While Metallica has been an iconic band with a huge fanbase across the world, and timeless music, on Reddit, Tool has more members than Metallica, making it a more popular band on the platform.
Metallica are more popular on other platforms
However, if you compare on other platforms, Metallica has 10M+ subscribers on YouTube as compared on 1.5M Tool subscribers. On Spotify, Metallica has a huge 27M+ monthly listener base, while Tool has 4M+ monthly listeners.
Then why the anomaly on Reddit? Well, it seems like Tool fans suit the Reddit culture more. The core demography that listens to Tools are millennials. They are primarily aged between 25 – 50, with many fans who have followed the band since the 1990s.
On the other hand, Metallica, in 2025, has a slightly older listener base, including those who have been following the band since its inception in the 1980s. This age group seems to be less active on Reddit.
Moreover, the deep and progressive style of Tool’s music might be more appealing to the Reddit community, known for its love of in-depth discussions and analysis. Tool’s intricate song structures, philosophical lyrics, and unique approach to creating music foster substantial discussion and intrigue among the Reddit crowd.
Conversely, Metallica’s monumental presence across various generations has a broader appeal, which is reflected in their significant numbers on platforms like YouTube and Spotify.
Their global reach and relatively wide appeal across different age groups, genders, and social classes explain their larger audiences across these platforms.
Ultimately, while the data presents an interesting contrast, it’s unfair to compare the popularity of the two bands as both have their own legacies and dedicated fans.
