Arkansas’s Top 5 Most-Streamed Artists of 2024–2025: A Look at the State’s Favorite Voices

Arkansas might be known for its southern charm, natural beauty, and deep musical roots—but its modern-day streaming charts tell a more dynamic story. The state’s most-streamed artists from April 7, 2024, to April 7, 2025 reflect a love of storytelling, soul, struggle, and swagger.

Whether it’s the raw confessions of Rod Wave, the genre-blending charisma of Morgan Wallen, or the relentless output of YoungBoy Never Broke Again, Arkansans have been tuning in to artists who say something real. From Delta backroads to Little Rock rooftops, this year’s most-played artists show that Arkansas values more than just sound—they want something they can feel. If you want to learn music take music lessons in Boulder.

Let’s dive into the top 5 artists who dominated the speakers, headphones, and playlists across the Natural State this year.

1. YoungBoy Never Broke Again – 21.6 Million Views

At the top of Arkansas’s streaming charts with a massive 21.6 million views, YoungBoy Never Broke Again (aka NBA YoungBoy) continues to hold the South in a lyrical grip. Known for his relentless work ethic, emotional transparency, and raw authenticity, YoungBoy resonates with Arkansans across demographics.

Raised in Baton Rouge, just a few hours south of Arkansas, YoungBoy’s regional roots and Southern drawl help explain his local popularity. But more than geography, it’s his honesty that connects with listeners. His music explores pain, trauma, loyalty, and the battle for redemption—all themes that feel especially relatable in working-class Southern communities.

With tracks like “Outside Today,” “4Freedom,” and countless mixtapes and videos, YoungBoy stays in constant rotation—and his output shows no signs of slowing down.

Why Arkansans Love Him:

• Deep emotional storytelling

• Speaks to struggle, survival, and ambition

• Regional loyalty from a fellow Southern artist

YoungBoy isn’t just popular in Arkansas—he’s a voice of the people.

2. Morgan Wallen – 15.4 Million Views

Coming in at number two with 15.4 million views, Morgan Wallen brings a completely different flavor to Arkansas’s playlist—but one that’s equally powerful. With his country roots, gravel-toned voice, and genre-bending sound, Wallen has become a household name throughout the South.

Whether it’s heartbreak ballads like “Sand in My Boots,” good-time anthems like “Whiskey Glasses,” or crossover hits like “Last Night,” Wallen has mastered the art of turning everyday life into music. His themes—love, regret, nostalgia, drinking, and home—resonate deeply in Arkansas, a state where country music has always had a home.

He’s also become the face of modern country music’s evolution, seamlessly blending acoustic guitar with trap drums and pop hooks.

Why Arkansans Love Him:

• Emotional, relatable lyrics

• Mixes country roots with modern production

• Perfect soundtrack for small towns and big feelings

Morgan Wallen is today’s country voice of the South—and Arkansas is listening.

3. Kevin Gates – 14.7 Million Views

With 14.7 million views, Kevin Gates continues his reign as one of the South’s most respected and unpredictable voices. From Baton Rouge, like YoungBoy, Gates has long earned his stripes with introspective lyrics, spiritual undertones, and a persona that’s as intellectual as it is streetwise.

In Arkansas, his appeal is all about raw realness. He raps openly about trauma, redemption, mental health, relationships, and hustle—subjects that land hard with those who’ve walked similar paths. His delivery is often intense, his flow deliberate, and his message consistent: growth comes from pain.

Tracks like “Satellites,” “2 Phones,” and “Really Really” continue to thrive, but his newer music explores deeper waters—blending R&B melodies with spiritual reflection.

Why Arkansans Love Him:

• A truth-teller with street credibility

• Embraces vulnerability and growth

• Speaks directly to personal struggle

Kevin Gates gives Arkansas bars with a message—and fans can’t get enough.

4. Future – 13.2 Million Views

Coming in at number four is Future, with 13.2 million views in Arkansas this year. The Atlanta legend remains a streaming powerhouse, thanks to his icy flow, futuristic production, and themes of luxury, loss, and emotional detachment.

What makes Future such a staple in Arkansas is his versatility. His music works in nearly every context—whether you're riding solo through pine-lined highways, hanging with friends on a Friday night, or coping with complicated relationships. Future’s sound isn’t tied to a moment; it adapts to a mood.

Tracks like “March Madness,” “Mask Off,” and “712PM” remain ever-present, while collaborations with younger artists and trap newcomers keep him relevant year after year.

Why Arkansans Love Him:

• Consistent, moody, melodic trap sound

• Lyrics that balance hedonism with hurt

• A go-to artist for nighttime or reflection

In Arkansas, Future is the soundtrack to both celebration and solitude.

5. Rod Wave – 12.9 Million Views

With 12.9 million views, Rod Wave rounds out Arkansas’s top five. The Florida-born artist is the reigning king of emotional rap, blending gospel-style melodies with gut-wrenching lyrics about pain, loyalty, faith, and perseverance.

His songs are often tear-streaked anthems for those trying to make sense of a complicated world—and that emotional depth has struck a chord in Arkansas. Rod Wave’s music speaks to quiet heartbreaks, private triumphs, and silent struggles. He’s not flashy—but he’s real.

Whether it’s “Heart on Ice,” “Tombstone,” or “Fight the Feeling,” Rod Wave has made a career out of helping people feel seen—and in Arkansas, that connection is powerful.

Why Arkansans Love Him:

• Gospel-infused rap with real emotion

• Speaks to the pain behind the smile

• Uplifting in a way that doesn’t feel cheesy

Rod Wave is Arkansas’s emotional lifeline through hard times.

What These Artists Say About Arkansas

Arkansas’s top artists this year share some powerful commonalities:

• Southern roots and authenticity

• A balance of emotional depth and grit

• Narratives that reflect real-life challenges and hopes

From the Delta to the Ozarks, Arkansas is a state where people value truth in music. Whether that truth comes through a country drawl or a rap verse, it needs to say something real. The five artists topping the charts in 2024–2025 do exactly that.

And while each artist has a distinct sound, they all represent some part of the Arkansas experience: resilience, pride, introspection, and a drive to overcome.

This list also reflects the genre diversity of the state. Country and hip-hop may seem like opposites, but in Arkansas, they live side by side—soundtracking cookouts, workdays, heartbreaks, and celebrations alike.

Methodology

The data presented in this article was sourced from YouTube Music’s regional streaming analytics, which track viewership by location. We focused on total view counts for individual artists in Arkansas between April 7, 2024, and April 7, 2025. Artists were ranked based on total views generated by YouTube users within the state, offering a data-driven glimpse into regional listening preferences.

This method ensures the rankings are hyper-local, reflecting the actual streaming behavior of Arkansas listeners, rather than national averages or trends.