Here's the Music That Dominated the Out Staff's Spotify Wrapped

If there's one thing the LGBTQ+ people who run Out love, it's music! 

​Music lovers rejoice! It's officially the greatest time of year: Spotify Wrapped season.

Every holiday season since 2016, the music-streaming giant has provided its loyal users with data about their yearly listening habits. While the numbers are a great way to see what your most-played song was, how much time you spent listening to music, what your top genres were, etc., Spotify Wrapped is about more than just numbers. Not to be dramatic, but some folks (like me) would say it's like a glimpse into the very soul of a music fan, turning a mirror back onto yourself to see what you were vibing to and which artists spoke to you the most over the past year.

And according to the Spotify Wrapped of numerous folks here at Out, its sister websites, and its parent company equalpride, it has been a pretty chaotic but fun year filled with bops from many well-known icons (queens like Taylor Swift and Beyoncé basically ruled 2023) and also some underrated acts. And of course, some LGBTQ+ stars like Hayley Kiyoko, Troye Sivan, Kim Petras, and others who make the music world a better, gayer place.

Scroll through to see what the Out staff were listening to all 2023 long. And to check your own Spotify Wrapped, make sure you head over to Spotify.

"Yes, I’m a lesbian. Yes, all my top artists are queer. Yes, my top four songs are about women loving women. And what about it?"

—Mey Rude, Staff Writer, Out

"I’m a Brazilian-American gay guy. It’s really not that complicated!"

—Bernardo Sim, Staff Writer, Out

"I'm gay."

—Raffy Ermac, Digital Director, Out

"Progressive rock band Polyphia was my top artist. While that may seem out of place among my colleagues, I’m happy to include them here — Polyphia and its members have long spoken out against homophobia and transphobia, and guitarist Tim Henson is known for his gender-nonconforming fashion, both of which help the metal scene become more inclusive."

—Ryan Adamczeski, Digital Director, Advocate Channel

"And I didn’t even go to any of the concerts. But if I’m being honest, it’s always a concert in my car."

—Christopher Wiggins, Senior National Reporter, The Advocate

"Life comes full circle... It was a year of brave girl anthems as I navigated big changes. Although I have not identified as a lesbian since my '30s, the spirit clearly still lives within!"

—Nikki Aye, Digital Photo Editor

"I'm a proud gay man and my music taste clearly shows it. 'GODDESS (Sasha Colby)' being in my top five songs… need I say more?"

—Ricky Cornish, Staff Writer, PRIDE & Out

"I listen to a lot of music. Why? It’s the rhythm of life."

—Marie-Adélina de la Ferrière, Public Relations Specialist, equalpride

"Fell in love with British boy bands and never looked back. Also known as 'never not waiting for the One Direction reunion.'"

—AJ Carias, Brand Partnerships Manager, equalpride

"My husband Albert and I have always been drawn to the vibrant, energetic beats of artists like Kim Petras, Beyoncé, and RuPaul. For our wedding, we wanted the music to be a reflection of that: lively, full of joy, and unapologetically us. Every song, from Alessia Cara's 'Outlaws' to Dua Lipa's 'Dance the Night,' was chosen to celebrate our love and the journey that brought us together."

—Andraé Bonitzer Vigil-Romero, Senior Director of Brand Partnerships, equalpride

"According to Spotify Wrapped, I am an 'eclectic' or 'shapeshifter' listener. As someone who is a self-described indie/alternative girly and who knew who boygenius was back in 2018, you can also find me boogying at a Beyoncé concert."

—Erin Manley, Brand Partnerships Manager, equalpride