Afrobeats Triumphs: Spotify Wrapped 2024 Highlights Nigerian Music’s Global Reach

Nigerian music continues to make waves on the global stage, with Spotify Wrapped 2024 celebrating the country’s vibrant and ever-expanding influence. Afrobeats, the heartbeat of Nigeria’s musical export, has cemented its place as a global phenomenon. For the fourth year in a row, Nigerian artists have dominated the list of the 10 most-streamed songs worldwide, underscoring the genre’s universal appeal.

Domestically, Nigerian music consumption surged by an astounding 146% over the past year, according to Spotify’s data. This growth reflects the growing appreciation for homegrown talent, with albums, tracks, and podcasts not only topping local charts but also gaining significant traction internationally. From Lagos to London, Nigerian music is making its presence felt.

One of the standout stories from Spotify Wrapped this year is the dominance of Asake, crowned the most-streamed artist in Sub-Saharan Africa. His music resonates across generations, captivating listeners aged 13 to 55 in Nigeria, Gambia, and Benin. Meanwhile, rising stars like Ayo Maff and Muyeez are climbing the ranks, with hits like Dealer and Instagram earning spots on Nigeria’s most-streamed tracklists. Young John also made waves with his album Jiggy Forever, which claimed the title of the year’s most-streamed album in Nigeria.

On the international stage, Burna Boy remains Nigeria’s brightest star, holding his position as the only Nigerian artist in the UK Top 100. However, Ayra Starr is carving out her niche, particularly in Latin America and Europe, where she has become the most-streamed Nigerian artist. Ayra’s consistent chart-topping presence globally has even outpaced giants like Burna Boy and Rema in longevity on Spotify’s global charts.

Major cities like Lagos, Port Harcourt, and Abuja continue to drive Nigeria’s thriving music scene, acting as cultural hubs where creativity flourishes. Alongside music, podcasts are also gaining traction. Apostle Femi Lazarus leads Nigeria’s podcast charts, followed by motivational and lifestyle shows such as Success Addicted and The Honest Bunch.

The growth of Nigerian music on platforms like Spotify has not gone unnoticed by competitors. Streaming giants like Audiomack and YouTube Music are intensifying their focus on Nigeria to tap into the burgeoning Afrobeats market. This year, Spotify’s own influence expanded despite a controversial 40% hike in Premium subscription prices, which the company justified as necessary to enhance user experience and innovation.