2025 has proven to be a big year for Irish artists as we have seen artists such as Kingfishr, Kneecap, CMAT and more, skyrocket to the top of the charts. Last year saw Irish artists export 14.6 billion streams worldwide, with 95 per cent of streams coming from outside of Ireland.
2025 is on track to being an even bigger year for Irish musicians as the first quarter of this year saw a 20 per cent increase in Irish music streams and an added 9.8 billion listeners by August.
Fontaines D.C had a remarkable year as they have recieved continued support since the release of their album 'Romance', they secured their spot at no.10 in the most streamed albums list in Ireland. They also made their way into the UK's top 70 artists.
Limerick band, Kingfishr have also made the Emerald Isle proud as their track 'Killeagh' ranked as number 1 in Ireland. The song about an East Cork GAA club managed to be crowned as 2025's top streamed tune in Ireland among Spotify listeners.
However, it is the somewhat controversial rap trio Kneecap from Belfast that really reeled in the success this year. They have been riding a consistent wave of success after their BAFTA winning biopic, headlines following their legal dispute with the British government, and the release of their album 'Fine Art.
According to NME, Spotify confirmed that the Irish rappers were listened to 26 million times on Spotify in Ireland, making them rank up more listens than The Beatles and Elton John.
The most celebrated new Irish release of 2025 was CMAT'S 'Euro Country', which secured a place on the top 100 albums in Ireland this year. Her recent album attracted 1.5 million monthly listeners. Summer of 2025 also saw her song 'Take a Sexy Picture of Me' become viral on platforms such as TikTok and Instagram and now sits at over 23 millions streams on Spotify.
Editor at Spotify, Spotify Shannon Carragher, told NME that there was something about Irish music that "cuts through the noise right now."
“A lot of it comes down to how naturally they blend intimacy with scale, Their work often carries this mix of emotional honesty, wit, and self-awareness that feels instantly relatable, even if you’ve never set foot in Ireland," she said.
"They write and perform like people who have lived a lot, felt a lot, and aren’t afraid to show the messier edges of it. That vulnerability lands in a world where listeners are tired of polished perfection; they want music that feels lived-in, flawed, funny, and true. Irish artists offer that in spades, and listeners recognise the sincerity,” she continued.
“At the same time, there’s a spark of defiance that runs through much of the new Irish wave, an instinct to question, poke fun, stand ground, or turn pain into something communal. Whether it’s CMAT’s emotional chaos delivered with a wink, Fontaines D.C.’s restless searching, or Kneecap’s fearless cultural commentary, these artists bring a sharp point of view that feels refreshing rather than heavy," Carragher said.
