Spotify Wrapped NZ: Prince Harry tops New Zealand audiobook charts, Six60, L.A.B dominate playlists

Perhaps surprisingly, New Zealand’s most listened-to audiobook of 2024 was Spare, Prince Harry’s explosive yet divisive 2023 memoir that received lukewarm reviews from critics. It was also reportedly the most discarded book among European tourists last year. Take from that what you will.

When it comes to homegrown talent, Kiwis are a predictable bunch: four of the five most-streamed local artists were a repeat of last year, with Six60 taking the top spot. L.A.B, Stan Walker and Katchafire followed in second, third and fourth place respectively, although this year, Lorde nudged Sons of Zion out of the ranking.

And when it comes to international heavyweights ... again, Kiwis are a predictable bunch. New Zealand’s top five most-streamed artists of 2024 included Drake, Kanye West, Billie Eilish and Eminem respectively. Who is number one, you might ask?

Drumroll, please.

Taylor Swift, of course!

Let’s take a deeper look into the music and media that defined New Zealand’s 2024.

It’s no surprise Six60 and L.A.B both make appearances here, given what we already know. Six60’s iconic 2011 anthem, Don’t Forget Your Roots, snagged fourth place, while L.A.B’s In the Air and Mr Reggae took second and fifth. Third was a wildcard: Brutha Rodz' Heart of a Lion.

And in first place ...

The 2023 radio staple, Blue Eyed Māori by Corella.

When it comes to international artists, TikTok anthem and certified earworm Million Dollar Baby by Tommy Richman came in fourth, followed by the song of the Northern Hemisphere summer, Sabrina Carpenter’s Espresso. Lose Control by Teddy Swims and Too Sweet by Hozier were in second and third place respectively.

As for the winner ...

That coveted spot was filled by Benson Boone’s 2024 banger, Beautiful Things. What an alliteration.

While there isn’t data available on the most-streamed albums by local artists - although it would likely be Six60’s Six60 (2011), Six60 (2015) and Six60 (2019) - there was a top five for international acts. Unsurprisingly, Billie Eilish’s Hit Me Hard and Soft, Sabrina Carpenter’s Short n' Sweetand Benson Boone’s Fireworks & Rollerblades took second, third and fifth place, with SZA’s SOS creeping into fourth.

But alas, who was the top dog?

That blank space was ultimately filled by Taylor Swift’s The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology, once again showing how Aotearoa is a Nation of Swifties (despite their queen bypassing New Zealand on her Eras Tour this year).

New Zealand’s most diverse category, 2024’s most popular podcasts were an intriguing blend of raunch, real-life stories, (sometimes questionable) neuroscience, and ... a whole lot of Rogan.

The Joe Rogan Experience (which was also Spotify’s No. 1 podcast worldwide for the fifth year in a row) was followed by The Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett, The Morning Shift, Call Her Daddy, and Huberman Lab.

Read more: Joe Rogan net worth: From comedy clubs to podcasting with the US President-elect

As previously mentioned, Prince Harry’s contentious memoir was, somewhat surprisingly, New Zealand’s book du jour for 2024, beating out the likes of It Ends with Us(very fitting, given the pop-culture-moment that was the film’s deliciously dramatic press tour earlier this year), J.R.R Tolkien’s seminal The Fellowship of the Ring, #BookTok staple A Court of Thorns and Roses, and the self-helper Atomic Habits.

But local literature was also given a Spotify shout-out, with the Herald investigative journalist Jared Savage’s 2020 read Gangland: New Zealand’s Underworld of Organised Crimeand its 2023 follow-up, Gangsters Paradise, securing first and fourth place respectively. Rounding out the list were Māori Made Easy by Scotty Morrison, national treasure Sam Neill’s 2023 memoir Did I Ever Tell You This?, and Kāwai by Monty Soutar.

And for all the nosy parkers among us, here are the global chart-toppers:

And as sure as the sun will rise, we’ll be back this time next year to do it all again - see you then.

Spotify Wrapped is now available on Spotify.