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Spotify named "Ordinary" by Alex Warren the top song of the summer for Detroit.

The big picture: The audio streaming service says listeners "swapped carefree anthems for songs that felt personal, vulnerable and emotionally charged — both lyrically and sonically."

Per Spotify data, 2025 was a low-energy summer for music, based on the tempos, beat strength and overall regularity of its top tracks.

How it works: Spotify's editors handpicked a list based on streaming data, cultural impact and editorial insight that "collectively defined the season."

Spotify shared exclusively with Axios how those songs fared with Detroit listeners:

Alex Warren's love letter ballad to his wife became the most-streamed song of the summer on Spotify, with its highest streaming peak on June 12.

Sombr's monthly listeners soared from 8 million at the start of the year to over 53 million to date following the release of this song, which hit its highest streaming day Aug. 8.

This first single off her new album "Man's Best Friend" spent 25 consecutive days at No. 1 on Spotify's U.S. Daily Top Songs.

Spotify says this standout song from Lenae's 2024 album "Bird's Eye" feels like "a hazy summer evening." It hit its peak streaming July 18.

5. "Shake It To The Max (FLY) – Remix" by MOLIY, Silent Addy, Skillibeng & Shenseea

This dancehall anthem charted on Spotify's Top 50 Chart in over 45 countries.

🤔 Annalise's thought bubble: Honestly, Spotify? I'm kinda skeptical. "Ordinary" sounds like a song with a singular purpose — backing an Instagram video compilation of an influencer couple's relationship, from first date to marriage proposal.

I think any list would need "Illegal" by PinkPantheress, Chappell Roan's "The Subway" and "Anxiety" by Doechii.

Spotify picks songs of the summer for Detroit

"Ordinary" tops the list, followed by a couple of other hits you might recognize.

Illustration of the Spotify logo as a door, opening up to a vault with rainbow light coming out. 

<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Spotify" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/07/29/spotify-user-numbers-investor-relations" data-vars-content-id="00e4a353-9f42-46be-8450-479205a0eccc" data-vars-headline="Spotify picks songs of the summer for Detroit" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/07/29/spotify-user-numbers-investor-relations" target="_self">Spotify</a> named &quot;Ordinary&quot; by Alex Warren the top song of the summer for Detroit.The big picture: The audio streaming service says listeners &quot;swapped carefree anthems for songs that felt personal, vulnerable and emotionally charged — both lyrically and sonically.&quot;

Culture

To celebrate, we made a shortlist of the most intriguing men's hoops matchups in Michigan this season.

Highly touted prospect Emoni Bates decided to come back home after a shaky start to his college career at Memphis. The Eagles should get a lot more attention this season with the former 5-star recruit suiting up for them.

Location: George Gervin GameAbove Center, Ypsilanti

Ways to watch: Stream online on ESPN+ or buy tickets here.

Hopefully these rivalry games won't be as one-sided as the football game was this year.

Ways to watch: Watch on FOX or buy tickets here.

The Spartans lead this all-time series 70-65 after the teams split their home and away games last year.

3 men's college basketball games in Michigan we're watching

Head coach Juwan Howard of the Michigan Wolverines yells against the San Diego State Aztecs during the first half at Crisler Arena on December 04, 2021 in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

College basketball

College basketball is finally back. <ul><li>To celebrate, we made a shortlist of the most intriguing men&#x27;s hoops matchups in Michigan this season.</li></ul>

Sports

Detroit is next in line to host a cutting-edge immersive entertainment venue, joining Los Angeles, Dallas and Atlanta in landing an attraction similar to The Sphere in Las Vegas.

The big picture: Bedrock announced Friday that a Cosm venue will add to downtown's entertainment offerings as the anchor tenant for the Dan Gilbert real estate company's long-delayed Development at Cadillac Square.

Cosm's choice to land in Detroit highlights the city's rising profile for events and entertainment.

Catch up quick: The Development at Cadillac Square is planned with 1.5 million square feet of office, entertainment and retail space and a multistory food hall set around the former National Theatre along Monroe Street by Campus Martius.

The tenant announcement is a significant step forward for Monroe Blocks, a project that broke ground in 2018.

The site has sat empty, the project stalled, and the property has been temporarily activated for the summer and holidays.

The latest: Bedrock said Friday that it plans to break ground next year. In early 2023, it was estimated the first development phase would begin in September of this year.

The timeline for Cosm's construction and opening was not disclosed.

Context: Cosm venues feature everything from soccer matches to Cirque du Soleil on a 12K+ LED dome. They also showcase live sports, music, theater and immersive art, including through partnerships with the NBA, the UFC, the NFL, ESPN and others.

Cosm opened its first location in Los Angeles this summer, a second in Dallas this fall, and a third is coming to Atlanta.

What they're saying: Detroit interested Cosm as a location, CEO Jeb Terry tells Axios, and the city rose to the top as it worked with Gilbert and his team.

"When you look at the fandom and everything that is in Detroit, it made a ton of sense for us," Terry says. "The way the fans came out for the NFL Draft this past year …. We'd always liked it, then just seeing the energy really just helped reinforce that decision."

Between the lines: The LED dome in Detroit will be 87 feet tall, matching the height at the other locations.

It will feature "shared reality" technology that "merges the virtual and physical worlds with state-of-the-art visuals" and the crowd's energy, per the company.

Expect pub food, cocktails and beer while you watch a show.

Ticket prices at the other locations appear to vary, with tickets at the Dallas venue for an NCAA game starting at $11 and a Friday-night Cirque du Soleil showing starting at $55.

Sphere-like venue coming to downtown Detroit

Detroit is next in line to host a cutting-edge immersive entertainment venue, joining Los Angeles, Dallas and Atlanta.

The building in the rendering is rectangular and gold, next to the One Campus Martius building.

A conceptual rendering of Cosm Detroit. Rendering: Courtesy of Bedrock

Detroit is next in line to host a cutting-edge immersive entertainment venue, joining Los Angeles, Dallas and Atlanta in landing an attraction similar to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="The Sphere" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/07/08/sphere-las-vegas-venue-shows" data-vars-content-id="902a685c-be21-4f04-910a-cf9b848487ae" data-vars-headline="Sphere-like venue coming to downtown Detroit" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/07/08/sphere-las-vegas-venue-shows" target="_self">The Sphere</a> in Las Vegas.The big picture: Bedrock announced Friday that a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Cosm" data-vars-click-url="https://www.cosm.com/" data-vars-content-id="902a685c-be21-4f04-910a-cf9b848487ae" data-vars-headline="Sphere-like venue coming to downtown Detroit" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.cosm.com/" target="_blank">Cosm</a> venue will add to downtown&#x27;s entertainment offerings as the anchor tenant for the Dan Gilbert real estate company&#x27;s long-delayed <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Development at Cadillac Square" data-vars-click-url="https://www.developmentcadillacsquare.com/" data-vars-content-id="902a685c-be21-4f04-910a-cf9b848487ae" data-vars-headline="Sphere-like venue coming to downtown Detroit" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.developmentcadillacsquare.com/" target="_blank">Development at Cadillac Square</a>.<ul><li>Cosm&#x27;s choice to land in Detroit highlights the city&#x27;s rising profile for events and entertainment.</li></ul>Catch up quick: The Development at Cadillac Square is planned with 1.5 million square feet of office, entertainment and retail space and a multistory food hall set around the former National Theatre along Monroe Street by Campus Martius.<ul><li>The tenant announcement is a significant step forward for Monroe Blocks, a project that broke ground in 2018.</li><li>The site has sat empty, the project stalled, and the property has been temporarily activated for the summer and holidays.</li></ul>The latest: Bedrock said Friday that it plans to break ground next year. In early 2023, it was estimated the first development phase would <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="begin in September of this year" data-vars-click-url="https://www.wxyz.com/news/bedrock-unveils-new-plan-for-previous-monroe-blocks-development-in-downtown-detroit" data-vars-content-id="902a685c-be21-4f04-910a-cf9b848487ae" data-vars-headline="Sphere-like venue coming to downtown Detroit" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.wxyz.com/news/bedrock-unveils-new-plan-for-previous-monroe-blocks-development-in-downtown-detroit" target="_blank">begin in September of this year</a>.<ul><li>The timeline for Cosm&#x27;s construction and opening was not disclosed.</li></ul>Context: Cosm venues feature everything from soccer matches to Cirque du Soleil on a 12K+ LED dome. They also showcase live sports, music, theater and immersive art, including through partnerships with the NBA, the UFC, the NFL, ESPN and others.<ul><li>Cosm opened its <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="first location" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2024/07/16/sphere-like-venue-goes-national-whats-next" data-vars-content-id="902a685c-be21-4f04-910a-cf9b848487ae" data-vars-headline="Sphere-like venue coming to downtown Detroit" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2024/07/16/sphere-like-venue-goes-national-whats-next" target="_self">first location</a> in Los Angeles this summer, a second in Dallas this fall, and a third is coming to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Atlanta" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/atlanta/2024/07/23/cosm-centennial-yards-downtown-sphere" data-vars-content-id="902a685c-be21-4f04-910a-cf9b848487ae" data-vars-headline="Sphere-like venue coming to downtown Detroit" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/atlanta/2024/07/23/cosm-centennial-yards-downtown-sphere" target="_self">Atlanta</a>.</li></ul>What they&#x27;re saying: Detroit interested Cosm as a location, CEO Jeb Terry tells Axios, and the city rose to the top as it worked with <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Gilbert" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/detroit/2024/06/20/where-dan-gilbert-hopes-detroit-is-headed-in-10-years" data-vars-content-id="902a685c-be21-4f04-910a-cf9b848487ae" data-vars-headline="Sphere-like venue coming to downtown Detroit" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/detroit/2024/06/20/where-dan-gilbert-hopes-detroit-is-headed-in-10-years" target="_self">Gilbert</a> and his team.<ul><li>&quot;When you look at the fandom and everything that is in Detroit, it made a ton of sense for us,&quot; Terry says. &quot;The way the fans came out for the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="NFL Draft" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/detroit/2024/07/12/nfl-draft-brings-200-million-to-city-report" data-vars-content-id="902a685c-be21-4f04-910a-cf9b848487ae" data-vars-headline="Sphere-like venue coming to downtown Detroit" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/detroit/2024/07/12/nfl-draft-brings-200-million-to-city-report" target="_self">NFL Draft</a> this past year …. We&#x27;d always liked it, then just seeing the energy really just helped reinforce that decision.&quot;</li></ul>Between the lines: The LED dome in Detroit will be 87 feet tall, matching the height at the other locations.<ul><li>It will feature &quot;shared reality&quot; technology that &quot;merges the virtual and physical worlds with state-of-the-art visuals&quot; and the crowd&#x27;s energy, per the company.</li><li>Expect pub food, cocktails and beer while you watch a show.</li><li>Ticket prices at the other locations appear to vary, with tickets at the Dallas venue for an NCAA game starting at $11 and a Friday-night Cirque du Soleil showing starting at $55.</li></ul>

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Business

Development

Rapper 42 Dugg was a Top 10 Shazamed artist in Detroit in 2022. The 28-year-old took the eighth spot, above fellow hip-hop artist Kendrick Lamar and R&B songstress SZA, respectively.

The big picture: Axios' Erin Davis identified songs Shazamed in Detroit more often than anywhere else in the United States.

How it works: The top 100 most-Shazamed songs were identified by data provider Chartmetric for 96 cities around the United States.

Axios compared the song rankings in each city to the average rank of those songs in the 95 other U.S. cities.

Data: Chartmetric; Chart: Erin Davis/Axios Visuals.

Between the lines: The study also found each city's top 10 most Shazamed artists and and top 5 most Shazamed music genres.

Detroit's top 10 artists were: Drake, Lil Baby, YoungBoy Never Broke Again, Lil Durk, 21 Savage, Future, The Weeknd, 42 Dugg, Kendrick Lamar and SZA. 

The top five genres Shazamed were hip-hop/rap, pop, R&B/soul, rock, and alternative.

Detroit-native 42 Dugg among top artists Shazamed last year

Rapper 42 Dugg attends Yo Gotti's CMG 2022 Press Conference on February 10, 2022 in Los Angeles, California

Entertainment

Rapper 42 Dugg was a Top 10 Shazamed artist in Detroit in 2022. The 28-year-old took the eighth spot, above fellow hip-hop artist Kendrick Lamar and R&amp;B songstress SZA, respectively.

News

"Diarra From Detroit," a new show on BET+, could follow "Sister, Sister" and "Martin" as the next hit Black comedy series set in Detroit.

Why it matters: Detroit native Diarra Kilpatrick is the show's creator, executive producer, writer and star, Axios' Maxwell Millington reports.

Prior to this series, Kilpatrick was a comedy writer and had recurring roles in HBO's "Perry Mason" and Tracy Morgan's sitcom "The Last O.G."

Zoom in: Kilpatrick's artistic background started at Bates Academy. She was part of the Mosaic Youth Theatre of Detroit and went to high school at Detroit Country Day.

What they're saying: Kilpatrick told Axios about capturing the Detroit experience at the show's premiere in Hollywood last week.

"Anybody who said 'soda' on set was automatically fined — it's 'pop' or nothing," she joked.

"I'm from all of Detroit," she said in an interview with Paper Magazine.

The actor also said she wanted to capture the city's east side vs. west side rivalry and showcase local businesses like Flood's.

Kilpatrick is the half sister of former Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, per the Free Press.

The intrigue: In the show, Diarra is a teacher going through a divorce who discovers her dating app match may be related to a missing-child cold case.

This discovery sets her on a mission to solve the mystery.

The cast includes Phylicia Rashad and Morris Chestnut, with cameos from local celebrities like Kash Doll and John Salley.

Kilpatrick tells Axios she hopes lawmakers will bring back state film tax incentives for future seasons of the show to be filmed in Detroit. This season was primarily filmed in New Jersey.

"It not only allows us to bring money back into the community and local businesses and feature local talent, but it also helps us get that special sauce of Detroit on screen."

Friction point: Industry advocates and Democratic lawmakers say a new form of incentives would help spur new production locally. But skeptical economists say economic returns have been underwhelming under similar measures.

Stalled legislation to provide tax credits for up to 30% of a production company's local costs to produce a film was heard by a state House panel this year.

Detroit's Diarra Kilpatrick stars in new BET+ mystery

The Detroit native is the show’s creator, executive producer, writer and star.

Detroit native Diarra Kilpatrick promotes her new show, "Diarra From Detroit."

Detroit native Diarra Kilpatrick. Photo: Arnold Turner/Getty Images for BET+

Streaming media

Diarra Kilpatrick promotes her show, "Diarra from Detroit."

&quot;Diarra From Detroit,&quot; <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="a new show on BET+" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2024/03/21/netflix-hulu-disney-shirley-freaknik-xmen" data-vars-content-id="cc6e9bfc-7468-4df8-a668-4a316f5831ec" data-vars-headline="Detroit&#x27;s Diarra Kilpatrick stars in new BET+ mystery" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2024/03/21/netflix-hulu-disney-shirley-freaknik-xmen" target="_self">a new show on BET+</a>, could follow &quot;Sister, Sister&quot; and &quot;Martin&quot; as the next hit Black comedy series set in Detroit.Why it matters: Detroit native Diarra Kilpatrick is the show&#x27;s creator, executive producer, writer and star, Axios&#x27; Maxwell Millington reports.

Maxwell Millington

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