After the Finale, the Music Took Over
Songs from the 'Stranger Things' finale show staying power on Spotify.
When the final episode of Stranger Things‘ fifth season dropped, the story carried on past the credits, finding its way into headphones, car speakers, and late-night listening sessions around the world. In the week following the finale’s premiere, the songs featured in the episode didn’t just see a quick spike on Spotify. They stuck. And Gen Z listeners, in particular, leaned in hard.
Prince’s “Purple Rain” led the wave, with global Gen Z streams surging 1,341% in the days following the finale and overall streams climbing 608%. His “When Doves Cry” followed close behind, rising 576% among Gen Z listeners and 336% globally, another reminder that Prince’s music (both tunes were originally released in 1984) continues to speak across generations without losing urgency.
The finale also sparked renewed love for songs that live in quieter emotional spaces. Cowboy Junkies’ rendition of “Sweet Jane” (from 1988) saw one of the biggest lifts among Gen Z listeners, with streams up 663% globally for that audience and 264% overall, its intimacy resonating in a moment shaped more by reflection than spectacle. David Bowie’s 1977 “Heroes” surged as well, climbing 227% among Gen Z listeners and 185% globally, a song long tied to resilience finding fresh meaning in a new cultural moment.
What’s striking isn’t just the scale of the increases. It’s the longevity. Songs released between the mid-1970s and late-1980s moved together, crossing decades without friction. Pixies’ “Here Comes Your Man” from 1989 saw a 129% increase in global Gen Z streams and a 108% rise in global streams overall, while Fleetwood Mac’s “Landslide” from 1975 climbed 58% among Gen Z listeners and 31% globally. Together, those jumps suggest listeners weren’t chasing a single sound or era. They were following a feeling.
That pattern shows up again and again after major TV moments. When music is woven into a story people care about, it becomes a bridge. For Gen Z listeners especially, these songs aren’t being rediscovered as nostalgia pieces. They’re being absorbed into the present, added to playlists alongside new releases, and replayed as personal touchstones.
The curtain may have closed on this chapter of the Stranger Things universe, but the listening that followed tells a familiar story. When a moment lands, the music doesn’t fade out. It carries the emotion forward, long after the screen goes dark.
Data reflects increases in global streams on Spotify between December 30, 2025 to January 7, 2026 (one week after the December 31 finale premiered).