Kansas’ Top Artists of 2024–2025: Who the Sunflower State Streamed the Most This Year
Kansas may be known for its vast plains, heartland values, and easygoing lifestyle—but when it comes to music, this Midwestern state has proven it has serious taste. Over the past year, listeners across Kansas have turned to artists who deliver raw emotion, lyrical depth, genre versatility, and cultural influence.
According to YouTube Music’s streaming data from April 7, 2024, to April 7, 2025, the most-played artists in Kansas reflect a balance of rap royalty, country comfort, pop dominance, and global innovation. These top five artists weren’t just chart-toppers—they were the soundtrack to Kansans’ daily lives, echoing through farms, cities, campuses, and coffee shops alike. If you want to learn more about music, check out music lessons in Boulder.
Let’s dive into the five artists Kansas listeners couldn’t get enough of this year—and explore what that says about the state’s evolving music identity.
- Kendrick Lamar – 15.5 Million Views
At the top of the chart with 15.5 million views, Kendrick Lamar emerged as Kansas’ most-streamed artist of the year—and it’s a title well-earned.
Kendrick’s influence in 2024–2025 was impossible to ignore. After a quiet stretch, he burst back into the spotlight with his viral diss track “Not Like Us”, part of the now-famous lyrical feud with Drake. But it wasn’t just the headlines that drew Kansas listeners in—it was the substance behind the sound.
Kendrick Lamar represents everything Kansas seems to value in music: storytelling, intelligence, reflection, and purpose. His body of work—from good kid, m.A.A.d city to DAMN. and Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers—offers a depth and complexity that appeals to a state with thoughtful, intentional listeners.
Whether streamed by college students in Lawrence, commuters in Wichita, or late-night thinkers in Topeka, Kendrick’s voice offered Kansans something real.
Why Kansas Loves Kendrick Lamar:
- Thought-provoking lyrics with layered meaning
- Cultural relevance and social commentary
- Tracks that reward repeat listens
In Kansas, Kendrick isn’t just streamed—he’s studied.
- Eminem – 14.7 Million Views
Just behind Kendrick with 14.7 million views, Eminem continues to hold a powerful grip on Midwestern listeners. His lyrical precision, emotional vulnerability, and underdog resilience make him an icon in Kansas—year after year.
Even two decades into his career, Eminem remains one of the most-played artists in the state, and it’s not just because of nostalgia. With an upcoming album on the way (The Death of Slim Shady), fans spent 2024 revisiting classics like “Lose Yourself,” “Mockingbird,” “Stan,” and “The Way I Am”. And younger listeners are discovering his music with fresh ears, too.
Eminem’s raw storytelling and no-holds-barred delivery speak to Kansans navigating their own paths—gritty, honest, and determined.
Why Kansas Loves Eminem:
- Intense lyrics that blend vulnerability and fire
- Consistent quality across decades
- Generational appeal and cultural staying power
Eminem remains a top artist in Kansas because he speaks to the heart of resilience.
- Taylor Swift – 14.5 Million Views
Tied for third place with 14.5 million views, Taylor Swift proves once again that her influence spans every demographic and corner of the map, including the heart of the Midwest.
Kansas streamed Taylor’s music heavily during her record-breaking Eras Tour, through her re-recorded classics like 1989 (Taylor’s Version), and in viral moments that brought old favorites (“Cruel Summer,” “All Too Well,” “Enchanted”) back into the spotlight.
Her music, which continues to evolve with each era, has deep roots in the Kansas emotional landscape. She writes about love, self-discovery, nostalgia, heartbreak, and growth—the same themes that mirror the lives of listeners from Overland Park to Dodge City.
Why Kansas Loves Taylor Swift:
- Emotionally honest lyrics that feel personal
- Crosses generations, genres, and platforms
- A sense of connection and storytelling that resonates
In Kansas, Taylor Swift is more than a pop star—she’s a companion through life’s chapters.
- Morgan Wallen – 14.5 Million Views
Also pulling in 14.5 million views, Morgan Wallen tied with Taylor Swift, making him one of the state’s most consistent musical companions this year.
It’s no surprise that Wallen is near the top in Kansas. His country drawl, heartfelt lyrics, and laid-back vibe feel tailor-made for rural towns, summer bonfires, and backroad drives.
Tracks from his mega-hit album One Thing at a Time like “Last Night,” “Thinkin’ Bout Me,” and “You Proof” stayed on repeat across the state. His songs are the kind you hear at county fairs, college tailgates, and Friday night bar playlists—and that ubiquity is part of his charm.
Morgan Wallen gives Kansans music that’s about real people, real emotions, and real stories.
Why Kansas Loves Morgan Wallen:
- Blends modern country with pop accessibility
- Relatable lyrics about love, loss, and identity
- Perfect for Kansas’ lifestyle and landscape
Wallen’s music fits Kansas like a favorite pair of boots—comfortable, familiar, and always there.
- Peso Pluma – 11.4 Million Views
Rounding out Kansas’ top five with 11.4 million views, Peso Pluma made major waves as the face of the regional Mexican music movement—and his influence in Kansas shows the state’s increasing musical diversity.
Peso Pluma, known for his unique blend of corridos tumbados, trap, and reggaeton, reached beyond the traditional Latin markets this year, pulling in fans across cultural and geographic lines. His songs like “RUBICON 2,” “La People,” and collaborations with Natanael Cano and Eslabon Armado were not only playlist staples in Kansas’ Latinx communities—but also among younger, bilingual listeners statewide.
From Wichita to Garden City, his sound offered an emotional, cross-border connection that resonated with fans looking for rhythm, authenticity, and new voices.
Why Kansas Loves Peso Pluma:
- Represents the new wave of regional Mexican music
- Fusion of traditional and modern sounds
- Culturally resonant, emotionally powerful
Peso Pluma’s rise in Kansas is proof that good music knows no borders.
What Kansas’ Top Artists Say About Its Music Identity
Kansas’ most-streamed artists reflect a musically open-minded, emotionally connected, and lyrically driven listening culture. Each of these top five artists brings something unique—but they also share common threads that define what Kansans look for in music.
- Storytelling is Non-Negotiable 🎙️
Whether it’s Kendrick’s social critiques, Taylor’s autobiographical ballads, or Morgan’s country love songs, all five artists excel at telling real stories. Kansans gravitate toward narratives that feel lived-in, not manufactured.
- Genre Lines Are Fading 🔁
Kansas proves that you don’t have to pick sides. Country and rap. Pop and Latin. Listeners are comfortable bouncing between genres, as long as the music feels authentic.
- Emotional Truth Wins ❤️
From the pain in Eminem’s confessions to the joy in Peso Pluma’s hooks, emotions drive engagement. Kansas streams songs that match their mood, not just what’s trending.
- Cultural Expansion Is Underway 🌎
Peso Pluma’s place in the top five shows Kansas is welcoming new sounds and identities into the mainstream. It’s not just a state for country and rock—it’s a place where global genres are starting to thrive.
Methodology
This article is based on YouTube Music’s regional streaming analytics, which track total views by state. Rankings reflect the most-streamed artists in Kansas from April 7, 2024, to April 7, 2025, based on total view counts from users located in Kansas.
This regional analysis provides an accurate, on-the-ground look at what real Kansas listeners were playing, from cities and college towns to farmlands and family homes.
Final Thoughts
In a year marked by cultural shifts, personal reflection, and emotional expression, Kansas showed that heartland music taste is anything but one-dimensional.
Whether finding meaning in Kendrick’s sharp verses, nostalgia in Taylor Swift’s melodies, hope in Morgan Wallen’s ballads, or joy in Peso Pluma’s corridos, Kansans used music as both mirror and motivation.
These top five artists weren’t just the most streamed—they were the most felt. And as Kansas heads into another year, one thing’s clear: the music that matters most here is the music that tells the truth.
WRITTEN BY
Gloria Conroy
Copyright © 2025