• Step 1: Publish a great mix in 2009.
• Step 2: Wait four years until 8tracks clocks 5 million listeners per month.
• Step 3: Be proud; you’re an 8tracks millionaire.

Today’s post celebrates the first 8tracks mix to reach over one million plays, a mix which was published in February 2009 and has steadily become the all-time most played mix on the site.

What is it about this mix that’s so compelling to so many listeners? The playlist is a sweet compilation of indie rock songs by lytebryte25, with the evocative title “songs to lie on your bed and stare at the ceiling to.” Along with some well-chosen artwork, it’s this winning combination of a perfect mood, a specific setting, and well-crafted playlist that keeps people coming back to hear your selections.

That’s one of the special things about 8tracks:  you may not know exactly what you want to hear, but if you want some sounds to escape while you stare upwards contemplating existence, or while you sweat, dance, mourn, laugh, or just live, someone out there has made a playlist just for you.

Curious about what other mixes have blown up on 8tracks? Take a look at the top 10 most played 8tracks playlists of all-time:

Thanks to our excellent, dedicated DJs – the curators on the 8tracks network – nearly 800,000 mixes have been published since 2008.  And their audience continues to grow: since 8tracks raised funding in August 2011, both the number of listeners per month and hours of listening per listener per month have tripled, resulting in a nearly 10X increase in total hours streamed, which just topped 22m in April.  Over the same period, listening on mobile has increased from 1% to now 50% of all hours streamed.

Thank you DJs, listeners, raging fans and supporters for being part of the journey as we seek to offer the best music for any taste, time and place. A million plays is just the start of the growth you’ve helped us achieve!