Dar es Salaam, Tanzania | NOW THEN DIGITAL — Boomplay, the Africa-centric media streaming and download service, has unwrapped its annual music consumption report, the Boomplay Recap 2023.
Encompassing Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, and Tanzania, the report provides an in-depth overview of music consumption trends, underscoring insights from local music landscapes.
The report, meticulously segmented into country, artist, and user insights, spotlights a notable surge in the platform’s catalog, now boasting 120 million songs, featuring over 10 million artists and 7,500+ content providers. In 2023, Afrobeats and amapiano emerged as the prevailing genres.
In Tanzania, male artists Harmonize, Mbosso, and Diamond Platnumz took the lead, with Zuchu, Nandy, and Yammi dominating the female category. Rising talents Jaivah, Mavokali, and Kontawa gained recognition, while the popular track ‘Puuh’ by Billnas featuring Jay Melody resonated. Noteworthy albums included Khan by Mbosso, Made for Us by Harmonize, and The Kid You Know by Marioo.
Nigeria spotlighted male artists Asake, Seyi Vibez, and Davido, alongside female artists Ayra Starr, Mercy Chinwo, and Tiwa Savage. Rising talents Shallipopi, Odumodublvck, and Spyro left their mark. Top-streamed songs featured hits like ‘Soso’ by Omah Lay, ‘Cough (Odo)’ by Kizz Daniel, and ‘Party No Dey Stop’ by Adekunle Gold, with the most streamed albums including Davido’s Timeless, Asake’s Mr Money With the Vibe, and Omah Lay’s Boy Alone.
Burna Boy achieved a historic milestone, becoming the first artist to amass 1 billion streams, securing a spot in Boomplay’s Platinum Club.
In Ghana, standout male artists included Black Sherif, Sarkodie, and Stonebwoy, while Wendy Shay, Diana Hamilton, and Gyakie led the female category. Rising talents Banzy Banero, OlivetheBoy, and Skyface SDW made waves. Hits like ‘Country Side’ by Sarkodie featuring Black Sherif and ‘Konongo Zongo’ by Black Sherif dominated, with top albums including The Villain I Never Was by Black Sherif, Jamz by Sarkodie, and 5th Dimension by Stonebwoy.
Kenya saw Otile Brown, Bahati, and Wakadinali as top male artists, with Nadia Mukami, Nikita Kering’, and Gloria Muliro leading the female category. Rising talents Rico Gang, V-BE, and Vic West emerged, and the most streamed songs included ‘Kuna Kuna’ by Vic West featuring Fathermoh.
Boomplay’s Recap stands out for offering a genuine reflection of music consumption within Africa’s local music scenes, catering to the diverse lower and middle-class demographic, constituting the continent’s largest population. The report highlights the surge in streaming as a dominant mode of music consumption, coupled with the emergence of new talents impacting local music scenes, all under the overarching influence of Afrobeats and amapiano as the prevailing genres in 2023.
