Nigerian singer-songwriter Rema has stunned the globe by becoming the first African artist ever to rack up a mind-boggling one billion streams on Spotify for his crossover smash “Calm Down” featuring pop princess Selena Gomez.
This colossal achievement cements Rema’s status as a true pioneer, earns him coveted membership in the elite “Billions Club,” and marks a groundbreaking moment for the fast-rising Afrobeats genre on the worldwide stage.
Selena shared the milestone on her social media, writing, “I’m so grateful. Love you @heisrema!”
Rema broke the monumental benchmark late last week, triggering celebrations from fans and setting off a firestorm of buzz and acclaim around this trailblazing anthem.
“It’s a blessing. It’s not just a big win for me, my team, and family; it’s also a huge victory for Afrobeats culture,” Rema told in an emotional press statement.
“I feel overjoyed, and I’m incredibly proud of my supporters for consistently streaming this song and introducing it to new listeners. A massive thank you to the DJs and all those who made this possible – you helped write history.”
The staggering number of plays for “Calm Down” have streamed in from all corners of the globe, with the largest amounts coming from powerhouse markets like the United States, India, Mexico, Brazil, and the United Kingdom.
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The irresistible fusion of Rema’s silky Afrobeat textures and Selena’s pristine pop vocals has clearly resonated massively across international borders. Rema’s high-energy vocal performance and infectious beat pulled in over one million Spotify listeners, who added the track to their playlists in droves.
Prior to this earth-shaking achievement, Rema was already established as one of the top ten most-streamed Afrobeats artists on Spotify’s platform. However, surpassing the billion-streams pinnacle elevates him to the highest echelons of global stardom.
“This milestone is absolutely astounding for Rema’s career. He is cementing his place as a true visionary and pioneering a watershed moment for the entire Afrobeats movement,” remarked Victor Okpala (Spotify’s Artist and Label Partnerships Manager for West Africa).
“We’re thrilled to have supported Rema from the beginning and watch this genre make seismic waves throughout international pop culture.”
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Originally released in February 2022, Rema re-worked “Calm Down” over the summer alongside pop juggernaut Selena Gomez for a dynamic remix. Since its release as a single in August, the re-imagined version has dominated airwaves and playlists online.
On Billboard charts, “Calm Down” topped their Pop, Rhythmic, and Radio Songs tallies – a first for any Nigerian artist. Rema’s euphoric vocal and entrancing music video featuring Selena also propelled the collab to number three on the all-format Hot 100.
Rema’s boundary-pushing success with “Calm Down” will undoubtedly inspire a new wave of African talent to break barriers. It strengthens the rising global influence of Afrobeats worldwide and invites music fans everywhere to experience the genre’s irresistible rhythms and messages of joy.
As Rema himself puts it – this is “a big win for the culture.” Get ready for the Afrobeats revolution to take over 2021 and beyond.
