Spotify has revealed a substantial surge in the listenership of heartbreak anthems in Nigeria amidst the Valentine’s Day celebrations, significantly influenced by Nigerian men. The platform observed a striking 626% growth in heartbreak-themed streams from 2022 to 2024.
Phiona Okumu, Spotify’s head of music for Sub-Saharan Africa, conveyed these findings in a statement on Thursday in Lagos, emphasizing that heartbreak songs have become a prominent trend during Valentine’s observations.
“Nigerians are resorting to their playlists to navigate their feelings, with an astonishing 626 percent overall increase in heartbreak streams from 2022 to 2024,” Okumu noted. “This Valentine’s, the melody of love is accompanied by the tune of heartbreak, and the statistics indicate it’s more resonant than ever before.”
On Valentine’s Day 2024, the track “Egwu” by Chike and Mohbad was listed among the top three most-streamed songs in Nigeria, alongside Wizkid’s “One Love – Bob Marley: One Love – Music Inspired By The Film” and “Cast” by Shallipopi and Odumodublvck.
In 2023, Omah Lay’s heartfelt song “Soso” was one of the most popular tracks, along with j-hope’s “Arson” and Ayra Starr’s “Sability.”
Interestingly, defying the belief that heartbreak tunes would thrive more at night, Spotify’s data revealed that Nigerians mainly enjoy these songs between 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. For three consecutive years, heartbreak songs have secured their place in the morning routines of Nigerians, often providing a soundtrack as they introspect their feelings privately while working.
Notably, male listeners demonstrated a significantly elevated engagement with heartbreak melodies compared to their female counterparts on Valentine’s Day, with Spotify reporting a 362% surge in male streams, compared to a 169% increase among females.
“This may imply that men connect more with the sentiment of heartbreak and seek music as a personal channel for emotional expression,” Okumu elaborated.