The Spotify music streaming app is seen on a mobile phone on November 11, 2025. Photo Illustration by Chris McGrath/Getty Images

Spotify has discontinued its viral charts. Instead, popular internet songs will now only be showcased on Spotify’s Viral Hits playlist, which is curated by human editors based on observing its behind-the-scenes metrics that indicate popularity.

The now-discontinued viral charts were an algorithmically-based series of charts, including some specific to countries, that automatically reflected surges of activity on the platform. Beyond that, little is known about what exact criteria qualified a song for these charts. A source close to the matter says that there were concerns that the viral charts did not accurately represent songs with true popularity on Spotify and posit that the Viral Hits playlist could allow Spotify more control over which songs are worthy of this highlight.

To date, there are three iterations of the Viral Hits editorial playlists, including a general version and region-specific ones for the UK/Ireland and Japan.

In recent months, the Spotify viral charts were common places to find charting AI-assisted songs, including “I Run” by HAVEN. — which used AI vocals — “We Are Charlie Kirk” by Spalexma, and multiple songs from Sienna Rose. It is unclear whether this trend of AI tracks on the chart was part of the reason why the viral charts were removed.

In a statement to Billboard about the decision to discontinue the viral charts, a representative from Spotify said: “Spotify has retired its viral charts as part of an ongoing effort to focus on features that best reflect how listeners engage with music today. Listeners can continue to discover trending music through Spotify’s Top Charts and editorial playlists, including our ‘Viral Hits’ playlist.”

The news comes just a week before Spotify’s Investor Day, and after a series of new product roll outs from the Swedish streaming company. This includes verification badges for human profiles and Artist Profile Protection to safeguard artists’ accounts on the platform and AI credits, which allow artists to disclose AI use in the music making process. The company has also recently rolled out SongDNA, expanding song credits in a more playful, interactive way.

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