Following its local launch one month ago, global music streaming service Spotify has revealed some insights into South African music fans’ musical tastes.
Canadian rapper Drake has come out tops with South African music fans on Spotify since launch, taking the top spot as the most streamed artist AND the most streamed track, with his smash hit God’s Plan.
However, Spotify can reveal that South African musical tastes can vary by city. Drake was narrowly beaten by South Africa-based Nigerian hip hop rapper Mckay who was ranked as the top artist streamed over the period among Capetonian fans, while rapper XXXTENTACION was the most streamed artist in Port Elizabeth.
The local artists currently getting the most Spotify ‘air time’ from South African audiences include; Jeremy Loops, followed by Mckay, Shekhinah, Goldfish, DJ Maphorisa, NastyC, Fokofpolisiekar, AKA, Snotkop and Cassper Nyovest.
Jeremy Loops’ hit single Waves from his latest album release Critical as Water made it to the top of the list as the most streamed local track to date. Waves has already been streamed over a million times by Spotify users globally, good news as he kicks off his World Tour this week. Kwesta’s Spirit, Shekhinahs’ Suited and Mckay’s Flexing, Way Too Many and Save Us from his WAY TOO Many album, also made it to the top 100 tracks most streamed by local audiences over the period.
The music genres favoured most by South Africans on Spotify were ranked as: pop, hip hop, modern rock, Indie, rock, classic rock, R&B, house, alternative and afropop, with 3pm on a Saturday the most popular time for South Africans to enjoy listening to music on Spotify.
Spotify has also ensured that among the 2 billion playlists currently available on the platform, there is also a vast and growing selection of playlists curated especially for the South African audience. The most popular locally-curated playlists, based on their number of streams over the past month, are: Top Hits South Africa, Chilled Vibez, New Music Friday South Africa, House Nation and Hip Hop Juice.
Most streamed by South African audiences in Spotify’s first month following its launch on 13 March:
| Most Streamed Track |
| God’s Plan – Drake |
| Psycho (feat. Ty Dolla $ign) – Post Malone |
| Love Lies (with Normani) – Khalid |
| Look Alive (feat. Drake) – Drake, BlocBoy JB |
| SAD! – XXXTENTACION |
| Friends – Anne-Marie, Marshmello |
| rockstar – Post Malone |
| All The Stars (with SZA) – Kendrick Lamar |
| These Days (feat. Jess Glynne, Macklemore & Dan Caplen) – Rudimental |
| The Middle – Grey, Zedd, Maren Morris |
| Most Streamed Artist |
| Drake |
| XXXTENTACION |
| Post Malone |
| Kendrick Lamar |
| Marshmello |
| The Weeknd |
| Khalid |
| Eminem |
| Migos |
| Ed Sheeran |
| Most Streamed Local Artist |
| Jeremy Loops |
| Mckay |
| Shekhinah |
| GoldFish |
| DJ Maphorisa |
| Nasty C |
| Fokofpolisiekar |
| AKA |
| Snotkop |
| Cassper Nyovest |