Tag: african heat

How Spotify’s Playlists Captured the Biggest Music Trends of 2023

November 29, 2023

With another year coming to a close, Spotify is back with your personalized Wrapped, our annual recap of your listening highlights from the past 12 months that includes your top songs, artists, and podcasts, as well as your most distinct streaming habits. But we’re also taking a step back and looking at 2023’s biggest music trends on Spotify.

Thanks to the in-the-know editors responsible for creating our editorial playlists as part of the Global Curation Groups, the most iconic musical moments of the year were reflected on Spotify. Whether it was blockbuster movie soundtracks that grabbed the world’s attention, viral social media moments that bubbled up to the mainstream, or classic genres finding new fans in Gen Z, our experts were on top of it all.

For the Record sat down with our editorial team and got the scoop. 

Peso Pluma and Música Mexicana go mainstream

RADAR US artist Peso Pluma made himself known to the world in March with his feature on Eslabon Armado’s “Ella Baila Sola.” Fast-forward to now, and that song is one of the top-five most-streamed songs of 2023 globally—and is about to hit Spotify’s Billions Club. Meanwhile, the Música Mexicana genre at large has enjoyed a surge in popularity, dominating the global charts this summer.

Explore this trend on: Lo Mejor de La Reina 2023, Corridos Perrones, Corridos Tumbados, Today’s Top Hits

Folk rising

In 2023, a slew of indie artists emerged with folk-inspired albums including Mitski, Toro Y Moi, and boygenius. Plus, we heard new folk voices like Searows and 2024 Best New Artist Noah Kahan. 

Explore this trend on: Indie Twang, Juniper

Shoegaze returns courtesy of Gen Z

Shoegaze has been around since the late ’80s, but it experienced a resurgence in 2023 among Gen Z, who found new bands like Wisp as well as aughts stalwarts like Panchiko.

Over the past year, the genre has thrived within various Gen Z internet communities that have fostered pockets of interest and given birth to exciting new acts. Perhaps unknowingly, the emerging class of neo-shoegaze artists is contributing to genre diffusion, blending techniques from various music genres to create something fresh and unique.

Explore this trend on: Shoegaze Now, IRL Angel

Rema carries Afrobeats into Spotify’s Billions Club

Rema has been a hitmaker in Africa since 2019, but it was a collaboration with Selena Gomez on “Calm Down (Remix)” that shot him to international fame in 2023. The global smash earned the Afrobeats star a Grammy nomination, as well as a spot in our highly coveted Billions Club, making “Calm Down” the first African artist-led track to do so. 

Explore this trend on: African Heat, Billions Club, Today’s Top Hits

Taylor Swift’s eras on tour

Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour kicked off in March and was the live-music event of the year. Taylor not only picked songs from all 10 of her studio albums to perform in a stunning three-hour show, but she also set aside time each night for acoustic performances of two surprise songs. And according to Taylor’s rules, no two songs could be repeated unless she messed it up the first time. To capture this epic moment, we collected all of the surprise songs in a playlist, which was updated every weekend during the U.S. leg of her tour.

Explore this trend on: Surprise Song Era

Troye Sivan and Hyunjin’s IRL friendship

This past summer, Troye Sivan posted a TikTok that went viral about trying to find Hyunjin of Stray Kids. We joined in on the fun with a playlist and they eventually collabed on a remix of “Rush,” which also featured PinkPantheress.

Explore this trend on: what a moment

Peggy Gou takes house music to the top of the charts

House, one of the original genres of dance music, has grown in popularity since the pandemic. This summer, we saw massive house hits resonate with fans internationally, including Peggy Gou‘s “(It Goes Like) Nanana.” 

Other huge moments for house music include artists like Fred again.., Black Coffee, Chris Lake, and FISHER, who are breaking records around the world, and breakthrough opportunities for exciting artists like LP Giobbi, John Summit, and Dom Dolla

Explore this trend on: Umami, Housewerk presents…Best House of 2023, Summer House

It’s a Barbie world

Ahead of the Barbie release this summer, we saw “Barbiecore” aesthetics manifest in the pop culture zeitgeist. Once we got word that Barbie was going to feature a star-studded soundtrack with hits like Nicki Minaj, Ice Spice, and Aqua’s “Barbie World” and Dua Lipa’s “Dance The Night,” we brought all things Barbie to life on Spotify through the “pinkification” of several playlist covers, new editorial playlists, and partner playlists.

Explore this trend on: Hot Pink, Barbie Official Playlist

Hyper techno surges

There was an influx of high-BPM dance pop songs in general, and with it came a new wave of tracks that showcased a harder sound using classic techno and big room beats and basslines. We saw a surge in streams—especially from European Gen Zs—of techno-infused songs like Niklas Dee’s “Not Fair,” Creeds’ “Push Up,” and BENNETT’s “Vois sur ton chemin.”

Explore this trend on: rave, techno party

Jersey Club is everywhere 

Jersey Club production became ubiquitous not only in U.S. hip-hop but around the world. We also saw the genre’s influence find its way into K-Pop and thoughtful electronic music. Pioneers such as DJ Smallz 732, UNIIQU3, and Cookiee Kawaii were tapped to remix some of 2023’s biggest hits, and newcomers such as Kanii, keltiey, and Lay Bankz staked their claims as names to watch.

Explore this trend on: Jersey Club Heat presents…Best Jersey Club Songs of 2023

Tyla’s turns her viral moment into crossover success

South Africa’s Amapiano sound has been winning the hearts of electronic and dance fans after TikTok dances and DJ mixes helped it go viral in 2020. In 2023, RADAR Africa artist Tyla took her career to the next level, blending her R&B sound with Amapiano and South African dance genre Bacardi house on her hit song “Water.” After Spotify Africa’s partnership with the Giants of Africa Festival—a basketball event in Rwanda where Tyla’s viral dance was first seen—many posted their own versions of the dance challenge on social media, which led to “Water” skyrocketing around the world and earning a feature from Travis Scott on the remix.

Explore this trend on: RNB X, RADAR Africa, African Heat, RADAR Global 

Women run hip-hop  

Female rappers continued their reign in 2023, with top names like Nicki Minaj, Doja Cat, Latto, Ice Spice, Kaliii, Doechii, and the year’s breakout star, Sexyy Red, making some of the most creative and worthwhile hip-hop this year. 

Explore this trend on: RapCaviar presents…Best Hip-Hop Songs of 2023, Feelin’ Myself 

Pop-punk’s greatest legends return

We witnessed the resurgence of pop-punk’s most iconic figures with mainstays like Fall Out Boy, Sum 41, Green Day, and Neck Deep returning in 2023 with a taste of new music. Additionally, blink-182 welcomed back Tom DeLonge and embarked on a global tour to celebrate their new album, ONE MORE TIME…. 

Explore this trend on: Pop Punk’s Not Dead

The nu-metal revival continues

Nu-metal and alternative metal have made triumphant returns this year, with a younger audience discovering and devouring the catalogs of bands like Deftones, Korn, Slipknot, and more. Additionally, we’re seeing a wave of new nu-metal songs from rising artists who are embracing the sound and paying homage to their predecessors.

Explore this trend on: new nü, ALLURE

Alt country crosses over

This trend in country music had a slow build that reached new heights with the release of RADAR US artist Zach Bryan’s American Heartbreak in 2022, and took off 2023 with hits like Dylan Gossett’s “Coal.” This acoustic, gritty sound was typically reserved for alternative country and folk playlists in the past, but it has fully moved into the mainstream with songs that have been fan favorites across our flagship playlists. 

Explore this trend on: Hot Country presents…Best Country Songs of 2023, Hot Hits USA, Today’s Top Hits, homegrown

Looking for more of the songs that have left their stamp on 2023? Check out our flagship playlist Today’s Top Hits. 

Discover the Latest Afrobeats News, Interviews, and Trends on Our Dedicated Site

June 22, 2023

a green and orange background with black and white artist portraits. Afro Beats text is in the center.

With over 13 billion streams on Spotify in 2022, Afrobeats remains one of the globe’s hottest sounds. While countries like the U.S., U.K., and Nigeria remain the biggest consumers of Afrobeats, the genre’s popularity has grown rapidly in countries like France, the Netherlands, and Mexico as fans can’t get enough of artists like Rema, Ayra Starr, and Burna Boy. 

That’s why we’re launching Afrobeats: Journey of a Billion Streams, a dedicated website that will act as a repository of the latest news and developments in Afrobeats.  

Whether looking at the genre’s origins in Ghana, its rise and evolution in Nigeria, or its fusion with other genres, we’re spotlighting how Afrobeats became one of Africa’s biggest cultural exports and are tracking its underreported narratives.

Afrobeats: Journey of a Billion Streams will consist of five key pillars:

  • Origins explores the genres that acted as precursors of Afrobeats as we know it. 
  • Evolution dives deeper into which industry players contributed to the current Afrobeats sound that the whole world can’t seem to get enough of.  
  • Fusion looks at how Afrobeats has emerged by melding itself with other genres, such as reggaeton, amapiano, and other hybrids. 
  • Cultural exportation documents the influence of Afrobeats in music, food, language, and fashion lenses, especially in countries outside Africa.
  • The Women of Afrobeats sheds light on some of the key women in the industry whose contributions propelled the genre to its current status as a global sensation.

The site features regular interviews with leading experts, videos, quizzes, and the latest Spotify data and trends around Afrobeats listening.

“There is no doubt that Afrobeats as a genre is here to stay and will only continue to shatter more ceilings,” says Jocelyne Muhutu-Remy, Managing Director for Spotify in sub-Saharan Africa. “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 want to better understand how and where this explosive sound came to be.”

Over the next eight weeks, the site will be updated regularly and will continue to remain active with the latest happenings from the global Afrobeats community.

Once you’ve caught up with the latest Afrobeats news, check out the hottest hits on our playlist, African Heat. 

How Nigerian Gen Zs Listen to Spotify From Sunrise to Sundown

August 25, 2022

illustration of the sun at different phases of the day

When it comes to music, Nigeria has its finger on the pulse of what’s hot. Whether they’re streaming the biggest pop, rap, and trap sounds from around the world or celebrating the latest Afropop coming out of Lagos, the influence of Nigeria on the global music stage cannot be denied. 

In particular, it’s the Gen Zs who are setting the tone in the country. As streaming becomes increasingly popular in Nigeria, these young listeners are using playlists to match their moods throughout the day.

That’s why this weekend in Lagos, we’re hosting the Spotify Fun House experience to both highlight the ways we fit into the lives of Nigerian Gen Zs, and offer a glimpse of their tastemaking influence on the platform. In addition to talks and performances, we will also have our Blend Booth at the event. Attendees will be able to grab a friend and use Spotify’s Blend feature to merge their musical tastes into one shared playlist made just for them.

As we’ve been getting ready for the upcoming festivities, we’ve found a few interesting trends when it comes to the most popular Spotify playlists Nigerian Gen Zs listen to throughout their day.

Nigerian Gen Zs love to start their day in an introspective mood with Most Favored, which features some of the biggest worldwide Christian hits. But as they shift gears and prepare for the rest of their day, they turn to New Jams for a bit of morning energy. 

Once the afternoon rolls around and it’s time to get productive, Nigerian Gen Zs like to maintain a happy vibe by listening to Everyday Favorites—featuring the top pop hits across the globe—and African Heat, which delivers the hottest tracks from Afropop stars including Burna Boy, Fireboy DML, and Davido.

By the evening, Nigerian Gen Zs are looking to unwind, and they love to relax with the low-key jams featured on Chilled R&B. And when it’s finally time for bed, Jazz for Sleep is the playlist that helps these young tastemakers get a good night’s rest. 

These are just a few of the ways that Nigerian Gen Zs are shaping the culture around them with the help of Spotify. At Spotify Fun House, we’re excited to help them discover more ways to bring their influence to the world. 

Looking for more of the hottest sounds coming out of Nigeria right now? Catch a vibe with African Heat below:

Meet the Team Behind Frequency, Spotify’s Celebration of Black Culture, Creativity, and Community

May 18, 2021

We are proud to celebrate Black creators on Spotify—whether that’s on playlists such as RapCaviar, Feelin Myself, and African Heat, or through podcasts such as Jemele Hill is Unbothered, Dope Labs, and You Heard Me Write. But there’s always more to do when it comes to fostering racial justice and equity and lifting up underserved voices—and Spotify is committed to using our platform to do just that. 

So today we’re unveiling Frequency, a global initiative and holistic destination for celebrating Black art, entertainment, creativity, culture, and community both on- and off-platform. Frequency was created in response to a climate in which Black voices in music, fashion, business, and more continue to be left out of the narrative, their contributions left underappreciated and underrepresented.  

Frequency adds to our existing work, such as Black History is Happening Now—a dedicated hub and narrative focused on the importance of celebrating Black history and people—and our commitment to further invest in Black creators through a $10M Racial Equity Donations & Giving Program. Now, Frequency marks an extension of Spotify’s ongoing commitment to and investment in Black voices. Through the rollout of new content, cultural partnerships, and an ambassador program, Frequency aims to further connect the Black community to upcoming and established Black creators.

The Rhythm of the African Diaspora Plays Everywhere—Including Our Afro Hub

January 10, 2019

African music is everywhere. You hear it in Jamaican reggae rhythms, Brazilian salsa songs, and in Atlanta trap tracks. It’s on the streets, in the clubs, and climbing the charts. We’re celebrating the continent’s expressive and diverse music culture in one dedicated space—our new Afro Hub.    

Launched late last year, the hub shares the eclectic sounds of Africa and the African diaspora. And there’s something for everyone, whether you’re discovering Nigerian-British R&B singer Jacob Banks, or falling back in love with favorites you may not know are African-born, like Sade. With the hub, people can access amazing music, from traditional African sounds to electrifying party anthems to compelling podcasts.

We sat down with Spotify Global Lead of African Music & Culture Tunde Ogundipe to learn more about the origins of the Afro Hub, what listeners can expect, and where it’s headed next.

What’s the inspiration behind the Afro Hub?

The idea for the Afro Hub is to be an educational portal, not just for Africans, and not just for the African diaspora, but for everyone—people who are familiar with this type of music and for those who want to discover more.

So the goal of the Afro Hub is to bring all of these different cultures and communities together from the diaspora, especially from the continent of Africa. The hub organizes the sounds of these cultures and communities, making them easy for people to discover in one place.

How is the Afro Hub organized and what types of playlists can people look forward to discovering within it?

The flagship playlist is called African Heat. It’s like our RapCaviar, where people can listen to our top hits. It’s a way for us to show the rest of the world that, hey, there’s music coming out of Africa that, while they’re all amazing, is not only your traditional Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Angélique Kidjo, or Fela Kuti. There’s this whole burgeoning pop scene that’s happening in Africa that you guys need to be hip to.

With Spotify leading the way and creating the Afro Hub, and especially with the playlist African Heat, it’s no longer just mainstream music from West Africa available for discovery. It’s now trending music and regional playlists from the West, East, Central, and South Africa. It’s a much wider and more inclusive net, an amalgamation of all the different areas of the continent represented equally, providing more balance than before.

Some other playlists to check out on the hub are We Everywhere, with top Afro bashment, fusion, and crossover hits; Peppeh, featuring fresh discoveries and early bets on new music; and Gold Mine, full of Afrowave hits and nostalgic classics.

How do you incorporate podcasts into the Afro Hub, and what kinds of podcasts can people discover there?

The big challenge was finding podcasts that are interesting and varied enough for the African diaspora. We reached out to a bunch of influencers in Africa, and asked what podcasts they listened to that spoke to African culture. Each one sent us a list of fifty or so podcasts.

A few really stood out right away, including Jesus and Jollof, which has a really fun and interesting vibe. It features cohosts Luvvie Ajayi, an award-winning author and speaker, and Yvonne Orji, (who stars on HBO’s Insecure.) They’re two powerful Nigerian women talking about things they love, their personal stories, and life in general. Rants & Randomness is another Luvvie Ajayi podcast that was a no-brainer to include. She brings on all-star guests and talks about all things pop culture and society in her own funny yet hold-nothing-back way. There’s also Flagrant 2: No Easy Buckets, a sports podcast hosted by Akaash Singh, Kazeem Famuyide, and Andrew Schulz. It’s a salty, super-entertaining show filled with all kinds of hot takes.

We also have a cooking podcast in the hub that highlights different cuisines across Africa, and there are news- and entrepreneurship-focused podcasts that follow the top general and business news in different regions of the continent.

What makes the Afro Hub so enticing?

People gravitate toward this music, even when they aren’t really familiar with it. They come to the hub because the sound has always attracted people—the same people who like dancehall music, people who love Latin pop music, world music, and Afro pop. It’s the same source with the same energy. People might not even understand the lyrics, but they can vibe to it anyway and keep coming back. That’s why this is so successful.

Ready to give the Afro Hub a spin? Get started with our flagship playlist, African Heat, below.