Spotify Reports Shift in Music Genre Preferences and Podcast Listening Times During Ramadan
Music preferences among the Indonesian public shift significantly during Ramadan. Spotify data shows that streaming of religiously-themed music increases almost twofold during Ramadan compared with the week before the holy month begins. Meanwhile, podcast consumption also rises during the morning hours of 06:00–08:00.
This pattern indicates that Indonesians tend to listen to religiously-themed music to accompany moments of reflection, and podcasts serve as sources of spiritual guidance or companionship during quiet mornings. For podcasts, Spotify observes increased interest in religious and spiritual content, education, and comedy.
“During this period, listeners tend to choose calmer and more reflective music. We also observe how social and cultural dynamics influence the increased streaming of certain music genres. Since Ramadan is also communal in nature, nostalgic songs often feel more relevant, particularly during moments of togetherness,” said Dimas Ario, Lead Music Editor at Spotify Indonesia, in a press statement received on Friday (27 February).
Dimas further explained that each Ramadan moment brings a different atmosphere. The music accompanying pre-dawn (sahur) preparations differs from music played during breaking-of-fast gatherings, as does the soundtrack of the Eid homecoming journey.
Given the shift in music genres consumed by the public, Spotify has introduced the Ramadan Hub, containing a collection of Ramadan-themed playlists and video podcasts in one location.
“Ramadan is very personal, but also collective. Understanding both aspects allows us to curate playlists that are relevant to the various moments users experience during Ramadan,” he explained.
This year, special Ramadan podcast episodes come from Indonesian creators. These include Ramadan Nanya-Nanya from Raditya Dika’s Podcast, which invites guests to take turns questioning Radit to explore insights behind life and health during Ramadan, Login Restart, which discusses social issues related to religion and spirituality in reflective discussions infused with humour, and the Ramadan Escape 2.0 series from Raymond Chin.
“Fundamentally, Ramadan curation stems from strong intention. This process requires understanding the cultural context and emotions of what users listen to. Our role is to ensure that the content found feels aligned with the moment, so that music and podcasts become the right companions for our users,” he concluded.