Top music streaming platform Spotify has declared the Divine Ikubor, otherwise known as Rema and Ahmed Ololade, popularly called Asaka, as Afrobeats’ global ambassadors in their Wrapped 2023, the annual data-led recap on how people listened to music and podcasts on their platform.
This comes a week after Potpourri shared some insights into the rising fortunes and fame of Nigeria’s new musical powerhouses, Rema and Asake, and how the duo has steered the wheel of the Afrobeats movement this year, both at home and globally.
In 2023, the global music scene witnessed an unprecedented surge in Nigerian music, shattering barriers and making waves worldwide. Rema, a standout talent in the genre, experienced an extraordinary ascent to stardom during this period.
His collaboration with American pop sensation Selena Gomez on the chart-topping single “Calm Down” garnered immense popularity, earning him a massive global fan base. Notably, the song achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first African-led single to surpass a billion streams on Spotify.
This groundbreaking accomplishment placed a Nigerian Afrobeats artist on Spotify’s top 10 chart for the most streamed recordings worldwide, marking a significant achievement for African musicians. “Calm Down” also secured its position at the pinnacle of the Nigerian song export chart, firmly establishing itself as a musical phenomenon on the global stage.
Rema and Asake have also cemented their positions as Afrobeats’ global ambassadors, with Rema holding the title of the most globally exported artist and Asake captivating audiences across Nigeria, Ghana, and Togo, earning him the coveted title of most streamed artist in each country.
This continued international success further underscores the enduring appeal of Afrobeats as the most exported genre of the year.
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.
His reign extended to the Gen Z demographic, with Asake becoming the most streamed artist among Nigerian and Ghanaian Gen Z listeners.
His song “Lonely at the Top” further cemented his popularity among Nigerian Gen Zs, topping the charts for their age group.
Interestingly, Mohbad secured a position in the top 20 list of the most streamed artists in Nigeria, which was attributed to an increased interest in his music following his untimely death.
His track Ask About Me was the top streamed track every day between the 13th and 25th of September.
On the top list of most streamed female artists, Spotify RADAR alumnus and 1st time Grammy nominee Ayra Starr clinched the title of the most streamed female artist in Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda.
Mercy Chinwo, a gospel artist, secured a spot among the top 10 most streamed female artists in Nigeria, underscoring the enduring popularity and influence of gospel music.
The throwback charts for 2023 were dominated by the legendary 2Pac, with his song Hit ‘Em Up—Single Version and album Greatest Hits securing the top spots.
This resurgence of interest in 2Pac’s music is likely due to the 50th anniversary of hip-hop, the numerous headlines surrounding his death this year, and his enduring status as one of the most influential and successful rappers of all time.
As a result, many Nigerians turned to Spotify to stream his music, solidifying his position in the charts.
On top local podcasts in the hearts of Nigerian listeners, the spotlight falls on Apostle Joshua Selman, Koinonia with Apostle Joshua Selman, The HonestBunch Podcast, I Said What I Said, Tea with Tay, and Koinonia Experience With Apostle Joshua Selman (ENI).
The leading position of these podcast shows comes as no surprise, given their widespread popularity among youth, especially Gen Zs and Millennials.
Their popularity can also be attributed to their engaging and entertaining content, their keen awareness of trending subjects, and their unfiltered and candid conversation.
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