Grammy-nominated Afrobeats artiste Ayra Starr has surpassed 2 billion streams on Spotify, a song-streaming site.
The surge in her streaming numbers is largely attributed to the success of her recent album, The Year I Turned 21, which has resonated with fans worldwide.
Having 2 billion streams highlights her rapid rise in the music industry and solidifies her position as a leading figure in contemporary Afrobeats.
Read also: Spotify criticises Apple for breaking volume controls on iOS
Ayra Starr’s “The Year I Turned 21” drives her to 2 billion streams
Released on May 30, 2024, Ayra Starr’s sophomore album has been a major contributor to her streaming success. The 15-track album showcases her global ambitions and explores diverse themes within the Nigerian pop soundscape. Hit singles like “Santa,” which alone has garnered over 455 million streams, have made this one of the most streamed albums by an African female artiste on Spotify, bringing Ayra Starr closer to the remarkable milestone of 2 billion streams.
How streaming services powered Ayra Starr’s journey
Listening has become incredibly fluid, primarily due to the emergence of streaming and a listener can access millions of tracks at once. To Ayra Starr, this refers to the fact that her buoyant vocal hooks and themes, which her listeners can easily relate to, can be heard by everyone across the world..
Her first hit, “Away”, from her eponymous EP release, quickly rose through the charts and cemented her status in Afrobeats. Her songs come to different listeners daily due to Spotify’s playlists created through Space’s algorithm, such as Discover Weekly. Songs like “Rush,” which has become an anthem on these playlists and even bagged her a Grammy nomination, have helped push her streaming numbers even higher.
Read also: Spotify Premium prices rise in Kenya
The role of Instagram and Tik Tok in Sabi Girl’s music career
Apart from streaming, Ayra Starr utilises Instagram and TikTok to relate to her fans and, in the process, enhance her streaming prowess. Initially, she gained fame through her witty rants, constantly posting colourful videos on social networks, performing dance challenges and documenting behind the scenes with her fans.
As with “Commas”, the main verse sampled in a TikTok trend, or even more striking, her music found its way to new listeners, directing them to her Spotify pages once again.
2 billion streams is a big achievement in Ayra Starr’s music career. Despite being young in the music industry, she has achieved this feat through her album, The Year I Turned 21.