The first half of 2023 has proven to be a thrilling ride in the music industry, with a flurry of events and noteworthy achievements. From the resurgence of established artists to the meteoric rise of newcomers, and the global success of Afrobeats, this year has been nothing short of extraordinary. Leading the pack as the number one overall artiste in Nigeria is the sensational talent, Asake.
With a staggering 240.1 million on-demand streams and the release of his debut album, 'Mr Money With The Vibe,' amassing a remarkable 440 million on-demand streams in Nigeria alone, Asake's year has been an exhilarating journey from start to finish. In fact, his album has garnered a whopping 115 million streams in the first half of this year alone. Asake has seen four of his songs claim the number one spot on the prestigious Nigerian Top 100 chart, namely 'Yoga,' 'No Competition,' '2:30,' and 'Amapiano,' collectively reigning supreme for an impressive nine weeks out of the 26-week period.
Speaking of albums, 'Mr Money With The Vibe' secured the third spot as the most streamed album in the first half of 2023. Asake's exceptional achievement of 240.1 million streams solidifies his position as the artiste with the highest on-demand streams, a record almost rivaled by Seyi Vibez, who amassed an impressive 231.6 million on-demand streams.
Claiming the second spot on the overall top artistes list is Davido. With 211.5 million on-demand streams, he secures the title of the third most streamed artiste in the first half of the year. Davido's album, 'Timeless,' made an explosive debut week, amassing over 50 million on-demand streams in its initial week of release and maintaining its dominance at the top of the charts for an incredible ten consecutive weeks. In total, 'Timeless' has amassed over 185 million on-demand streams since the beginning of the year, pushing Davido's popularity to new heights. Notable hits like 'NO COMPETITION,' 'UNAVAILABLE,' and 'OVER DEM' showcased his musical prowess, with each song reaching the summit of the Official Nigeria Top 100 (radio + streaming), Top Radio Songs, and Top Streaming Songs charts respectively.
Seyi Vibez, with an impressive 231.6 million on-demand streams, emerges as the second most streamed artiste in the first half of 2023. Seyi Vibez has undeniably been a busy artist this year, releasing three albums within the initial six months. Remarkably, two of these albums dropped within a mere two weeks of each other, setting a remarkable record. Making history, Seyi Vibez became the first artiste to have three albums in the Top 10 of the Album Charts. His album, 'Billion Dollar Baby 2.0,' garnered a remarkable 183 million on-demand streams in Nigeria since its release, with 131 million of those streams acquired in the first half of this year alone. Holding the top position on the Albums Chart for a staggering 14 consecutive weeks, Seyi Vibez proves his enduring appeal. He ranks at No. 3 overall.
Arya Starr, with her chart-topping hits 'Sability' and 'Stamina,' secures the fourth spot on the overall artistes list for the first half of the year. Garnering 119.7 million on-demand streams, she emerges as the sixth most streamed artiste. Her album, '19 and Dangerous,' has surpassed 100 million on-demand streams, with 25 million of those streams acquired in 2023 alone, further solidifying her rising star status.
Landing in fifth place is Zinoleesky, boasting an impressive 156.1 million on-demand streams and one No. 1 song this year, 'Party No Dey Stop.' This captivating track dominated the streaming chart for two weeks and remained in the Top 10 for an additional 11 weeks after relinquishing the top spot. Zinoleesky's album, 'Grit & Lust,' secures the sixth position on the Albums chart, amassing over 70 million on-demand streams in the current year alone and making a remarkable debut in the top two spots.
Taking the sixth position on the overall artistes list is Rema, whose captivating music has garnered 108.6 million on-demand streams, earning him the eighth spot on the streaming charts. His album, 'Rave & Roses,' secures the twelfth position on the Albums Chart, with 90 million on-demand streams since its release and an impressive 36.8 million on-demand streams in the first half of this year. Rema's top song, 'Charm,' soared to the peak of both the Streaming and Radio Charts, further establishing his artistic prowess.
At No. 7 on the overall artistes list is Omah Lay; he boasts of an impressive 134.8 million on-demand streams as the 5th most streamed artiste in the first half of the year. His top songs, including 'Soso' and 'Soweto (Remix),' reached number one on the Radio chart. 'Soso' also secured the number one spot on the Stream charts and spent an astounding 21 weeks in the Top 10 of the Top 100 charts. Omah Lay's album, 'Boy Alone,' amassed over 240 million on-demand streams, with 93 million of those streams accumulated during the first half of this year.
Securing the seventh spot as the most streamed artiste in the first half of 2023 is Kizz Daniel, with 118.8 million on-demand streams. While 'Gwagwalada' claims the number one spot on the Streaming Chart, his other songs, 'Cough,' 'RTID (Rich Till I Die),' and 'Shuperu,' performed exceptionally well, with 'RTID' and 'Gwagwalada' spending nine and twelve weeks, respectively, in the Top 10 of the Top 100 charts. On the overall artiste chart, Kizz Daniel ranks at No. 8.
Ranking as the ninth overall artiste for the first half of the year is BNXN, with an impressive 98 million on-demand streams. BNXN's songs, 'Gwagwalada' and 'PRAY,' held the number one position on the streaming charts for five weeks, firmly establishing his musical prowess. 'Gwagwalada' also spent twelve weeks in the top ten of the Official Nigeria Top 100 chart.
Completing the Top 10 is Young Jonn; his album, 'Love is not Enough Vol.2,' has garnered 85 million streams since its release, with over 39 million streams acquired in 2023 alone. Young Jonn's top song, 'Xtra Cool,' spent an impressive nine weeks in the top ten on the Top 100 chart.
Just outside the top ten of the chart includes Wizkid at No. 11, Burna Boy at No. 12, Tiwa Savage at No. 13, Ruger at No. 14 and Boy Spyce at No. 15. The rest of the top 20 from No. 16 – 20 are; Olamide, Joeboy, Crayon, Johnny Drille and Victony.
The first half of 2023 has been nothing short of exhilarating, with Asake reigning as the top artiste in Nigeria. With impressive achievements, record-breaking streams, and outstanding chart performances, these artists have shaped the musical landscape and set the stage for an even more thrilling second half of the year. Stay tuned for more chart-topping hits and awe-inspiring performances from Nigeria's vibrant music industry.