David Bowie’s iconic 1977 track “Heroes” has experienced a significant resurgence on streaming platforms, marking a nearly 500% spike in streams following its prominent placement in the finale of Netflix’s Stranger Things, which premiered on December 31. Prior to its appearance in the series’ final episode end credits, “Heroes” maintained an average of approximately 94,000 daily streams over five months. This figure dramatically increased in the days immediately after the finale’s release, reaching around 342,000 streams on January 1, 456,000 on January 2, and 470,000 on January 3, indicating a 3.6 to 5-times increase compared to its typical daily performance, according to new Luminate data.

This particular music placement created a full-circle moment for Stranger Things, a show deeply associated with 1980s music throughout its run. Earlier seasons famously utilized a cover of “Heroes” by Peter Gabriel, making the finale’s use of Bowie’s original recording a deliberate and fitting callback. In an interview with Netflix’s Tudum, series creators Matt and Ross Duffer revealed that the idea to feature Bowie’s version originated from cast member Joe Keery, known for his role as Steve Harrington. Ross Duffer stated, “It was actually Joe Keery who suggested that we do the Bowie version. Once Joe said that, we immediately knew that was the right song to end the show on because it is, in some ways, an anthem for Stranger Things. To use the original Bowie version just felt fitting for the conclusion.”

Beyond his influence on the show's soundtrack, Joe Keery also saw a personal streaming boost. His music project, Djo, garnered renewed attention, with his 2022 track “End of Beginning” climbing to the No. 1 spot on Spotify’s Global Chart, displacing Taylor Swift’s “The Fate of Ophelia,” which had previously held the top position for several weeks, as reported by Rolling Stone.

Music has consistently played a pivotal role in Stranger Things, effectively reintroducing a new generation of listeners to classic catalog tracks from the 1980s. A notable example is Kate Bush’s “Running Up That Hill,” which famously returned to global charts in 2022 after its inclusion in Season Four. The series finale further underscored this trend by featuring Prince’s “When Doves Cry” and “Purple Rain.” The Duffer Brothers emphasized to Tudum the critical nature of music selection in the final episode, especially given its central plot device involving a record player. Ross Duffer noted, “We never talked about a song choice as much as we did for that moment. We knew we needed an epic needle drop, and so many ideas were thrown around. I think there’s nothing really more epic than Prince.” Following its feature, “Purple Rain” experienced a 243% increase in Spotify streams, with global Gen Z listeners reportedly driving a remarkable 577% surge.