R&B’s rising stars Leon Thomas and Durand Bernarr received a significant streaming boost following their wins at the 2026 Grammy Awards, according to Spotify.
Thomas’ “Mutt (Live From NPR’s Tiny Desk)” saw a staggering 1,630% increase on the platform. The song was nominated for Best R&B Performance, which was awarded to Kehlani’s “Folded.”
Still, that didn’t stop viewers from streaming his sophomore LP, MUTT, which won Best R&B Album. The album’s tracks “How Fast” and “Far Fetched,” featuring Ty Dolla $ign, climbed by 160% and 130%, respectively.
Thomas was nominated in six categories at the 68th ceremony, including Best New Artist and Album of the Year. In addition to his Best R&B Album win, he earned a trophy for Best Traditional R&B Performance for “Vibes Don’t Lie.”
“This is such a moment because this is a miracle of endurance. And I have to say right now, I have to thank God for this moment,” Thomas said in his acceptance speech for Best R&B Album.
Bernarr’s Grammy-winning BLOOM album (Best Progressive R&B Album) saw an immediate spike on Spotify. The album’s opening track, “Generous,” received a 1,195% increase in streams, while “Flounce,” featuring GAWD, rose 910%. “Overqualified,” nominated for Best R&B Song, jumped 570% on the streaming platform.
Bernarr was the second-most nominated artist in the R&B field with three nods, including Best Traditional R&B Performance, while Thomas led the pack with four nominations plus two in the general field.
Beyond Thomas and Bernarr, Luther Vandross received a boost in Spotify streams after Cher mistakenly announced him as the winner of Song of the Year before correcting herself. Kendrick Lamar and SZA’s “Luther,” which samples Vandross and Cheryl Lynn’s “If This Were World Were Mine,” was the actual winner. Still, the viral moment led to a 115% increase in streams for the original track.
According to Spotify, the spikes were measured by comparing Monday’s (Feb. 2) U.S. streams to the artists’ average daily performance prior to the Grammys, held on Feb. 1.
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