As Music Times reported a while back, streaming service Spotify has teamed up with taxi app Uber so that not only can you flag down a cab with minimal hassle, you can force the driver to listen to your music while you go. This, ultimately, sounds like the biggest jerk move to Uber drivers because I have a feeling they don't want to hear High On Fire while I'm drunk and being driven through the Bronx.
Ethics aside, Spotify has released the data from the ten cities that are currently Spotify/Uber enabled and created short eight-song playlists to show what's been stuck in drivers' heads recently. Admittedly, it's pretty interesting stuff. Check out the most popular performers in all ten cities:
London (Caribou): Interesting that one of the largest music-producing cities on Earth finds its most popular cab music to be Caribou, an electronic performer from Canada. In fact, the top four songs on the playlist all belong to the composer. Of course, his new album Our Love just came out in early October but it's still interesting to see its popularity in London.
Los Angeles (Grupo 360): Somewhat surprising to see that every song but one in the Top 8 is a Spanish language track, reflecting the Latin American influence in the region. Grupo 360, a Mexican Corridos band, has three of the tracks on the list.
Mexico City (DLD): Los Angeles may enjoy more traditional Mexican music but citizens in Mexico City are more about an alternative rock act, DLD, which has three songs in the Top 8.
Nashville (Little Big Town and Jason Isbell): No surprise that it's a tie between a country act and an American act in Nashville: Little Big Town is riding high off of its newest album while Jason Isbell remains strong with his 2013 release Southeastern. Both bands have three songs among the most-listened.
New York City (Azealia Banks and Jessie Ware): Another battle for Spotify supremacy in New York City: Native Azealia Banks has three songs featured from Broke With Expensive Taste while Brit Jessie Ware has three of her own off of Tough Love.
San Francisco (Classixx and Jungle): Another tie in San Francisco but at least they can agree on a genre: dance. Classixx and it's L.A. nouveau disco have three tracks as the British act Jungle take a more organic neo-soul approach.
Singapore (Gentle Bones): Listeners in Singapore have a bit of a soft spot for Taylor Swift but not nearly at the same rate they adore hometown independent pop star Gentle Bones, who has the top four spots on the eight-song list.
Stockholm (Beatrice Eli): Stockholm rivals London for the highest rates of musical exportation in Europe so it's always worth it to check out what the locals are listening to. Right now it seems like Beatrice Eli is the it girl in Sweden.
Sydney (Flight Facilities): Australia also seems to be under the grip of electronic music as the Sydney-based Flight Facilities tops the capital's list for most tracks, featuring three songs within the Top 8.
Toronto (Stars): Toronto is as understandable city as any to not have one standout act, but even the cosmopolitan city still managed to find one performer with two tracks in the city's Top 8. And yes, this is Stars the Canadian band, not the Australian or British acts that this indie pop group shares a moniker with.
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