Photo Credit: Spotify
Spotify announces that Nigerian star Rema’s song “Calm Down” featuring Selena Gomez has joined the Billions Club — the elite list of songs to reach one billion streams on the platform. The achievement is the first time an African artist-led track has reached a billion streams on Spotify.
The company’s data reveals that the highest number of “Calm Down” streams are from the US, India, Mexico, Brazil, and the UK and has been added to more than a million Spotify playlists. Rema is one of 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. “I feel really happy, and I’m really proud of the fans as well for going back to the song and putting people onto the song. Shout-out to the DJs and everyone who made this possible.”
“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 Victor Okpala, Spotify’s Artist and Label Partnerships Manager for West Africa.
As one of Nigeria’s fastest-rising artists, Rema is a “worthy champion” for Spotify’s Billions Club, and his new status in the club serves as a shining moment for Afrobeats music as the genre continues to evolve and grow.
But Spotify also cites the power of musical collaboration in helping genre-spanning global artists reach new audiences. A prime example of cross-cultural musical fusion, “Calm Down” provides a catchy mix of Afrobeat rhythm and melody married to Rema’s and Selena’s vocals, resulting in “a bona fide billion-strong hit.” The track initially dropped in August 2022.
