Djo ends Swift's 78-day Spotify rule

Joe Keery's 2022 track finds new life after 'Stranger Things' finale sends streams surging

Djo, the music alter ego of 'Stranger Things' star Joe Keery, has stormed to the top of Spotify's streaming rankings, with the reflective track 'End Of Beginning' climbing to No 1 in both the US and worldwide following a powerful post-finale resurgence.

The song drew 1.378 million streams in the US on January 2, securing its first-ever spell at the summit of the American Spotify chart, while an impressive 6.527 million plays across the world lifted it back to the Global No 1 position.

Its return to dominance has also ended Taylor Swift's remarkable run at the top. Her hit 'The Fate of Ophelia' ruled the Global Spotify chart for 78 uninterrupted days, one of the longest sustained streaks seen recently on the platform.

Swift's displacement comes with no bitter edge. She has previously championed Keery's music, publicly praising 'End Of Beginning' and signalling her admiration for artists operating outside the mainstream pop lane, a gesture that surprised Keery when the pair briefly met in New York.

Speaking on 'The Spout' podcast in 2024, Keery recalled Swift approaching him with a compliment, saying: "Hey, I really love that track of yours, End Of Beginning." He admitted he had not expected her to be aware of his work at all.

He said Swift explained she actively searches for new music and emerging voices, a habit that made her discovery less surprising in hindsight and reinforced her reputation as a serious listener rather than simply a global pop brand.

'End Of Beginning' was first released in 2022 as part of Djo's album 'Decide'. It only began to snowball in early 2024, when online momentum, including widespread TikTok use, transformed it into a slow-burn streaming force.

That momentum ultimately pushed the single to No 11 on the Billboard Hot 100 on March 30, 2024, cementing its place far beyond the niche following that initially embraced Keery's synth-pop-leaning musical side project.

The latest spike coincides with the emotional farewell to 'Stranger Things', as viewers revisited Keery's character Steve Harrington and, in parallel, rediscovered his music. The crossover effect between screen and sound has clearly reignited interest in the track.

For Keery, the numbers signal that Djo is no vanity experiment. 'End Of Beginning' has demonstrated real staying power, returning to the top years after release through genuine listener loyalty rather than marketing hype alone.

Its success also underlines how modern hits can take the long road, with songs finding renewed life through cultural moments, platform algorithms and word-of-mouth discovery long after they first arrive on streaming services.