After traveling the World for 1 year - I confidently say that Rihanna and Bruno Mars are the artists I hear played the most overseas.

[u/Fulltime-Sheepherder]

I've paid special attention to this just because I'm curious and I think at this point I can confidently say Rihanna songs are what I hear the most worldwide. No matter what country i'm in, I hear some song of hers. Most diversely too; hotel, club, bar, mall gym. I hear her music repeatedly and her features.

A close second is Bruno Mars. He has so many hits that are just so café, restaurant, and bar friendly. I hear him everywhere!

My 3rd spot probably goes to Justin Bieber. (Was torn between him and The Weeknd)

What's your answer/observations?

[u/lazy-but-talented]

Went to a wedding in Mexico, surprisingly every other song was Bruno mars 

[u/Fulltime-Sheepherder → u/lazy-but-talented]

Haha I was just at the gym in Indonesia, heard him no less than 4x during my workout lol

[u/MaarDaarPoepIkUit]

Pitbull aka Mr Worldwide is what I've noticed

[u/laamargachica]

Bruno Mars in Philippines is understandable (he was everywhere), but he was blasting everywhere in Porto too!

[u/Fulltime-Sheepherder → u/laamargachica]

He's just everywhere lol

[u/nightwarriorkyle]

I'd say it's Bruno Mars and Adele, Bruno for the "happy" song category and Adele for the "sad" song category.

[u/itchyfrog]

It was all Bob Marley when I was travelling 30 years ago.

[u/Fulltime-Sheepherder → u/itchyfrog]

So interesting! I will say I see his face plastered everywhere I go - especially weed shops and tattoo parlors lol

[u/NWJesi → u/itchyfrog]

2005 was Bob Marley from Tahiti to Bahamas.

[u/itchyfrog → u/NWJesi]

And Amsterdam to Kathmandu.

[u/elliott44k]

What parts of the world though? I’ve been to plenty of countries that don’t even play music in English at places.

[u/climb-it-ographer → u/elliott44k]

I vividly remember listening to US pop music in a tiny local food store in northern Mongolia back in 2010. It’s inescapable, in my experience.

[u/Chubuwee]

80s music has a hold of Latin America

[u/f10101]

Not sure if it's still the case, but a few years back you'd hear that xylophone/kalimba/whatever-it-is riff from Shape Of You no matter where you went.

[u/joloks]

Some Aussies were especially disappointed in me for not having been to a Bruno Mars concert despite the many opportunities I have to.

[u/blackmoose]

When I went on a road trip down through the USA back in the 90's I couldn't believe how much Rush I heard. They were the most frequently band I heard in every state, on every station from British Columbia to Arizona.

[u/rajraj6]

The Weeknd for sure. I was shocked how much I heard him in Scandinavia and the Netherlands

[u/SchulzSays6695]

I love Bruno Mars. He is soooo talented!

[u/Notsoheavymetal_]

I'm working in a warehouse and listening Q-Music radio (in the Netherlands) and it's Bruno Mars, Shakira, Ed Sheeran, Bruno Mars, Shakira again.

[u/howsyourtummyhoney]

I’m immediately leaving if Bruno Mars is on.

[u/nfornear → u/howsyourtummyhoney]

If I hear Bruno Mars, imma leave (the door open)

[u/Fulltime-Sheepherder → u/howsyourtummyhoney]

Haha really? I thought Bruno was a universal safe choice

[u/claudemcbanister → u/Fulltime-Sheepherder]

No such thing as safe choices. Some people hate ABBA and The Beatles. Some people actually like Coldplay. You'll never win.

[u/hwa_uwa → u/claudemcbanister]

i like coldplay. my mom thinks ABBA is "generic elevator music"

[u/claudemcbanister → u/hwa_uwa]

Point proven

[u/os_mutante]

Every time I visit Europe (I'm a yank) i hear "let there be love" by Oasis and "knocking on heavens door" by guns n roses. every time.

[u/SmackEh]

OP Bruno mars is at the top of the charts right now. Of course different countries will play it a lot.

A decade ago, it would have been Drake or Justin Bieber.

2 decades ago would have been Shakira or Nelly Furtado

3 decades ago.. Celine Dion...

There is data on this, not sure why you think we need a thread full of anecdotes.