"TikTok really is the method now": Netizens react as Sombr hits 1 billion Spotify streams for the first time with "Back to Friends"

Rising singer-songwriter Sombr has officially entered Spotify's billion-streams club. His beloved track "Back to Friends" has crossed the one billion mark on the platform. It has become his first-ever song to do so. The milestone comes following the TikTok controversy and his debut album, I Barely Know Her.

The New York native's real name is Shane Michael Boose. Sombr shared his gratitude in an Instagram Stories post, writing,

"i cannot believe back to friends hit 1 billion streams on spotify: self written and produced. you can do anything you set your mind to. i love you so much, i'm so grateful for you and i'll dedicate my life to creating and playing music for you."

Fans and followers took to social media platforms to say:

"TikTok really is the method now"

Netizens' reactions to Sombr hitting 1 billion Spotify streams for the first time with "Back to Friends"

Pop Crave took to its official X (formerly Twitter) page to announce that,

"Sombr earns his first song with over 1 billion streams on Spotify with “back to friends.”"

Fans did not wait long before weighing in on the comment section of the X post as they penned their thoughts about Sombr's latest achievement. Below are some of their reactions:

"breaking into the billion-stream club is no small feat", declared a netizen.

"That’s a massive milestone for Sombr Hitting over 1 billion streams on Spotify with back to friends shows the song’s global resonance and staying power It’s a huge moment in his career", lauded another.

"This song is truly an anthem! One billion streams proves its impact. So happy for Sombr and this major achievement.", commented a third.

Others also chimed in:

"dangggg that's huge for him tbh... I've seen it was already over 900 million just a bit ago so the climb was fast. Do u think his album will have another song hit a bill?", asked a fan.

"a billion streams later and it still feels like the first listen, "back to friends" really became the heartbreak anthem of a generation.", shared another.

"hmm, not sure I'd call it purely an "indie" stream count success tho, it was a massive TikTok viral hit & the Wikipedia page lists it as Indie Pop / Alternative Rock. Like, pure Indie rock tracks rarely hit a billion without a huge push, only a handful exist like "Sweater Weather" at 4.1B. Does the viral factor diminish the "indie" part for you at all?", penned a third.

On the Billboard Hot Rock & Alternative Songs chart dated October 18, 2025, "Back to Friends" replaced Sombr's own hit, "Undressed," which had dominated for six weeks. This made Sombr the first solo artist in years to dethrone himself on the chart. It was last achieved by Panic! at the Disco back in 2019.

As "Back to Friends" continues to get featured on streaming charts, Sombr's global tour in support of I Barely Know Her is underway. The upcoming trek dates and locations are as follows:

North American stops

Tuesday, October 21, 2025, Salt Lake City, UT, at The Complex
Friday, October 24, 2025, Seattle, WA, at WAMU Theater
Saturday, October 25, 2025, Portland, OR, at Theater of the Clouds, Moda Center
Monday, October 27, 2025, San Francisco, CA, at Bill Graham Civic Auditorium
Tuesday, October 28, 2025, Los Angeles, CA, at Shrine Expo Hall
Wednesday, October 29, 2025, Los Angeles, CA, at Shrine Expo Hall
Friday, October 31, 2025, Phoenix, AZ, at The Van Buren
Saturday, November 1, 2025, Pomona, CA, at Fox Theater
Sunday, November 2, 2025, Los Angeles, CA, at The Fonda
Wednesday, November 5, 2025, Brooklyn, NY, at Brooklyn Steel
Thursday, November 6, 2025, Brooklyn, NY, at Brooklyn Steel

Sombr's Australia and New Zealand leg

Tuesday, December 2, 2025, Auckland, New Zealand, at Auckland Town Hall
Thursday, December 4, 2025, Melbourne, VIC, at Festival Hall
Saturday, December 6, 2025, Ballarat, VIC, at Spilt Milk Ballarat 2025 (Victoria Park Newington)
Sunday, December 7, 2025, Perth, WA, at Spilt Milk Perth 2025 (Robinson Pavilion, Claremont Showground)
Tuesday, December 9, 2025, Sydney, NSW, at Hordern Pavilion
Thursday, December 11, 2025, Brisbane, QLD, at Fortitude Music Hall
Saturday, December 13, 2025, Canberra, ACT, at Spilt Milk Canberra 2025 (Exhibition Park)
Sunday, December 14, 2025, Gold Coast, QLD, at Spilt Milk Gold Coast 2025 (Sports & Leisure Centre Carrara)
Tuesday, December 16, 2025, Sydney, NSW, at Hordern Pavilion