Spotify — music streaming platform introducing AI artist labels, hosting exclusive performances, and recording record-breaking African artist milestones.
… Their ecosystem is designed to tackle the specific logistical challenges of the African market: Global Distribution: Through their proprietary platform, artists distribute music to 100+ services (including Spotify, Apple Music, and Boomplay) while retaining 100% of their royaltie …
… With Yailin La Más Viral riding a global wave and Theodora Bossy cementing her spot as Ghana’s breakout female voice, the collaboration positions Moliymusic for international crossover appeal. “Jetski (FRIKI)” is available now on Spotify, Apple Music, Boomplay, Audiomack, YouTube …
Stonebwoy’s Torcher II artwork Ghanaian music star Stonebwoy’s (Livingstone Etse Satekla’s) 10-track album, The TORCHER II, has hit one million viewership on Spotify streaming app, according to Chart Ghana . …
Ghanaian music duo DopeNation has secured a spot on Spotify’s highly anticipated 2026 Songs of Summer Predictions list with their hit single, ‘Kakalika.’ The track was selected by Spotify’s global editorial team as one of 30 songs expected to define the summer season across the N …
Italy’s financial police said on Friday they had busted a sophisticated streaming piracy network that caused roughly €300 million ($348 million) in damages to rights holders such as Sky, DAZN, Netflix, Disney+ and Spotify. …
Wizkid, a prominent Nigerian Afrobeats musician, has made history as the first African artiste to surpass 11 billion total streams on Spotify across all credits. …
… Mr Agorzor explained that although platforms such as Spotify, Boomplay, Audiomack, and Apple Music have expanded global reach, revenue remains a major concern. …
Ghana's $150 million music industry, growing 10 per cent annually, faces piracy and streaming revenue challenges that prevent artists from monetising hits sustainably. According to Ghana Songs CEO Bright Dwomoh, piracy costs the industry more than GH₵10 million annually, while streaming payouts average around GH₵0.05 per stream and royalty distribution transparency remains a concern.
Ghana's $150 million music industry, growing 10 per cent annually, faces piracy and streaming revenue challenges that prevent artists from monetising hits sustainably. According to Ghana Songs CEO Bright Dwomoh, piracy costs the industry more than GH₵10 million annually, while streaming payouts average around GH₵0.05 per stream and royalty distribution transparency remains a concern.
Afrobeats star Davido has threatened to leave music following persistent attacks from individuals globally, posting on X that he would "soon leave their music" to pursue other ventures, though fans and industry players have urged him not to bow to pressure.
Anointed gospel recording artist and worship minister Ken Blege has announced the global release of his new album, He Found Me, which captures a transformative spiritual journey and is available for streaming and download worldwide on multiple platforms.
Spotify is introducing an "AI Persona badge" starting mid-September to flag artist profiles that are AI-generated and do not represent real people, aiming to give users more transparency. The move comes after music fans expressed concern about encountering AI-generated profiles that appear human, and follows long-standing concerns from fans and artists about AI-generated music.
Spotify has made exclusive live performance videos from Afro Nation Portugal 2026 available on its platform, featuring performances by Wizkid, Tyla, Olamide, and Young Jonn. The videos, captured at the festival in Portimão, are available in Spotify's dedicated Afro Nation destination as part of its exclusive streaming partnership with the event.
Nigerian superstar Burna Boy has sold 14.46 million equivalent album units, making him Africa's best-selling artist of all time according to music data aggregator Chartmasters. He is also Africa's best-selling touring artist.
Nigerian singer Burna Boy became the first male artist to reach number 1 on Spotify's newly launched Global Music Video Chart with his World Cup song "Dai Dai" featuring Shakira. The song also peaked at number 13 on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart and is the most-streamed music video of 2026 on YouTube.
Bonnie Tyler, the Welsh singer best known for the 1980s hit "Total Eclipse of the Heart," has died aged 75. Born Gaynor Hopkins in a Neath council house, she was discovered by talent scout Roger Bell in a Swansea club and went on to a 50-year career dubbed the "female Rod Stewart" for her husky vocals.
Ghanaian stars Gyakie and Amaarae have secured positions among the top ten most successful African female artistes according to Tanzania Charts, backed by millions of streams on platforms like Spotify alongside peers such as Nigeria's Tems and Ayra Starr. Amaarae's sophomore album Fountain Baby has surpassed 1 billion streams, while Gyakie's breakthrough single "Forever" earned over 150 million streams and double-platinum certifications in South Africa.
Nigerian singer Burna Boy has broken the all-time record for most monthly listeners by an African artist on Spotify, hitting 46.84 million monthly listeners and surpassing the previous African record of 46.58 million set by South African singer Tyla. The surge is primarily led by his World Cup song with Shakira, 'Dai Dai.'
The Michael Jackson movie has become the highest-grossing biopic of all time after earning $977 million at the worldwide box office, surpassing director Christopher Nolan's 2023 film about theoretical physicist J Robert Oppenheimer.
Tieme Music, founded in 2022 by Franck Osei-Mensah and Charlène Osei-Mensah with bases in Accra and Paris, has become the #1 music distribution platform in Ghana by 2025 and reached over 6,000 artists while signing seven major talents to its label services. The company has earned 17 nominations at the Telecel Ghana Music Awards and international recognition including nominations at the Trace Music Awards, the Headies, and two nominations at the Les Flammes Awards in France.
Ghanaian artist Moliymusic has released her single "Jetski (FRIKI)" featuring Dominican artist Yailin La Más Viral and Ghanaian dancehall artist Theodora Bossy. The track blends Afrobeat, Latin, and dancehall elements and is available on all major streaming platforms.
Grammy-nominated Malian singer, songwriter, guitarist and actress Fatoumata Diawara has been announced as Spotify's EQUAL Africa artist for June. Known for blending Mali's Mandinka traditions with global contemporary sounds and collaborations with artists including Damon Albarn and Gorillaz, she is set to release her solo album MASSA in June 2026.
Ghanaian artist Stonebwoy's 10-track album TORCHER II has surpassed one million viewership on Spotify, following its exclusive March 2026 launch and wider release in May 2026. The project blends Afro-dancehall, reggae, and introspection, exploring themes of perseverance and spiritual grounding.
Ghanaian duo DopeNation's track "Kakalika" has been selected by Spotify's editorial team for its 2026 Songs of Summer Predictions list alongside international artists. The song was highlighted as part of a growing wave of sun-soaked global dance hits blending Azonto and Amapiano influences.
Italy's financial police busted a sophisticated piracy network using an application called CINEMAGOAL that caused roughly €300 million in damages to rights holders including Sky, DAZN, Netflix, Disney+ and Spotify. The operation involved seizing foreign servers and prosecuting identified users across Italy, France and Germany.
Nigerian Afrobeats musician Wizkid has become the first African artiste to surpass 11 billion total streams on Spotify across all credits, according to music chart platform ChartsAfrica.
Nigerian singer Asake told Spotify that Lagos nurtured him into manhood after he relocated there following university and inspired many of his songs. He expressed gratitude that his talent is being appreciated worldwide, despite acknowledging there are more talented musicians who remain unheard.
MTN Ghana held its first Digital Music Conference to address how artistes can earn sustainable income in the digital age. The event featured industry stakeholders and examined revenue challenges on streaming platforms, with officials noting that alternative channels like caller ring-back tones (CRBT) may offer more accessible earnings routes.
Universal Music Group said it would sell half its equity stake in Spotify and double its share buyback programme, with proceeds also shared with artists under a commitment made when Taylor Swift re-signed with the label in 2018. The move comes after activist investor Bill Ackman made an unsolicited $64 billion bid for UMG three weeks prior, citing undervaluation of the company's 2.7-billion-euro Spotify stake.
Streaming platforms like Spotify and Apple Music have transformed music distribution, but a "shadow economy" of bot farms now artificially inflates play counts using automation to mimic listeners at scale, with some offering paid services to artists and labels seeking chart visibility.
A Business & Financial Times opinion piece argues that Ghanaian businesses focused on running digital ads and driving traffic often miss the deeper issue: they have not engineered the actual customer journey from discovery to loyalty. Growth comes from designing how technology and marketing work together, not from campaigns alone.
Taylor Swift has filed three US trademark applications covering a stage photo from her Eras Tour and audio clips of her introducing herself, seeking to protect herself against AI-generated impersonations. The move follows a broader trend among celebrities using trademark rules to combat AI misuse of their likenesses.
A Leipzig-based developer created an unofficial tool to block over 4,700 suspected AI artists from Spotify playlists after finding them increasingly prevalent, as frustration grows among users who prefer not to hear AI-generated music. Spotify has only implemented a voluntary labeling system in song credits that relies on artists and labels to self-report AI use.