Music News

Rock’s reigning streaming champ is…

…Imagine Dragons. No current band even comes close. Billboard takes a look.

But what’s perhaps most surprising is its success in an area few other rock acts have been able to tap into: streaming.


In 2018, the 50-position Streaming Songs chart has featured just five rock tracks: three by Imagine Dragons, two by Portugal. The Man and one by Queen. Imagine Dragons, which released fourth album Origins in November, racked up 3.4 billion streams (according to Nielsen Music) this year alone, and is the only rock act with any tracks on the year-end Streaming Songs list. Moreover, it ranks at No. 10 on the year-end Streaming Songs Artists list, ahead of Ariana GrandeLil Pump and Camila Cabello.


Why? The act is a “safe band and sound,” says Phil Kukawinski, program director of alternative radio station WFUZ Scranton-Wilkes-Barre, Pa. “Anyone can listen to Imagine Dragons and enjoy them.”

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Alan Cross

is an internationally known broadcaster, interviewer, writer, consultant, blogger and speaker. In his 40+ years in the music business, Alan has interviewed the biggest names in rock, from David Bowie and U2 to Pearl Jam and the Foo Fighters. He’s also known as a musicologist and documentarian through programs like The Ongoing History of New Music.

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