A Historic Achievement
“This milestone is a testament to her talent, her hard work, and the power of music to transcend borders,” Spotify stated in a press release.
Tyla has become the first African solo artist to reach 1 billion streams on Spotify with her hit song “Water”, as confirmed by the platform on Wednesday, February 19.
The song was released as a single on July 28, 2023, by FAX and Epic Records, shortly before the release of her debut album in March 2024. “Water” gained massive success, reaching No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100 and topping multiple charts, including:
- US Afrobeats Songs (55 weeks at the top)
- World Digital Song Sales (18 weeks)
- Dance/Mix Show Airplay (4 weeks)
- Rhythmic Airplay
The song also won Best African Music Performance at the 2024 Grammy Awards, along with honors at the Billboard Music Awards (Best Afrobeats Song) and MTV Video Music Awards (Best Afrobeats Video).
The Significance of Tyla's Success
Phiona Okumu, Spotify’s Head of Music in Africa, stated:
“We are incredibly proud of Tyla’s historic achievement. This milestone is a testament to her talent, hard work, and the power of music to transcend borders. Tyla’s success is an inspiration to emerging artists across Africa and the world, and we are honored to have contributed to her journey.”
With this success, Tyla joins Spotify’s Billions Club, becoming part of an elite group of African artists who have reached this milestone.
Other African Artists Who Reached 1 Billion Streams
- Tems: The first African female artist to hit 1 billion streams with “Wait for U” by Future, featuring Drake.
- Wizkid: The first African artist to reach 1 billion streams with his feature on Drake’s “One Dance” (2016).
- Rema: His song “Calm Down”, in a remix with Selena Gomez, became the first African track to surpass 1 billion streams on Spotify in September 2023.
With her groundbreaking achievement, Tyla reinforces the global rise of African music, proving that the African wave continues to dominate the international scene.
