Music
Amapiano@10: Nigeria’s listenership increased by 181%, says Spotify
By Eniola Daniel 14 June 2024 | 6:04 pm Global audio streaming platform Spotify is celebrating the rise of Amapiano with a dedicated site and an Amapiano destination ahead of Youth Day. In 2023, the South African dance genre Amapiano hit over one billion streams on Spotify. The genre’s influence on music culture in South Africa and beyond has seen the world gripped in…
Global audio streaming platform Spotify is celebrating the rise of Amapiano with a dedicated site and an Amapiano destination ahead of Youth Day.
In 2023, the South African dance genre Amapiano hit over one billion streams on Spotify. The genre’s influence on music culture in South Africa and beyond has seen the world gripped in an Amapiano frenzy, from dance challenges to inspired collaborations and fusions.
This international phenomenon is reflected in Nigeria, where Amapiano listenership increased by 181% between 2023 and 2024. This critical influence has led to the launch of “A Decade of Amapiano,” a site looking at the past decade of Amapiano and its different key influences, complemented by an on-platform Amapiano destination with pivotal playlists and podcasts for anyone wishing to learn more about the genre’s origins, sounds, and future.
The COVID-19 pandemic proved to be a game-changing year for Amapiano’s growth on the platform. In 2020, the genre hit its first 100 million streams, followed by an impressive 300 million streams in 2021, further solidifying its rising popularity.
“A Decade of Amapiano” launches today, June 14, 2024, leading up to South Africa’s commemoration of Youth Day. June 16 marks a historical turning point for the country’s youth and their quest for freedom and justice. Today, they use Amapiano as a platform to amplify their voices, freely express their aspirations, and showcase their resilience and creativity.
In June 2023, Spotify launched “Afrobeats: Journey of a Billion Streams,” a website celebrating the Afrobeats genre. Spotify, through “A Decade of Amapiano,” reinforces its commitment to supporting the growth of homegrown music genres in Africa.
Originating from South African townships to global stages, “A Decade of Amapiano” tracks the genre’s ascent to the music throne, showcasing the journey and highlighting some of the genre’s key artists.
These are some of the key Amapiano data on Spotify over the last ten years:
– 345k%+ growth in 2023 versus 2014
– Over 855 million streams so far in 2024
– 153k%+ growth in exports 2023 versus 2014
– 87% growth of female artists 2023 versus 2022
– 40% of listeners are between 18-24 years
Head of Music in Sub-Saharan Africa, Phiona Okumu, said: “One of the most affirming parts of watching Amapiano explode over the past decade is seeing how people use it for self-expression.”
In addition, Spotify will be hosting influencers and media from South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria, Japan, Brazil, Egypt, France, the United States of America, and the United Kingdom for a week-long tour tracing Amapiano’s history and origins and exploring how the genre travelled beyond South Africa. The tour debuted last year in June with influencers and media from the African continent and is expanding to include other countries outside Africa where Amapiano is popular.
These are the top artists, tracks, and countries that have kept dance floors electric over the last 10 years, according to Spotify data:
Top Amapiano Tracks streamed in Nigeria over the last 10 years:
Artist Track Davido, Focalistic Champion Sound TitoM, Yuppe, S.N.E, EeQue Tshwala Bam (feat. S.N.E, EeQue) Tyler ICU, Tumelo_za, DJ Maphorisa, Nandipha808, Ceeka RSA, Tyron Dee Mnike (feat. DJ Maphorisa, Nandipha808, Ceeka RSA, Tumelo_za & Tyron Dee) TitoM, Yuppe, Burna Boy, S.N.E, Tshwala Bam (feat. S.N.E) – Remix Uncle Waffles, Tony Duardo, Justin99, Pcee, Chley, EeQue, Chley Yahyuppiyah (feat. Pcee, EeQue & Chley) Daliwonga, Mellow & Sleazy, M.J Abo Mvelo (feat. Mellow & Sleazy & M.J) Kamo Mphela, Tyler ICU, Khalil Harrison, Baby S.O.N Dalie (feat. Baby S.O.N) Focalistic, Davido, Virgo Deep Ke Star (feat. Virgo Deep) – Remix
Boohle, Deep London Hamba Wena Kabza De Small, DJ Maphorisa, Ami Faku Abalele
Top Amapiano Artists streamed in Nigeria in the last 10 years:
– Focalistic
– DJ Maphorisa
– Tyler ICU
– TitoM
– Yuppe
– Kabza De Small
– Mellow & Sleazy
– Tumelo_za
– Uncle Waffles
– Justin99
Top countries streaming Amapiano in the last 10 years:
– South Africa
– United States of America
– United Kingdom
– Nigeria
– Germany
Top Amapiano playlists in 2024:
– Amapiano Grooves
– SoulPiano
– Beast Mode Amapiano
– Amapiano 101
– Amapiano Rising
