Spotify dedicates new site for Afrobeats

Spotify, the streaming platform, has launched a dedicated website for the Afrobeats genre of music.

‘Afrobeats: Journey to a Billion Streams’ is a dedicated site that will track all things related to the genre; from its origins in Ghana, its popularisation in Nigeria, its fusion with other genres as well as how it has become one of the continent’s biggest cultural exports.

The website will be updated on a biweekly basis and remain active as an always-on resource, with frequent updates on new Afrobeats moments.

“Afrobeats ascending to where it is today has taken a proverbial village. Multiple players from the artistes themselves to DJs on the continent and in the diaspora, and the very loud and proud fans have helped shape the music which draws from an array of sonic influences,” said Phiona Okumu, the head of music for Spotify in Sub-Saharan Africa.

“Today Afrobeats is an undeniable influence on global pop culture thanks to these contributors.”

The updated Afrobeats website showcases the genre’s constant thirst for reinvention, with research conducted on behalf of Spotify by research firm Kuvora. The findings showed that 90% of fans expect Afrobeats to continue evolving.

The latest updates to the site explore the evolution of Afrobeats through three distinct eras of creativity that laid the foundation for Afrobeats’ connection to global audiences. From the early era of Hip Hop-influenced but locally rooted sounds to the infusion of foreign influences and local lyrics, and the definitive hits that marked pivotal moments, the website provides a comprehensive exploration of Afrobeats’ journey.

The evolution story also explores the key figures who have played significant roles in shaping and propelling Afrobeats forward. From trailblazers like 2Baba, P-Square, and Wande Coal to influential women such as Tiwa Savage and Yemi Alade, these artistes have defied stereotypes, broken barriers, and taken Afrobeats to unprecedented heights.

Spotify will also be sharing new data including:

• The top streamed Afrobeats artists of all time

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• The number of hours of Afrobeats music streamed last year

• The top-streamed songs in the top streaming cities

“There is no doubt that Afrobeats as a genre is here to stay, and will only continue to shatter more ceilings. In 2023 alone, the genre has been played for more than 223 million hours with streams exceeding 7.1 billion on Spotify. We created this site for both new and longtime fans of the genre, who would like to have a better understanding of how and where this explosive sound came to be,” said Jocelyne Muhutu-Remy, Spotify’s managing director for Sub-Saharan Africa.