In a groundbreaking achievement, Rema, the sensational Afrobeats artist, has reached a new milestone with the remix of his hit single, “Calm Down,” featuring Selena Gomez. The track emerged as the 12th most streamed song globally on Apple Music, making history as the highest entry ever for an African song on the chart. These statistics, published on Tuesday, November 28, 2023, are based on plays between November 1, 2022, and October 31, 2023.
The success of “Calm Down” highlights the growing influence of Afrobeats on the global music scene. The track’s remarkable feat places it among the top-ranking songs, with Apple Music recognizing the widespread embrace of Afrobeats by listeners worldwide.
The top three spots on the chart were claimed by “Last Night” from country music star Morgan Wallen, followed by Miley Cyrus’s “Flowers” and SZA’s “Kill Bill” in second and third place, respectively. Other notable entries in the top 10 include Drake and 21 Savage’s “Rich Flex,” SZA’s “Snooze,” Taylor Swift’s “Anti-Hero,” Yoasobi’s “Idol,” Chris Brown’s “Under the Influence,” and the collaboration “Creepin'” by Metro Booming, The Weeknd, and 21 Savage. Official Hige Dandism’s “Subtitle” secured the tenth position.
“Calm Down” surpassed strong contenders, finishing just above Drake and 21 Savage’s “Spin Bout U,” from their collaborative album, “Her Loss,” which secured the 11th place.
Notably, Apple Music’s acknowledgment of Afrobeats’ global impact extended beyond Rema’s success, revealing that the top 10 most streamed songs in the past 12 months by Ghanaians were all Nigerian hits. This phenomenon also reached Kenya, where the top 10 chart was dominated by Afrobeats songs.
In an additional recognition, Tems, another Nigerian artist, made a significant appearance in the global top 100 chart for her contribution to “Wait For U” by American rapper Future, featuring Drake, securing the 17th place.