Top Artist by State: What Each U.S. State Was Really Listening To in 2024–2025
From the beaches of California to the mountains of Vermont, from Southern trap to regional Mexican, music across the United States in 2024–2025 was diverse, emotional, and deeply personal. Streaming platforms continued to redefine how people discover and connect with artists—and this year’s data reveals something special: what artist dominated in each U.S. state over the past 12 months.
Based on YouTube Music streaming data from April 7, 2024, to April 7, 2025, this list showcases the #1 most-streamed artist in every state, reflecting local pride, generational shifts, cultural backgrounds, and sonic preferences. Some states backed homegrown heroes. Others embraced global icons. A few marched to the beat of their own genre-defying drums.
Let’s take a closer look at the artists that defined America, one state at a time.
The Most-Wins Club: Who Topped the Most States?
Before we break it down state by state, here’s a look at the artists who dominated across multiple states:
- YoungBoy Never Broke Again: 7 states (AL, AR, LA, MS, NC, SC, TN)
- Morgan Wallen: 7 states (IN, IA, KY, ND, SD, WV, WY)
- Bad Bunny: 6 states (CT, FL, MD, MA, NJ, NY, RI)
- Kendrick Lamar: 7 states (KS, NV, OK, OR, PA, VA, WA)
- Eminem: 6 states (AK, ME, MI, MN, NE, VT)
- Peso Pluma: 5 states (AZ, CA, CO, NM, TX)
- Taylor Swift: 5 states (ID, MO, NH, UT, WI)
This year’s data reflects a striking split between rap, Latin, and country music, showing that American music tastes are anything but monolithic.
Regional Trends at a Glance
- The South embraced YoungBoy Never Broke Again and Morgan Wallen, with rap and country battling for dominance.
- The West favored Peso Pluma and Kendrick Lamar, with regional Mexican and West Coast hip-hop leading the way.
- The Midwest saw Eminem holding strong, alongside rising support for Taylor Swift and Lil Durk.
- The Northeast leaned heavily into Bad Bunny, as Latin music solidified its cultural foothold.
- The Mountain states and Great Plains offered a mix—highlighting artists like Zach Bryan in Montana and Kendrick Lamar in Kansas and Oregon.
Top Artist by State (Alphabetical List)
Alabama – YoungBoy Never Broke Again
A stronghold of Southern trap, Alabama continues to back YoungBoy’s emotionally raw, prolific catalog.
Alaska – Eminem
Alaskans prefer lyrical grit, and Eminem’s timeless bars have long been a favorite in remote regions.
Arizona – Peso Pluma
Regional Mexican exploded in AZ, with Peso Pluma leading the charge through bilingual bangers and corridos tumbados.
Arkansas – YoungBoy Never Broke Again
Another Southern state showing massive support for YoungBoy’s melodic pain and street poetry.
California – Peso Pluma
California went all-in on Peso Pluma, who blends Mexican tradition with Gen Z swagger. With 389 million views, it wasn’t even close.
Colorado – Peso Pluma
From Denver to Durango, Colorado backed Peso Pluma’s emotional storytelling and cultural pride.
Connecticut – Bad Bunny
In New England’s more diverse corners, Bad Bunny’s global appeal and reggaeton beats stood tall.
Delaware – Rod Wave
A unique choice, but fitting—Rod Wave’s emotionally raw, melodic trap resonated deeply here.
Florida – Bad Bunny
With a massive Latinx population and a party-loving culture, Florida made Bad Bunny its king.
Georgia – Future
Homegrown hero Future remains a hometown favorite with his hypnotic beats and trap legacy.
Hawaii – Maoli
Hawaii always supports local sounds, and Maoli’s island-reggae vibe defined its playlists this year.
Idaho – Taylor Swift
In a state that values heartfelt storytelling, Swift’s emotional versatility took the crown.
Illinois – Lil Durk
Chicago’s own—Durk topped Illinois with 79.8 million views, reflecting both city loyalty and national growth.
Indiana – Morgan Wallen
In heartland America, Wallen’s blend of country tradition and pop hooks makes him the clear favorite.
Iowa – Morgan Wallen
Rural and relatable, Wallen ruled Iowa’s playlists for the second year in a row.
Kansas – Kendrick Lamar
From Wichita to Topeka, Kansas listeners wanted sharp lyrics and thoughtful messages—enter Kendrick.
Kentucky – Morgan Wallen
Bordering Tennessee and sharing its love for country, Kentucky continues to stream Wallen nonstop.
Louisiana – YoungBoy Never Broke Again
YoungBoy’s home state gave him the support he’s always received—with 86.7 million views.
Maine – Eminem
Eminem’s dominance in quieter northern states continues—his introspective style fits Maine’s vibe.
Maryland – Bad Bunny
Reggaeton reigns on the East Coast, and Bad Bunny’s fanbase in Maryland is loud and loyal.
Massachusetts – Bad Bunny
From Boston to the Berkshires, Latin rhythms won over Bay State ears.
Michigan – Eminem
No surprise here. The Detroit legend remains Michigan’s most beloved musical export, year after year.
Minnesota – Eminem
Midwestern storytelling and emotional authenticity keep Eminem on top in Minnesota.
Mississippi – YoungBoy Never Broke Again
Another Southern state where YoungBoy’s confessional trap holds strong cultural currency.
Missouri – Taylor Swift
A battleground state for genre dominance, Missouri tipped in favor of Swift’s ever-expanding catalog.
Montana – Zach Bryan
With his country-folk poetry and raw vocals, Zach Bryan captured Montana’s heartland spirit.
Nebraska – Eminem
In the Cornhusker State, Eminem’s intensity and lyricism won out once again.
Nevada – Kendrick Lamar
Las Vegas may party hard, but Nevada listeners chose the lyrical complexity of Kendrick this year.
New Hampshire – Taylor Swift
Taylor’s songwriting continues to resonate deeply in New England’s scenic and serene spaces.
New Jersey – Bad Bunny
In the Garden State, Latin trap, reggaeton, and global rhythms defined 2024’s music pulse.
New Mexico – Peso Pluma
With strong ties to Mexican-American culture, New Mexico showed up in big numbers for Peso.
New York – Bad Bunny
The Empire State backed the world’s biggest Latin artist with 140 million views—a huge cultural win.
North Carolina – YoungBoy Never Broke Again
Carolina continues to echo YoungBoy’s pain and perseverance in its speakers.
North Dakota – Morgan Wallen
A quieter state, but a loud vote for country comfort—Wallen takes the win.
Ohio – Future
Midwestern rap fans gravitated toward Future’s melodic darkness and Atlanta bravado.
Oklahoma – Kendrick Lamar
Kendrick’s voice hit a nerve in Oklahoma, where thoughtful rap found a passionate audience.
Oregon – Kendrick Lamar
Progressive and introspective, Oregon once again leaned into Kendrick’s lyrical consciousness.
Pennsylvania – Kendrick Lamar
Philadelphia and Pittsburgh both streamed Kendrick heavily, crowning him the state’s top voice.
Rhode Island – Bad Bunny
Even the smallest state couldn’t resist Bad Bunny’s giant cultural footprint.
South Carolina – YoungBoy Never Broke Again
From Charleston to Columbia, YoungBoy’s cathartic catalog won loyal listeners.
South Dakota – Morgan Wallen
Rural pride and southern roots helped Wallen top streams in the Mount Rushmore State.
Tennessee – YoungBoy Never Broke Again
In a twist, Tennessee gave its top spot to YoungBoy—even with Nashville’s deep country history.
Texas – Peso Pluma
With 315 million views, Peso Pluma dominated the Lone Star State, proving corridos tumbados are here to stay.
Utah – Taylor Swift
A wholesome favorite, Taylor Swift remains beloved in Utah’s youth and family-friendly listening spaces.
Vermont – Eminem
Vermont listeners favored storytelling and lyricism, putting Eminem at the top again.
Virginia – Kendrick Lamar
Kendrick’s voice echoed across Virginia, winning over urban, suburban, and rural listeners alike.
Washington – Kendrick Lamar
The Pacific Northwest often favors reflective rap—and Kendrick continues to lead that pack.
West Virginia – Morgan Wallen
With small towns and big emotions, West Virginia streams Morgan Wallen like family.
Wisconsin – Taylor Swift
Swift topped Wisconsin’s charts once again with a strong fanbase of all ages.
Wyoming – Morgan Wallen
In the least-populated state in the country, Morgan Wallen remains a playlist staple.
Final Thoughts: What This Data Reveals About America’s Music Tastes
Across the U.S., five key trends emerge from the top artist by state data:
- Rap Still Rules
From Kendrick Lamar to YoungBoy Never Broke Again, rap artists topped the charts in over 20 states, showing the genre’s continued dominance across cultural and geographic lines.
- Country Music Has Deep Roots
Morgan Wallen’s influence stretches far beyond the South, highlighting how country is becoming the new pop in rural and suburban America.
- Latin Music Is Fully Mainstream
Bad Bunny and Peso Pluma weren’t just popular—they dominated in states with diverse populations and beyond. Latin sounds are shaping the future of American music.
- Emotional Honesty Wins
Artists like Eminem, Rod Wave, and Benson Boone thrive because listeners want real emotions—pain, joy, vulnerability, and reflection.
- Local Loyalty Still Matters
Lil Durk in Illinois, Maoli in Hawaii, Eminem in Michigan—some states still rally around homegrown heroes, proving regional pride is alive and well.
Methodology
The data presented in this article is based on YouTube Music’s regional streaming analytics, which track total views by state. We analyzed streaming activity from April 7, 2024, to April 7, 2025, identifying the single most-streamed artist in each U.S. state based on aggregate view counts from users located in that region. This approach provides a hyper-local snapshot of listener behavior, offering insights not just into national trends, but how different communities across the country uniquely engage with music. The results reflect genuine audience preferences—regardless of genre, label, or chart performance.
WRITTEN BY
Gloria Conroy
Copyright © 2025