Did you check out your Spotify Wrapped this morning? I sure did, and I look forward to it every year.
My No. 1 artist has been the same for several years now, smooth jazz pianist Brian Culbertson. I’ve followed Brian’s career since we were both in our early 20s — and I should note that I also record smooth jazz (or contemporary jazz) music.
More importantly, however, my wife is a big fan of Brian’s, too.
So, Brian Culbertson is our favorite.
He was my top artist for 2025, and several of his songs were in my Top 5. Beyond the music, I love the marketing value of what Spotify does. YouTube this year has a recap, and I suspect everybody will soon, too.
If not, they should. Heck, if newsrooms (hello, I’m a journalist) are doing as they should and collecting first-party data, they could probably wrangle a ‘wrapped-like’ recap at the end of the year for local news consumers.
My top album of the year was Sabrina Carpenter’s “Man’s Best Friend,” the product of having a 17-year-old in the house. However, no shade — I loved the record and think “Manchild” is the best pop composition of the year, not close.
Toto was in my Wrapped because, of course, I’m an old soul. Spotify said my listening age was seven years older than I am.
And in terms of genre, there was smooth jazz… but there was also Red Dirt? Yep. Love Red Dirt music in the summer, mowing the yard, grilling, drinking a col’beer.
At the end of each year, I tell myself that this is the year I’ll listen to so much music that I’ll have to have a new top artist or top song. That may happen in 2026, but if I were a betting man, then Brian will still be No. 1.
