Spotify has recently unveiled a dedicated website, “Afrobeats: Journey of a Billion Streams,” aimed at providing a wealth of information about the rapidly growing genre originating from West Africa.
Afrobeats, a prominent musical export from Africa, has been gaining immense popularity worldwide. On Spotify alone, the genre has experienced a remarkable 550% growth since 2017, amassing over 13 billion streams in 2022. Leading Afrobeats artists continue to achieve significant milestones on global music platforms, in live events, awards, and streaming charts.
The new website serves as a comprehensive resource, showcasing the cultural phenomenon of Afrobeats through text, infographics, visual elements, and Spotify streaming data. It also features insights from the Spotify-commissioned Afrobeats survey conducted by Kuvora, a research firm, offering a historical perspective on the rise and cultural impact of Afrobeats over the years.
The site will be regularly updated for the next eight weeks, with future plans to keep it as an always-on resource, providing continuous updates on new Afrobeats moments. Additionally, fans can engage in an interactive experience, exploring and connecting with fresh knowledge about Afrobeats.
“Afrobeats: Journey of a Billion Streams” focuses on five key pillars: Origins, Evolution, Fusion, Cultural Exportation, and Women of Afrobeats. Each pillar delves into different aspects of the genre’s development, including its precursors, influential industry players, fusion with other genres, global cultural impact, and the significant contributions of female figures within the industry.
The website also presents Afrobeats timelines, intriguing Spotify data, excerpts from expert interviews, and on-the-ground videos from key markets in Sub-Saharan Africa. The first installment, Origins, is now accessible through the Spotify app and website.