spotify-lorenz-curve

This visualization measures how unequally Spotify Global Top 200 streams are distributed across tracks, and how that inequality evolves over time.

Lorenz curve

The blue curve plots cumulative stream share (y) against cumulative track share (x), with tracks sorted from least to most streamed. The green dashed diagonal is the line of perfect equality — what the chart would look like if every track had identical streams. The further the Lorenz curve bows below the diagonal, the more concentrated streams are at the top.

The shaded area between the two lines is the Gini gap — the visual representation of inequality.

Stat cards

The five cards update with the selected date and summarise the distribution at a glance:

• Gini coefficient: 0 = perfect equality, 1 = all streams on one track
• Top 1 / 5 / 10 / 20 tracks: share of total daily streams captured by that many tracks

Gini over time

The line chart below tracks the Gini coefficient across all available dates. A rising Gini means streams are becoming more concentrated; a falling Gini means they are spreading more evenly. The amber cursor marks the date currently shown in the Lorenz curve above.

Use the date slider to move between dates. The curve, annotation, and all five stat cards update together.

Interpreting the Gini coefficient in this context

A high Gini (e.g. > 0.6) is typical for streaming charts — a small number of breakout tracks attract disproportionate attention while the long tail streams modestly. Tracking it over time reveals whether the chart is becoming more or less top-heavy, which can reflect seasonal effects, major album releases, or shifts in platform recommendation behaviour.