In another landmark feat, Rema becomes the first African lead artist to have a song reach 1 billion Spotify streams with his mega hit single ‘Calm Down’ featuring Selena Gomez.
This remarkable feat makes it the first African artist-led track to join the exclusive “Billions Club” on Spotify.
The data, shared by the company as part of Spotify’s “Afrobeats: Journey to a Billion Streams” project, paints a vivid picture of Rema’s prominence. He solidly holds a place among the top 10 most streamed Afrobeats artists on the platform.
“It’s a blessing. It’s not just a big win for me, my team and family, it’s also a big one for the culture,” said Rema.
Released in August 2022, the ‘Calm Down’ remix swiftly became a global sensation, capturing hearts around the world. Its magic lies in the fusion of Afrobeats rhythms and Afro-fusion melodies, complemented by Rema’s unique and soulful vocals. However, the pièce de résistance was the unexpected collaboration with Selena Gomez on an Afrobeats track. The song’s production seamlessly blends modern and traditional elements, serving as a testament to the ever-evolving landscape of African music. Rema’s distinct sound has propelled him to the forefront of the global music stage, with the track’s highest streams hailing from the USA, India, Mexico, Brazil, and the UK.
The song’s infectious chorus and relatable lyrics have made it a staple on both dancefloors and personal playlists, with data showing that Calm Down has been added to over a million Spotify playlists.
“This milestone is absolutely remarkable for Rema, marking a pivotal moment for this talented artist and the entire Afrobeats community. It’s clear that the genre is making a significant impact and gaining substantial influence on the global music stage, and we are excited to continue supporting it at Spotify,” said Spotify’s Artist and Label Partnerships Manager for West Africa, Victor Okpala.
Don Jazzy Congratulates Rema As ‘Calm Down’ Hits Billion Streams On Spotify
Veteran Nigerian producer and music executive, Michael Collins Ajereh, popularly known as Don Jazzy, has congratulated his signee, Divine Ikubor, better known as Rema, after the remix of his hit song, ‘Calm Down’ with Selena Gomez became the first African song to hit the billion mark in Spotify’s history
The Mavin boss said the feat achieved by Rema wasn’t “small at all.”
On his X page, Don Jazzy wrote, “Massive congratulations to @heisrema as Calmdown ft @selenagomez just crossed 1 billion streams on Spotify. This is not small at allllll. Thanks for the love and support guys.”
YourCitiNews recalls that the original version of ‘Calm Down’ was recognised by Guinness World Record as the first number one song on the world’s first regional streaming chart, MENA.
Selena Gomez Is ‘Grateful’ After Rema Collaboration Hits 1 Billion Spotify Streams
Selena Gomez could hardly “Calm Down” after her breezy Rema collaboration hit 1 billion Spotify streams.
The star took to her Instagram Stories and Twitter on Sunday (Sept. 10) to share the accomplishment, writing, “I’m so grateful. Love you @heisrema!”
