With 2023 behind us, numerous apps and websites provide frequent users insight into their activity throughout the year, one of the most popular of all being Spotify Wrapped. Each year, Spotify releases each user’s top artists, songs, podcasts, and more to look back on the year. This year was no exception, with new features to mark the 2023 listening year.
Of the ROHS students who responded to a survey, the listening tastes were diversified, as nobody listened to music quite the same as anyone else. However, there were some rather common features among many students’ Spotify Wrapped, leaving clear answers when it comes to the top artist and the top genre for 2023.
Are you ready for it? The top artist of 2023, based on responses from Royal Oak High School students, was Taylor Swift.
Although there were numerous genres listened to by students, two came out on top: pop and indie.
Now, artists and genres aren’t the only statistics provided by Spotify; the total number of minutes is also a large part of the data collected throughout the year. Based on student responses, the average number of minutes spent listening on Spotify was 36,422 minutes —almost an entire month of straight music— which is quite impressive.
Spotify added a new feature to Wrapped this year: a character card that speaks to how users navigated the app and their music within it throughout the year. With twelve options available, only one came out on top with students surveyed: the “Vampire.” Spotify characterizes each character card, and the “Vampire” applies to those who “like to embrace a little…darkness. You listen to emotional, atmospheric music more than most.”
ROHS had many unique listeners in 2023, as many had statistics truly unlike anyone else. Between minutes, genres, songs, and podcasts, no two students had the same Spotify Wrapped.
“I just like listening to music,” said Ethan Rollert. “Even in school, I listen to music. It’s like an all day thing.”
Rollert was one of the top streamers of 2023 at Royal Oak, with a total of 175,388 minutes over the year.
“It told me my days, and I think I had 240 days non-stop, which was pretty surprising to me, especially since it didn’t count my Apple Music plays,” said Rollert, still a bit shocked by the fact that he was one of the top listeners at the school.
“My top song was ‘Ivy’ by Taylor Swift, and it’s been my favorite song for over two years, I just really like it.” said freshman Lucy Haddad, who had 345 plays of her top song, putting her in the top 0.5% of Taylor Swift’s listeners.
“I’m glad it was my top song, because it’s one of my favorites,” said Haddad, confirming her enjoyment of Taylor Swift’s music and her distinction as a top fan.

Sophomore Griffin Lamb was one of Daft Punk’s top listeners, being in the top 0.005%. Although he claimed he hasn’t been a long term fan, Lamb still thoroughly enjoys their music.
“I feel like it was expected because they’re definitely my favorite artist,” he said. “I discovered them after they broke up in 2021, and once I started listening, I just really liked it. Now, I have all their records.”
“This whole year I’ve just been listening to Paul Simon, Simon and Garfunkel, and Art Garfunkel as my three top artists, which is a little crazy and scary,” said senior Ava Paananen, who was in the top 0.001% of Paul Simon listeners in 2023, having over 3,000 minutes with him.
“Something about old folk is very soothing and cozy,” said Paananen, a long term and frequent listener of 60s folk music.
One of the least common hero cards within the school was the “Hypnotist.” The card says, “Your concentration is absolute, friend. You like to play albums all the way through, from the opening track to the final note.”
Freshman Alex Thompson was one of the very few people who received the “Hypnotist” as their hero card.
“It came from me listening to so many musicals. I love musicals, and how the story is expressed through music. I think it was extremely fitting because I only listened to ‘Hamilton,’ ‘Mean Girls,’ etc.” said Thompson.
Although she was rather positive about her card, Thompson still disagreed with certain parts of her Wrapped.
“My music taste has changed recently, I don’t really like ‘Hamilton’ anymore to be honest, but it was all I listened to for all of this year,” she said.
“I love Steven Universe as a cartoon, but I cannot fathom the idea that he made it into my top artists for a fourth year. I do listen to the ‘Watermelon Steven Song’ sometimes, but not purposefully; it’s just in one of my main playlists and I haven’t removed it,” said senior Jasmine Gittinger, who had mixed emotions on the results of her top five artists this year.
“I’d most disagree with C418 being my top artist. Love the guy, can’t get enough of those Minecraft ambient songs, but I listen to so many other artists.”said Gittinger.
“I had The Tragically Hip, which is an obscure Canadian band, and I had The Pogues, which are like Irish punk,” said sophomore Harper Payne, who had rather unique top artists compared to most students at Royal Oak. Although distinct in comparison, Payne was not shocked by their top artists.
“I have all the bands in my top five on heavy rotation, and although I wasn’t really surprised, it’s always fun to see it,” said Payne.
With the rise in podcasts in the past few years, senior Logan Vinluan had a rather unique experience with this year’s Spotify Wrapped.
“I love listening to podcasts. I just think they’re so relaxing and engaging. I listen to them a lot when I’m trying to sleep or just doing mundane things,” said Vinluan, who had over half of his total minutes from podcasts. For those considering trying podcasts out for the new year, there are many to choose from. Favorites from Vinluan include “Chuckle Sandwich,” “VRG,” “Dimension 20,” and “Welcome to Nightvale.”
Overall, 2023 was quite the year for music at Royal Oak High School. Through all the artists, genres, minutes, and plays, Spotify Wrapped allowed for students to take a look back on how they listened throughout the year. Although some were met with no surprises, and others were utterly shocked at their statistics, it was the perfect way to wrap up the many emotions and moods felt throughout the year. Wrapped gave students a recap of their year in a way that almost nothing else could.