As Afrobeats continues its explosive global expansion, Spotify has launched a dedicated Global Afrobeats Playlist, signaling the streaming giant’s recognition of the genre’s immense growth trajectory. The new playlist features 80 tracks spanning nearly four hours of playtime, showcasing artists like Tyla, Davido, and Omah Lay while employing personalization technology to tailor selections for individual listeners under the “Made for [listener name]” tag.
The data behind Spotify’s move reveals staggering growth metrics, with Afrobeats streams increasing by 550% since 2017 and accumulating over 13 billion streams in 2022 alone. User-generated Afrobeats playlists have similarly surged, showing a 135% increase from 2020 to 2025, reflecting organic listener enthusiasm rather than corporate-driven promotion.
Senior Music Editor Benewaah Boateng framed the initiative as acknowledging the genre’s natural momentum, positioning Spotify as celebrating rather than manufacturing the trend. “We’re recognizing a new generation and the organic growth we’ve witnessed on our platform,” Boateng noted, underscoring the company’s follower-not-leader approach to the genre’s expansion. The initiative represents Spotify’s commitment to diverse music promotion and expanding the global presence of African artists. The playlist aims to educate new listeners about the rich Afrobeats culture while satisfying existing fans of the genre.
The geographical spread of Afrobeats has been particularly remarkable in unexpected markets. Latin America experienced a 183% year-on-year growth in 2025, while Indonesia recorded an astonishing 4,530% increase in Afrobeats streams between 2020 and 2025. Artists are encouraged to take advantage of these emerging markets by setting clear goals for their promotional strategies across various streaming platforms.
Other Asian markets showing explosive growth include India (1,650%), the Philippines (1,492%), and Thailand (1,370%).
Nigerian diaspora communities have played a pivotal role in this global dissemination, aided by social media platforms and strategic international record deals. Musicians looking to capitalize on the Afrobeats phenomenon can explore sync licensing opportunities to reach global audiences through TV shows, films, and commercials featuring the genre.
Artist milestones further illustrate the genre’s ascendancy: Wizkid became Spotify’s highest-paid African artist in early 2025, earning approximately $1 million monthly, while Rema’s “Calm Down” featuring Selena Gomez made history as the first African artist-led song to join Spotify’s Billions Club.
Through collaborations with international superstars like Drake, Beyoncé, and Ed Sheeran, Afrobeats has transcended its regional origins to influence global fashion, dance, and musical trends, establishing itself as a formidable cultural force on the world stage.
