In 2025, Bruno Mars has solidified his place as a global music icon, leading Spotify with the most monthly listeners and captivating audiences with hits like "Die With A Smile" alongside Lady Gaga.
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Bruno Mars, born Peter Gene Hernandez, has long been a titan in the music industry, but 2025 has marked an unprecedented peak in his career. On January 27, 2025, he became the first artist in Spotify history to surpass 150 million monthly listeners, a milestone that cements his position as the platform’s most popular artist.web:1 This achievement is fueled by a combination of his timeless catalog and recent blockbuster collaborations, most notably "Die With A Smile" with Lady Gaga, which became the fastest song to reach one billion streams on Spotify. Mars’ ability to dominate charts, break streaming records, and captivate global audiences through live performances has solidified his status as a pop culture juggernaut. As he continues to release new music and push creative boundaries, the world watches eagerly to see what’s next for this musical powerhouse. This article explores Mars’ record-breaking Spotify success, the impact of "Die With A Smile," his global chart dominance and live performances, and his future trajectory in the music industry.
Breaking Spotify Records: 150 Million Monthly Listeners
Bruno Mars’ ascent to the top of Spotify’s monthly listener rankings in 2025 is a testament to his enduring appeal and strategic collaborations. On January 27, 2025, Mars made history by becoming the first artist to reach 150 million monthly listeners on the platform, surpassing previous records set by The Weeknd, who had held the top spot with 120.7 million listeners.web:1web:3 This milestone is particularly remarkable given that Mars hasn’t released a solo album since 24K Magic in 2016, relying instead on his evergreen catalog and recent duets to drive his streaming numbers.web:4 By April 2025, Mars maintained his lead as the artist with the most monthly listeners, with over 151 million unique users engaging with his music in the past 28 days, according to industry reports.web:21
Mars’ catalog plays a significant role in his streaming dominance, with 17 songs surpassing one billion streams each, including classics like "Locked Out of Heaven," "That’s What I Like," and "Just the Way You Are."web:1 However, his recent collaborations have been the primary catalysts for his record-breaking listener counts. His duet with Lady Gaga, "Die With A Smile," and his collaboration with BLACKPINK’s Rosé, "APT.," have both joined Spotify’s “Billions Club,” with the former becoming the fastest song to hit one billion streams in just 96 days.web:0web:11 These tracks have not only boosted Mars’ monthly listener numbers but also highlighted his ability to remain relevant in an industry increasingly driven by streaming metrics.
The significance of Mars’ achievement extends beyond raw numbers. With Spotify reporting 640 million monthly active users in September 2024, Mars’ 150 million listeners mean that nearly a quarter of the platform’s user base has engaged with his music in a given month.web:0 This level of reach underscores his global appeal and the universal resonance of his music, which spans genres like pop, R&B, funk, and soul. Mars’ record-breaking run on Spotify in 2025 has set a new benchmark for artists, proving that a combination of timeless hits and strategic collaborations can propel even a veteran artist to new heights in the streaming era.
"Die With A Smile": A Record-Breaking Collaboration with Lady Gaga
The collaboration between Bruno Mars and Lady Gaga on "Die With A Smile," released on August 16, 2024, has been a defining moment in Mars’ 2025 success story. The soft rock ballad, which Mars and Gaga wrote and produced alongside Dernst "D'Mile" Emile II, Andrew Watt, and James Fauntleroy, captures the duo’s emotive vocals and undeniable chemistry.web:12 The song’s lyrics express a deep longing to be with a loved one amidst uncertainty, resonating with listeners on an emotional level. It became the fastest song in Spotify history to reach both one and two billion streams, hitting the one-billion mark in just 96 days and surpassing two billion by April 2025, as reported by posts on X.web:11post:6
"Die With A Smile" also achieved monumental chart success, spending 16 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Global 200 and becoming the longest-reigning daily No. 1 song on Spotify’s Global chart with 175 days at the top as of April 12, 2025.web:11post:7 The track peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for four weeks, marking Gaga’s sixth and Mars’ ninth chart-topper on the list, and earned them a Grammy for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance at the 2025 Grammy Awards.web:11web:18 By April 2025, the song had amassed over 2.3 billion streams on Spotify, making it the most viral song of 2024 and a cultural touchstone for fans worldwide.post:6
The success of "Die With A Smile" is not just a numerical triumph but a testament to the power of collaboration between two pop superstars. The song’s music video, featuring Mars and Gaga in retro Western-inspired outfits, added to its viral appeal, garnering over 300 million views on YouTube.web:13 Live performances, including their debut of the track at Mars’ concert at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles and a Las Vegas residency rendition, further amplified its impact.web:15 "Die With A Smile" has not only elevated Mars’ streaming numbers but also showcased his ability to create timeless music that resonates across generations, solidifying his partnership with Gaga as one of the most iconic duets of the decade.
Global Chart Dominance and Live Performances
Beyond Spotify, Bruno Mars’ influence in 2025 extends to global charts and electrifying live performances that have captivated audiences worldwide. In addition to "Die With A Smile," Mars’ collaboration with Rosé, "APT.," released in October 2024, also achieved significant chart success, peaking at No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 and spending 11 weeks at No. 1 on both the Billboard Global 200 and Billboard Global Excl. U.S. charts.web:10web:18 On April 12, 2025, Mars held the No. 1 and No. 3 spots on Spotify’s Global chart with "Die With A Smile" (6.6 million streams) and "APT." (5.2 million streams), respectively, showcasing his continued dominance.post:7
Mars’ live performances have been a key factor in his global appeal. He and Gaga debuted "Die With A Smile" live at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles on August 16, 2024, and later performed it twice during his Las Vegas residency at Park MGM.web:15 Mars also delivered a solo piano version of the song during his Bruno Mars: Live in Brazil tour, which ran from October 4 to November 5, 2024, across 14 shows in cities like Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo.web:11 The tour highlighted Mars’ versatility, blending his signature soulful delivery with intimate arrangements that resonated with fans. Meanwhile, Gaga performed a solo rendition of the track at Coachella 2025, wearing a regal blue dress and playing on a skull-decorated piano, further amplifying the song’s cultural impact.web:11
Mars’ chart success extends beyond his collaborations. His catalog tracks like "Uptown Funk" (4.6 billion streams), "That’s What I Like" (2.7 billion streams), and "Just the Way You Are" (2.5 billion streams) continue to perform strongly, contributing to his overall streaming numbers.web:8 His ability to maintain relevance on global charts, coupled with his dynamic live performances, underscores his status as a global superstar who can connect with audiences across cultures and genres, from pop and R&B to K-pop and beyond.
What’s Next for Bruno Mars: New Music and Lasting Impact
As Bruno Mars continues to dominate Spotify and global charts in 2025, his future looks brighter than ever. His most recent release, "Fat Juicy & Wet," a collaboration with Sexyy Red dropped on January 24, 2025, showcases Mars’ willingness to experiment with new sounds, blending his pop sensibilities with a more provocative, R-rated vibe.web:4web:10 The music video for the track, featuring Mars alongside Gaga and Rosé in a celebratory party setting, highlights his knack for creating visually engaging content that complements his music.web:10 This release, while polarizing among some fans, demonstrates Mars’ versatility and his ability to adapt to evolving musical trends.
Fans and industry insiders are buzzing with speculation about Mars’ next solo album, often referred to as ‘BM4,’ which would mark his first solo project since 24K Magic in 2016.web:3 Given his recent streaming success without a new album, a full-length project could push his monthly listener numbers even higher, potentially setting new records. Mars’ long-time publisher, BMG, and his label, Atlantic Records, are likely eager to capitalize on his current momentum, especially after his catalog’s multi-billion-streaming success.web:3web:4 Additionally, Mars’ recent Grammy win for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance with Gaga for "Die With A Smile" has further solidified his standing in the industry, setting the stage for future accolades.web:11
Bruno Mars’ impact in 2025 extends beyond music. His ability to break streaming records, dominate global charts, and connect with diverse audiences through collaborations and live performances positions him as a cultural icon whose influence will likely endure for years to come. As he continues to innovate and inspire, Mars’ journey serves as a reminder of the power of music to unite people across the globe, proving that even after a decade at the top, he’s still just getting started.
