South African sensation Tyla has just made history! Her 2023 breakout hit “Water” has officially surpassed 1 billion streams on Spotify, making her the first African solo artist to achieve this incredible milestone.
Spotify confirmed the news on Wednesday, February 19, celebrating Tyla’s record-breaking success.
A Record-Smashing Hit
Released on July 28, 2023, under FAX and Epic Records, “Water” quickly became a global phenomenon. The song reached No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100 and dominated multiple charts, including:
✅ U.S. Afrobeats Songs – 55 weeks at No. 1
✅ World Digital Song Sales – 18 weeks at No. 1
✅ Dance/Mix Show Airplay – 4 weeks at No. 1
✅ Rhythmic Airplay – No. 1
Adding to its success, “Water” featured remixes with Travis Scott and Marshmello and won the first-ever Best African Music Performance award at the 2024 Grammys. It also bagged wins at the Billboard Music Awards (Top Afrobeats Song) and the MTV Video Music Awards (Best Afrobeats Video).
Spotify Celebrates Tyla’s Achievement
Phiona Okumu, Spotify Africa’s Head of Music, praised Tyla’s milestone, saying:
“We are incredibly proud of Tyla’s historic achievement. This milestone is a testament to her talent, hard work, and the power of music to transcend borders. Tyla’s success is an inspiration to aspiring artists across Africa and the world, and we are honored to have played a part in her journey.”
Tyla Joins an Exclusive African Billions Club
With this feat, Tyla joins a prestigious list of African artists who have hit 1 billion streams on Spotify:
• Tems (First African female artist) – “Wait For U” (with Future & Drake)
• Wizkid (First African artist) – “One Dance” (with Drake & Kyla)
• Rema (First African-led track) – “Calm Down” (Remix ft. Selena Gomez)
A Star on the Rise
Tyla’s rise to global superstardom is just beginning, and with her self-titled debut album already making waves, she’s proving that African music is taking over the world!
