By the time many Nigerians woke up to scroll through their phones this week, WhatsApp Status bars were already stacked with screenshots of Spotify Wrapped 2025 cards. Playlists were being shared in group chats, and short clips of favourite songs flooded Instagram stories. 

For a few hours, timelines felt less like social media and more like one giant listening party. At the centre of it all is a reminder of something Nigerians feel every day: the country’s music is no longer just local entertainment. It is now a global currency.

Spotify confirmed that reality in its newly released Wrapped 2025 data for Nigeria, presented in Lagos by Phiona Okumu, the company’s Head of Music for Sub-Saharan Africa. “As Wrapped 2025 rolls out, listeners across Nigeria can now dive into their own stories, from breakout anthems to spiritual podcasts, and see exactly how they helped define the country’s audio landscape this year,”

Okumu said. “Nigeria’s 2025 Wrapped paints a picture of a music scene that is absolutely thriving. It is incredible to see how fast Nigerians embrace fresh voices right alongside the legends.”

Burna Boy again led the list of Nigeria’s most-exported artists, followed by Tems, Rema, Ayra Starr, and Wizkid. Rema’s international collaboration “Calm Down” with Selena Gomez retained its position as the most-exported Nigerian song for the third straight year, proving the long-tail power of a global hit rooted in Nigerian rhythm.

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At home, listening reached new heights. Nigerians collectively spent more than 1.3 billion hours on Spotify in 2025. Consumption of local music rose by 82 percent over the year, while global listening to Afrobeats climbed by 22 percent, showing that domestic growth is rising alongside international demand.

“The most-shared song on social platforms was Davido’s ‘With You’ featuring Omah Lay,” Okumu noted. “Its emotional pull and inherently viral-friendly sound helped it dominate national charts and resonate across everything from wedding playlists to TikTok loops.” Daily streams grew by 23 percent, showing that music is increasingly embedded in everyday life, from gym workouts and work commutes to late-night studying and small social gatherings.

Spotify’s charts highlighted the impact of new talent. Breakout artists pushed straight into the mainstream conversation. “Fido led the wave of newcomers with his viral anthem ‘Joy Is Coming,’ which landed at number two,” Okumu said.

“Kunmie’s debut ‘Arike’ followed at number three, Faceless took the number four spot with ‘Venus,’ and Spotify RADAR artist FOLA claimed number six with ‘Lost.’ Their presence shows that new voices are actively recalibrating the vibe and driving what is next in Nigerian music.”

Albums followed a similar pattern of established stars meeting rising talent. Wizkid’s Morayo was the most-streamed album in Nigeria, with Davido’s 5ive, BNXN’s Captain, Burna Boy’s No Sign of Weakness, and FOLA’s Catharsis rounding out the top five. Asake charted three albums within the national Top 10, underlining how deeply his sound resonates with listeners.

Among women, Ayra Starr retained her title as the most-streamed female artist, followed by Tems, Smur Lee, Tiwa Savage, and Sunmisola. Okumu highlighted Smur Lee’s swift rise, noting that it is fuelled by high-profile collaborations blending street-hop and Amapiano. She added, “Sunmisola’s presence underscores Nigerians’ enduring love for gospel music, showing how faith-infused sounds coexist alongside Afrobeats on everyday playlists.”

Podcast consumption also grew significantly, with a 48 percent increase in 2025. “The top-streamed podcasts reveal a strong appetite for faith- and spirituality-led content,” Okumu said. “Listeners are turning to digital audio not only for entertainment but also for guidance, reflection, and community as part of daily routines.”

The average Nigerian listener on Spotify is 25 years old, highlighting the role of youth culture in driving both music discovery and digital listening habits.

Wrapped 2025 captured more than numbers; it captured culture. From WhatsApp statuses to open speakers on street corners, gym headphones to long traffic jams, music is lived publicly and passionately and has become therapeutic to many people. 

New stars rise without waiting for permission, old legends remain relevant, and Nigerian sound keeps moving outward, reshaping playlists far beyond the country’s borders. For millions who shared their Wrapped cards this year, the data confirmed what everyday listening already made clear: Nigerian music is thriving and travelling boldly, loudly, and globally.

Meiza Nigeria