Aussie artists taking global music streaming scene by storm

As the local music industry bemoans a lack of Aussie representation, dozens of artists are making huge waves on the global stage.

Kylie Minogue is having a global moment. Her inescapable poptastic hit Padam Padam has breached the UK top 10, the US Hot Dance/Electronic Songs top 10 and rumours abound she is negotiating a lucrative Las Vegas residency.

It is no surprise she is the No. 1 ranked artist on the first Global Impact List compiled by Spotify to spotlight the Australian talents killing it on the dominant streaming platform with songs released in the first half of 2023.

While the local music industry bemoans the ongoing and frustrating lack of Australian artists on the ARIA singles and albums charts, there are dozens of local singers and bands, both famous and emerging, building sizeable international audiences.

The Kid Laroi’s Love Again is at No. 2 on the list which Spotify compiled factoring not only streaming numbers outside of Australia but follows, saves and other data points.

Kylie Minogue has made a massive chart comeback. Picture: Instagram

But after those two internationally renowned artists, the Global Impact List is an intriguing revelation of the local artists whose latest singles are connecting with millions of listeners around the world.

The vast majority of the top 30 list are DJs and producers from the dance and electronic genres.

Spotify’s Head of Music Alicia Sbrugera said the presence of Dom Dolla, Timmy Trumpet, Shouse, PNAU and Luude high up on the list was driven by the seasonal demand for upbeat party anthems during the Northern Hemisphere summer.

“The vast majority of these releases have happened in the lead up to the American and European summer season which is always such a huge moment for EDM culture and listenership,” she said.

“These artists have built huge audience overseas, touring on the festival and club runs.

“Dom Dolla is absolutely killing it at the moment and his success also highlights that a lot of these artists are really good at collaborating with other international artists and that opens avenues to international audiences.

“Artists like Luude and Dom Dolla play their new tracks in their live sets before they drop and that has an impact when the song is released.”

Nelly Furtado and Dom Dolla, one of Australia’s up and coming stars. Picture: Donslens

PNAU have been back in the global spotlight since their remix of the Elton John and Dua Lipa pop behemoth Cold Heart became the song of 2021.

Not only is their single The Hard Way ranked No. 7 on the list but at No. 3 is a remix of Empire of the Sun’s Walking On The Dream, which was initially a hit way back in 2008.

Nick Littlemore co-founded both of these universally popular acts, and ahead of PNAU’s return to the Splendour In The Grass festival this weekend, said every Australian artist sets out with a dream to conquer the world.

Tones and I has been a streaming star for several years.

Keenan Te is making waves. Picture: Supplied

But making that a reality relies on not only a great song but the gods of luck and timing being on your side.

“When we were kids and starting to make records, we wanted to be big in France,” Littlemore said. “But without the Australian audiences, I would not be sitting here today.

“I think at the heart of these songs from the dance and electronic worlds is it is emotional music. That’s always been my bread and butter; writing songs about emotion is the only thing I give a F … about.

“Young people today are sad, I’m sad, and there’s a joy in that melancholia in emotional music and that’s what all these dance and electronic records are.”

Our electronic artists are wildly popular in the streaming markets of Germany, the US, Mexico, France and Canada.

While The Hard Way, featuring brilliant vocalist Khalid was a dance song for the heartbroken, PNAU return to a classic dancefloor-filling euphoria on new single Stars featuring Bebe Rexha and Ozuna. As it closes in on 10 million streams in just six weeks, Littlemore and his PNAU brothers Sam Littlemore and Peter Mayes, are guaranteed to spend the second half of 2003 having a global impact.

Rising Aussie pop artist and producer Go-Jo. Picture: Supplied.

Troye Sivan is likely to join them on the next list. His current single Rush has blown up on Spotify in a matter of days after its release, quickly migrating to the platform’s biggest Top

“When I was 18, there were dance producers like HMC and Anthony Pappa who were smashing it in Europe and the UK and no one here, except the people who would see them at one Melbourne club, would know,” he said.

“So I think it’s always kind of been a thing that you could secretly go overseas and have a massive career because Australians are really good at music.”

Poised for Next Big Thing status is exciting producer Go-Jo, now Sydney-based after relocating from rural Western Australia.

He has become a stream dream with his infectious pop gem Mrs Hollywood after a TikTok of him playing it on his guitar to random people on Bondi Beach blew up in America. The song put him at No. 9 on the Global Impact List.

The Kid LAROI performed at the Sahara tent during the 2023 Coachella. Photo: Getty Images

Chugg Music CEO and respected manager Andrew Stone said his viral videos started the buzz and now more fans are seeking out the full length song on streaming.

“We’re just getting started on how big this song could be. After spending a couple of years working on his songwriting, he now spends hours creating and editing entertaining content which generates a frequency of listening that you previously only got from high rotation on radio,” Stone said.

“About 85 per cent of the audience for his Bondi clip came from the US and it went international straight away. Now, in terms of streams for Mrs Hollywood, it’s two thirds international and a third from Australia.”

Other emerging artists to discover on the Spotify rankings include Vacations, grentperez, who is one of the talents enjoying an international leg-up via the platform’s Radar development program, Keenan Te, ASTON and Clinton Kane.