Users’ love of TV dramas is reflected in their streaming habits, with the “Titrat Ramadan” playlist seeing a 2,900 percent increase in streams. It features songs that appear on popular shows during this time, known as “titrat,” and traditionally performed by Arab pop stars.
Another playlist that is gaining popularity is “Cooking Time,” which has seen a 743 percent increase in streams. It serves as a cooking companion and includes songs like “Aam Betaala’ Feek” by Nancy Ajram, “Kel El Qasayed” by Marwan Khoury, and “El Kalam Leek” by Amr Diab.
“Over the last two years, the number of hours of listening to local podcasts (on Spotify) has increased by almost 90 percent,” Abou Jaoude said.
Spotify has also seen a significant increase in local podcasts like Finjan with Abdul Rahman Abu Maleh and Sawalif Business. Users are also listening to lighter entertainment content like Kanabat al-Sabt, Saturday Couch, and Abjoorah Podcast, as well as religious shows like Omam Podcast, which presents the stories of the prophets in a modern light.
“These changing listening habits reflect the growing trend of using audio to create the atmosphere for these shared events throughout the month,” said Abou Jade.
“It’s great to see our Saudi Arabian listeners using Spotify to enrich their Ramadan journey and deepen their connections during this meaningful time.”
