Stranger Things Actor Tops Spotify With His Side Project, Beats Taylor Swift’s “The Fate of Ophelia”

Joe Keery, best known for playing Steve Harrington on “Stranger Things,” is making waves in the music world.

His band, Djo, has reached a major milestone on Spotify. Their song “End of Beginning,” released in 2022, recently hit number one on Spotify’s daily charts, surpassing Taylor Swift’s “The Fate of Ophelia,” which had held the spot for months. This information comes from SlashFilm and Spotify’s chart data.

The timing of the song’s rise is notable. “End of Beginning” has been number one since January 2, 2026, just after the final season of “Stranger Things” debuted on Netflix. The track’s success is especially impressive because it is almost four years old.

Keery has been balancing acting and music for years. While filming “Stranger Things” for nearly a decade, he worked on Djo during his breaks.

In an interview with Billboard back in April 2024, when the song reached number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100 and topped the Hot Alternative Songs chart, Keery said, “It’s really cool, but I almost feel like I don’t have the perspective to really appreciate what’s going on in a way. I think that in time, it’ll come to me even more. They’re cool milestones to hit, but at the end of the day, the greatest thing is being able to go into the studio and work.”

Keery’s success comes at a unique moment in his career. The “Stranger Things” finale was a hit on Netflix and even had a theatrical release. At the same time, his music was topping charts, giving him visibility across TV, film, and music at once.

Looking ahead, Keery will likely have more opportunities. Reports suggest he will not appear in any “Stranger Things” spin-offs, leaving room to focus on new projects. He also has a new movie called “Cold Storage” set to release in February 2026. With acting and music both going strong, Keery seems poised for a busy year.

Have something to add? Let us know in the comments!