Simi, Fireboy DML are Boomplay's most streamed artists

Nigerian musicians Simi and Fireboy DML top the list of the most streamed artists in their respective female and male categories on the platform. Fireboy DML was followed by Burna Boy and Naira Marley, respectively, while Simi was closely tailed by Mercy Chinwo and Tope Alabi.

Apart from African musicians, the most streamed international male artist was Roddy Ricch, followed by Justin Bieber and Drake, respectively. In the female category, the most streamed international musician was Tatiana Manaois, with Celine Dion and Rihanna claiming the No 2 and No 3 spots, in that order.

The top three streamed male artists on Boomplay Africa also hold the same positions in West African Anglophone countries, while Fally Ipupa, Wally B. Seck and the late DJ Arafat were the most streamed musicians in the region's Francophone countries. In East Africa, Rayvanny, Zuchu and Diamond Platinumz emerged as the most streamed artists. The top three artists in southern Africa include Chef 187 who sits at No 1, followed by Yo Maps and Pompi, respectively.

Simi’s hit ‘Duduke’ was also the most listened to song in sub-Saharan Africa, followed by DJ Neptune’s ‘Nobody’ featuring Joeboy and Mr Eazi at No 2, and ‘Bad Influence’ by Omah Lay at No 3. Outside of African musicians, ‘Intentions’ by Justin Bieber featuring Quavo was the most streamed song  on the platform.

In terms of albums, Fireboy DML boasts two of the top three most listened to albums in sub-Saharan Africa, including Laughter, Tears and Goosebumps and Apollo, while Burna Boy’s Twice As Tall slipped in at No 2. Globally, Please Excuse Me for being Antisocial by Roddy Ricch was the most streamed album, followed by Justin Bieber’s Changes and Maitre Gims’s Ceinture Noire (Transcendence), respectively.

The most consumed genres in sub-Saharan Africa on Boomplay were Afropop and Afro-fusion, Afrobeats, and Christian and gospel music.

“Local African music is still the major source of streams in each of our main operating territories," Boomplay director of artist and media relations Tosin Sorinola told Music In Africa. "One very interesting point is seeing new artists brea kout and doing very good numbers, which shows that there's a lot of potential for the future of African music."

In an interview earlier this year, Sorinola said that piracy still remains one of the biggest threats on the continent. Drawing fom the latest statistics, she says that there was a bigger shift towards music streaming on the platform.

“We've been very encouraged by the increases in streaming on our platform, which means music lovers are gradually acknowledging legal platforms and supporting their artists through streaming,” she said. “International big players are also getting more exposure to the African market, so we've seen the majors setting up local offices and international associations like the IFPI [International Federation of the Phonographic Industry] also building local teams.

“Our 2021 plans will include deeper collaborations with artists and the industry at large, as well as providing more features to allow our users to discover and stream their favourite music easily. We also expect to have a catalogue of more than 60 million songs by the end of 2021.”

Download the 2020 Boomplay Music Facts sub-Sahara Africa report below.