Spotify has revealed Asake as the most streamed Nigerian artist for the year 2023, and also its annual recap of the most successful songs and artists on the streaming platform, with ending the year
The singer, who is nominated at the 66th Grammys early next year, also claimed the No 1 position in other West African countries such as Ghana and Togo.
Asake’s dominance continued in the top 10 most streamed tracks, with three of his hits – ‘Lonely at the Top’, ‘2:30’ and ‘Amapiano’ – making the cut.
He is also the most streamed artist among Nigerian and Ghanaian Gen Z listeners.
Fellow Grammy nominee Ayra Starr retained last year’s position as the most streamed female artist in Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda.
‘Calm Down’ star Rema rounded off the year as the most globally exported African artist, particularly propped by the Selena Gomez-assisted remix of that song, which this year became the first African-led single to reach a billion streams on Spotify.
The song is also the first by a Nigerian Afrobeat’s artist to feature in the top 10 chart of most streamed recordings globally on Spotify.
Wrapped data reveals a surge in the demand for local music in Nigeria with a remarkable 284% growth in consumption, while female artists experienced a 150% increase in average streams year-on-year.
READ ALSO: Asake, Burna Boy, Davido, Most Streamed Artistes in 2023 – Spotify
In terms of searches, Rema led his contemporaries, while Burna Boy secured the top positions for both the most searched and most viral artist. Asake’s ‘Lonely at the Top’ claimed the first spot for the most viral tracks.
“Nigeria is a hotbed of musical talent and we’re incredibly proud to showcase the diversity and passion of Nigerian music lovers through Wrapped,” Spotify’s head of music for sub-Saharan Africa, Phiona Okumu, said. “This year’s Wrapped is a testament to the power of music to connect people and bring them closer to the culture and traditions of Nigeria.”
Months ago, Spotify revealed that revenues generated by Nigerian artists on its platform reached ₦11bn in 2022, adding that the development formed part of a larger trend where Nigerian music industry revenues saw a 63% growth from 2021 to 2022, according to the International Federation of the Photogenic Industry.
During the same period, revenue generated exclusively from Nigerian artists on the platform saw a 74% increase, and Nigerian artists earning over ₦5m in royalties from Spotify grew by almost 25%.
