By External Source
Here is this week's Nielsen Market Watch report which features Canadian music stats for the current week and YTD with comparisons to last year. This chart is published every Tuesday. The abbreviation "TEA" is a term used to describe the sale of music downloads or singles. A track equivalent album is equal to 10 tracks, or 10 songs.
The data follows the release of Spotify's Loud & Clear Canadian streaming report earlier this month. While Francophone music's reach is global — a staggering 100 million users reside outside of traditionally French-speaking countries, they report — Quebec is a major amplifier. Nearly half of Quebec Spotify users regularly listen to media content in French, Spotify says.
In May 2025 alone, Quebecers listened to nearly 10 million hours of Francophone music — and the number only continues to go up. The consumption of Francophone content on Spotify has grown almost 20% year over year among local users, boasting a 130% growth since 2019.
The province’s Francophone listeners are getting younger, too. Nearly 40% of Quebec-based Spotify users who engage with Francophone content are under the age of 29, which is seen as a powerful signal that the French language continues to resonate deeply with the next generation of music listeners.
That data is translating into dollars. According to Spotify, French music royalties generated globally are up 15% from 2023. This includes many Quebecois artists, whose musical richness appeals nationwide and internationally. Last year, indie artist Patrick Watson’s “Je te laisserai des mots” was the most popular Francophone track on Spotify — and the first French track to surpass a billion streams. The Montreal native's track was added to over 6.6 million playlists last year, showcasing its global appeal.
Last year, almost the entire top 10 list of the most popular Francophone songs among Quebec’s users on Spotify was performed by Franco-Quebecois acts. Beloved artists like rock band Les Cowboys Fringants, singer-songwriters Patrick Watson and Charlotte Cardin and rapper Enima are mainstays on the Spotify charts in their home province.
Yet, the streaming platform has been vocal about championing burgeoning talent.
One of Quebec’s breakthrough artists, rapper Fredz, has seen massive growth on Spotify. “I've seen my audience triple in Canada in one year,” the rapper shared, who had already developed a loyal following. From his recent album, Demain il fera beau, tracks like “Le stade” and “Rappeler son…” were added to editorial playlists.
“Streaming has been essential in my journey,” he said. “Thanks to platforms like Spotify, my music has been able to travel almost everywhere.”
Zooming out, Spotify says that nearly 15 million hours of Canadian music are streamed globally every day, and Canadian artists are featured on 2.4 billion user playlists worldwide. Check out the full Loud & Clear report here.
