How ‘Despacito’ Became The Most Popular YouTube Video Of All Time

“Despacito” means “slowly” in Spanish—yet its rise has been anything but. The song, performed by Luis Fonsi featuring Daddy Yankee, reached the milestones of 2 billion and 2.5 billion views faster than any video in YouTube’s history. And last weekend, just 203 days after its launch, the video surpassed 3 billion views, making it the most viewed ever.

“Breaking the record for most-viewed video of all time is a massive achievement,” says Lyor Cohen, YouTube’s Global Head of Music. “Huge congra...