Grammy Awards winner and global Afrobeats sensation, Tems, has claimed a dual spotlight in Spotify 2025 Wrapped, emerging as both one of Nigeria’s most-exported artistes and the most-streamed woman in the country.
This was revealed in Spotify’s 2025 data for Nigeria. According to the data, Ayra Starr held onto her title as the most-streamed woman in Nigeria, while Tems followed in second place.
However, this major achievement builds on Tems’s trailblazing journey as the African artist rewriting her rulebook on global stages, having become the first Nigerian to win two Grammys and the first African female artist to surpass 1 billion Spotify streams with her hit “Wait for U.”
Other names in the Top 10 most-streamed women artists included Smur Lee, Tiwa Savage, Rihanna, Sunmisola Agbebi and many more.
Smur Lee’s swift rise appears to be fuelled by high-profile collaborations blending street-hop with Amapiano textures.
On the other hand, Sunmisola’s presence in the rankings underlines the deep and enduring love Nigerians have for gospel music, and the way faith-infused sounds sit comfortably alongside Afrobeats on listeners’ playlists.
On the global stage, Nigerian artists continued to lead and expand the country’s sonic footprint. Burna Boy topped the list of most-exported artists, followed by Tems (2nd), Rema (3rd), Ayra Starr (4th), and WizKid (5th).
This reveals that Tems is not only a dominant force at home but also a central figure in carrying Nigerian music across borders, reinforcing her role as one of the country’s most influential cultural ambassadors.
However, Rema’s chart-dominating collaboration Calm Down (with Selena Gomez) held its ground as the most-exported local song for the third consecutive year, proving the long-tail power of a global hit rooted in Nigerian rhythm.
New voices in Nigeria’s streaming platforms
This year’s Top 10 most-streamed songs in Nigeria highlighted one undeniable trend of fresh talent taking centre stage. Four breakout acts – Fido, Kunmie, Faceless, and FOLA – made impressive debuts, carving out space at the very top of the charts.
Fido led the charge with his viral anthem Joy is Coming, which soared to the #2 spot and quickly became a nationwide favourite. Close behind was Kunmie, whose debut single Arike captured listeners’ attention and secured #3.
Faceless followed with Venus at #4, while Spotify RADAR artist FOLA claimed #6 with Lost. Together, their success signals that new voices are not just joining the conversation but actively reshaping the soundscape and driving the next wave of Nigerian music.
This surge of newcomers was balanced by the staying power of established stars. The most-streamed song in Nigeria in 2025 was With You featuring Omah Lay, a track that dominated the charts and became a soundtrack for countless moments across the country.
On the album’s front, momentum continued to build. Wizkid’s Morayo emerged as the #1 most-streamed album, while Davido’s 5ive, BNXN’s Captain, Burna Boy’s No Sign Of Weakness, and FOLA’s Catharsis rounded out the rest of the top five.
Meanwhile, Asake demonstrated remarkable catalogue strength, with three of his albums landing within the top 10. His ability to consistently connect with listeners underscores just how deeply his sound resonates across Nigeria’s diverse audience.
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Love for homegrown talents in Nigeria
This year’s unwrapped isn’t just about music. Nigerians also leaned heavily into podcasts, with listening hours surging by 97% compared to the previous year.
Podcast creation grew by nearly half, reflecting a growing appetite for digital storytelling. Interestingly, the most-streamed shows revealed a strong spiritual dimension, as faith-driven and reflective content resonated with audiences seeking guidance and community in their daily routines.
The numbers tell the story of a nation deeply engaged with audio. Nigerians spent more than 1.3 billion hours on Spotify in 2025, much of it championing new waves of local talent.
Local music consumption rose by 82%, while Afrobeats listening grew by 22% globally, cementing its place as a genre shaping the world’s soundscape.
Daily streams climbed by 23%, underscoring how music has become woven into everyday life. Spotify’s new Listening Age data revealed that the average Nigerian listener is 25 years old, highlighting the youthful energy driving the country’s audio culture.
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