Tyla's 'Water' surpasses 1 billion streams on Spotify

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South African singer Tyla has cemented her place in music history. Her smash hit Water has exceeded one billion streams on Spotify.

She is the first African solo artist to achieve this milestone.

TYLA’S HIT SONG

Released on 28 July 2023, Watergained popularity quickly. with Tyla’s performance at the Giants of Africa Festival in Kigali, Rwanda, helping propel the song.

The track blends Amapiano and R&B, creating a unique sound. A viral dance challenge also boosted its recognition, according to GQ.

The song earned Tyla a Grammy Award for Best African Music Performance, this was at the 66th Grammy Awards in February 2024.

TYLA’S SPOTIFY ACHIEVEMENTS

Phiona Okumu, Head of Music at Spotify in Africa, expressed pride in Tyla’s achievement. “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 honoured to have played a part in her journey”.

KEY MOMENTS

Tyla’s journey to success includes key moments:

18 July 2023: Tyla previewed Waterat Spotify’s Greasy Tunes showcase in Johannesburg. This was part of RADAR Africa.
19 August 2023: She performed live at Giants of Africa, sparking a TikTok dance craze.
15 September 2023: Waterexceeded one million daily streams on Spotify.
26 October 2023: The song reached 100 million total streams on Spotify.
5 February 2024: Tyla won a Grammy Award for Best African Music Performance.
19 February 2025: Waterhit one billion streams, solidifying Tyla’s status.

Tyla joins a select group of African artists with over a billion streams.

OTHER AFRICAN ARTISTS WITH THE SAME ACHIEVEMENTS

Wizkid achieved this through his feature on Drake’s One Dance, and Rema reached the milestone with Calm Down featuring Selena Gomez, , according to Urban Street Culture.

Tems also achieved it with her feature on Future’s Wait For U alongside Drake.

Her success has been supported by Spotify’s RADAR Africa and EQUAL Africa programs. These initiatives spotlight emerging African talent, and they also expand their reach globally.

‘WATER’

Water peaked at No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100 and topped the U.S. Afrobeats Songs chart for 55 weeks, according to TNX Africa.

The song also reached No. 1 on World Digital Song Sales (18 weeks), Dance/Mix Show Airplay (four weeks) and Rhythmic Airplay.

TYLA ON THE RISE

The singer has also earned awards at the Billboard Music Awards and MTV Video Music Awards.

Tyla’s accomplishment demonstrates the global appeal of African music. Her hit song is a cultural phenomenon, and with the world watching, her rise has only just begun.