Tones And I is the latest Aussie recognised for a billions streams

You’d be forgiven for thinking ‘Dance Monkey’ might already have achieved the feat some time ago, but the viral hit by Tones And I has just been recognised for cracking a billion streams.

The multi-ARIA winning Tones And I was recognised at APRA AMCOS with a ceremony to recognise her addition to The 1,000,000,000 List , with chief executive Dean Ormston on hand to present her with the songwriting accolade.

‘Dance Monkey’ is officially the fastest Aussie song to reach the 1,000,000,000, passing the billion park on Spotify last week. It’s not far away from reaching 2 billion across all streaming platforms.

Toni Watson recorded the song with Brisbane producer Konstantin Kersting, and the single announced Tones to the world in 2019.

Among other achievements, it gave Tones And I the longest-serving ARIA #1 single, as well as the longest-running # 1 single by a female artist in UK chart history.

Tones And I was one of only three Aussie artists in 2019 to top the TMN Hot 100 powered by Radio Monitor, and is now in its 38th charting week.

Tones is also the first Australian artist to reach #1 on Spotify’s Global Top 50 Playlist, a position she held for four months.

“It was only when I wasn’t trying at all that it happened, and I wrote this song in about a half an hour,” Tones said, in a speech to APRA AMCOS staff, her co-managers Lemon Tree Music & Artists Only, and publisher Kobalt Music Group.

‘Dance Monkey’ has topped charts in more than 30 countries and is currently sitting at its peak of #7 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

“The reason for this award is to signal the importance of the songwriter, who is sometimes behind-the-scenes,” said Ormston.

“Tones’ talent is incredible: she’s the artist and the person behind-the-scenes with a song she wrote one hundred percent herself. Her career is just beginning.”

‘Dance Monkey’ recently reached a new peak position of #7 in its seventh US charting week on the Billboard Hot 100, and it has topped charts in 30 different territories

“We are experiencing something very special here with Tones And I and I would like to thank Tones, Regan, Jackson and David for trusting Kobalt as their publishing partner for Australia and New Zealand,” added Simon Moor, managing director for Kobalt Music Group APIC.

“One billion streams is an incredible milestone to stop and reflect on, but it won’t be too long before ‘Dance Monkey’ reaches two billion, and there are many more great songs to follow from this truly unique and talented artist and songwriter.”

Nat Dunn was the first member of The 1,000,000,000 List, and was joined by Dean Lewis, Starley & P-Money, Troye Sivan & Alex Hope, Flume, Jason Mason, Ivan Khatchoyan and Lance Ferguson, all inducted in 2019.

YouTube has also recognised Tones for becoming the 10th Australian to crack a million subscribers on YouTube.

Tones was surprised at Laneway festival on Friday with the award, and her green room was decked out with graphics marking the milestone.