The Ultimate Graduation Playlist 2025

Graduation season is here, and the Class of 2025 is marking the moment with music that speaks to their journeys, challenges, and dreams. From emotional ballads to energizing anthems, today’s graduates are using playlists not just to celebrate but also to cope, reflect, and bond with their families. A deep dive into thousands of public Spotify playlists and survey responses from teens and parents offers a look at how music shapes this milestone moment.

Key Takeaways

• You’re On Your Own, Kid by Taylor Swift was voted the song that most defines high school grads’ senior year, capturing the emotions of independence, transition, and self-discovery.
• 72% of grads say music helps them escape emotionally during post-grad uncertainty.
• 22% of graduates discovered their senior-year-defining songs on TikTok or Reels.
• 57% of parents say they bond with their teen over music artists from their own senior year, with Michael Jackson topping the list.
• The top artists leading graduation playlists in each genre are Taylor Swift (pop), Drake (rap/hip-hop), Queen (rock), David Guetta (EDM), Morgan Wallen (country), and Deftones (metal).

Graduation Artists Leading the Charts

Graduation playlists show a wide mix of genres, but some artists consistently rise to the top across pop, rap, rock, and more.

• Drake took the No. 1 spot overall, with his songs appearing the most on graduation playlists. Taylor Swift, Kendrick Lamar, Rihanna, and Travis Scott round out the top 5 most popular artists.
• The top artists leading graduation playlists in each genre are Taylor Swift (pop), Drake (rap/hip-hop), Queen (rock), David Guetta (EDM), Morgan Wallen (country), and Deftones (metal).

The Songs That Made the Moment

Some tracks are so powerful that they show up on graduation playlists again and again, offering the perfect blend of nostalgia and optimism.

• Grads favored classics and newer hits alike. The top 5 most popular songs on graduation playlists this year are:
  • Mr. Brightside – The Killers
  • Good Old Days – Macklemore (feat. Kesha)
  • Time of Our Lives – Pitbull (feat. Ne-Yo)
  • Unwritten – Natasha Bedingfield
  • Tongue Tied – Grouplove

Music as Emotional Support and a Family Bond

Graduates don’t just listen to music for fun. Favorite songs are often used as a tool for emotional support and connection.

• 72% of grads use music to escape emotionally when feeling uncertain about life after graduation.
• 59% say listening to music gives them hope or motivation, and 45% say it helps them process difficult emotions.
• 22% found their most defining songs of senior year on TikTok or Reels.
• The top 5 artists whose songs offered the most emotional support during high school included:
  • Kendrick Lamar
  • Tyler, TheCreator
  • Billie Eilish
  • Arctic Monkeys
  • Paramore
• The top 5 artists whose songs help grads feel the most ready for what’s next are:
  • Kendrick Lamar
  • Taylor Swift
  • Tyler, The Creator
  • Imagine Dragons
  • Lady Gaga
• High school grads say the most defining song of senior year is You’re on Your Own, Kid by Taylor Swift. 

• 57% of parents have bonded with their teens over artists from their own youth, most often while listening to Michael Jackson’s music.spo 
• 44% of parents say they feel a stronger emotional bond to their teen’s graduation experience when hearing them play their music.
• The most nostalgic artists for parents are Green Day, Guns N’ Roses, Nirvana, Alanis Morissette, and Boyz II Men.
• The most nostalgic track for parents is Graduation by Vitamin C.

Methodology

This dataset captures metadata from Spotify playlists themed around graduation, compiled via keyword-based queries using search terms “graduation,” “grad party,” and “class of 2025.” 

The dataset includes 207,517 rows, each representing a single song appearance within one of these playlists. Due to the highly specific nature of Spotify genres (e.g., soft pop, g-funk, bossa nova), a custom mapping scheme was introduced. Niche genres were mapped into 7 broader categories: 

• Pop 
• Rock 
• Metal 
• Rap/Hip-hop 
• EDM 
• Alternative 
• Country 

Any genre label not clearly falling within these categories was assigned to an “other” bucket. This mapping allows for a high-level genre breakdown while preserving interpretability. 

We also surveyed 277 new or recent high school graduates (13% are class of 2025; 30% class of 2024; 26% class of 2023; and 31% class of 2022), as well as 430 parents of new/recent grads (36% class of 2025, 30% class of 2024, 20% class of 2023, and 15% class of 2022). Due to rounding, percentages may not total 100 exactly.