N.J. Governor Candidate Admits to Faking Spotify Wrapped Stats to Show Only Bruce Springsteen

Mar. 15, 2025

Josh Gottheimer and Bruce Springsteen.Photo:Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call/Getty; Slaven Vlasic/Getty

Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call/Getty; Slaven Vlasic/Getty

Josh Gottheimer wants to be known as a big fan of music legend and New Jersey nativeBruce Springsteen.When the New Jersey congressman announced his candidacy for governor last month, he did so to the tune of the classic Springsteen track “Glory Days.” So it wasn’t a surprise when Gottheimer shared his Spotify Wrapped listening statistics for 2024, the top five were all Springsteen tracks including “Thunder Road” and “Because the Night.”He also captioned thepost from Xon Friday, Dec. 6., “No surprises here….Fun fact: my first ever concert was at Meadowlands to see The Boss!”However, the post appeared to have been doctored, with some followers pointing out that the font was different from other Spotify Wrapped uploads.Matt Arco, a politics reporter for NJ.com shared via X, “Did Gottheimer’s campaign fake a Spotify Wrapped to curry favor with fans of The Boss? The things you do to win an election in this state.”Bruce Springsteen, July 2023.Sergione Infuso/Corbis via Getty ImagesWhen questioned, Gottheimer, 49, admitted to local news outletNJ Advance Mediathat he’d altered the stats.“This would be my Spotify Wrapped if I didn’t share my account with my 12- and 15-year-old kids,” he said in a statement, per the outlet. “While it’s Springsteen all day for me — don’t get me wrong, I still love listening toTaylor Swift!”The Bergen County Democrat even mentions Springsteen on hiscampaign website, revealing that he spent his childhood “catching a Springsteen show every chance he could get.”PerNJ Advance Media, Gottheimer is considered one of the favorites for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination next year in the busy race to succeed Phil Murphy.PEOPLE did not immediately hear back from a representative for Gottheimer.

Josh Gottheimer wants to be known as a big fan of music legend and New Jersey nativeBruce Springsteen.

When the New Jersey congressman announced his candidacy for governor last month, he did so to the tune of the classic Springsteen track “Glory Days.” So it wasn’t a surprise when Gottheimer shared his Spotify Wrapped listening statistics for 2024, the top five were all Springsteen tracks including “Thunder Road” and “Because the Night.”

He also captioned thepost from Xon Friday, Dec. 6., “No surprises here….Fun fact: my first ever concert was at Meadowlands to see The Boss!”

However, the post appeared to have been doctored, with some followers pointing out that the font was different from other Spotify Wrapped uploads.

Matt Arco, a politics reporter for NJ.com shared via X, “Did Gottheimer’s campaign fake a Spotify Wrapped to curry favor with fans of The Boss? The things you do to win an election in this state.”

Bruce Springsteen, July 2023.Sergione Infuso/Corbis via Getty Images

Sergione Infuso/Corbis via Getty Images

When questioned, Gottheimer, 49, admitted to local news outletNJ Advance Mediathat he’d altered the stats.

“This would be my Spotify Wrapped if I didn’t share my account with my 12- and 15-year-old kids,” he said in a statement, per the outlet. “While it’s Springsteen all day for me — don’t get me wrong, I still love listening toTaylor Swift!”

The Bergen County Democrat even mentions Springsteen on hiscampaign website, revealing that he spent his childhood “catching a Springsteen show every chance he could get.”

PerNJ Advance Media, Gottheimer is considered one of the favorites for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination next year in the busy race to succeed Phil Murphy.

PEOPLE did not immediately hear back from a representative for Gottheimer.

source: people.com