1. Home

Spotify Says Anime Music Surged 400% Since 2021—New Deal with Crunchyroll Announced

Ashley King
Spotify anime music

Photo Credit: Crunchyroll

One of the fastest growing genres of music on Spotify over the last few years has been anime. Spotify says anime music streams have grown 395% since 2021—now there’s a Crunchyroll deal to capitalize on the interest.

Spotify says anime fans on the platform have generated 6.7 million user-generated anime playlists—proving fans love creating their own anime music mixes. Spotify has teamed up with Crunchyroll to deliver more music in its new Anime Hub, with new playlists curated by Crunchyroll. Some of the new curated playlists include:

  • Crunchyroll Anime Essentials | A brand-new anime season has arrived on Crunchyroll this summer. Listen along to the music behind the lineup.
  • The Broody Black-Haired MC | Anguished and with a tragic past, this character’s demeanor may intimidate some, but deep down they just need a hug.
  • The Bubbly-Pink Haired BFF | Always close at hand when a friend is in need, this character brings light, positivity, and an often underestimated strength.
  • The OP White-Haired Sensei | Underneath their cool, unbothered exterior, this character is an enigma waiting to be unraveled.
  • The Journey Begins | You are the main character in your own story. The fate of the world depends on you, and of course there are side quests.

Capitalizing on several anime tropes, these playlists are intended to capture a specific feeling for listeners. As part of the new deal with Crunchyroll, Spotify has created a dedicated shelf of content featuring its premiere podcast, ‘Crunchyroll Presents: The Anime Effect’ which covers the latest anime news and will feature guest stars who love anime.

“We are thrilled to partner with Crunchyroll to bring listeners a new curation of anime music to explore,” says Kyota Onishi, Head of Music in Japan at Spotify. “On Spotify, global streams of anime have surged over the last few years, and we hope the Anime hub will become an indispensable part of anime culture.” The Anime hub will also include an editorially lineup of playlists including Anime Now, Anime On Replay, and Women of Anime.