Ayra Starr becomes the most-streamed female artist on Spotify Nigeria

Ayra Starr, the Mavin superstar singer, solidified her position as the most-streamed female artist on Spotify Nigeria for 2025, a title she held onto amidst fierce competition from new voices to international stars.

In a year marked by seismic shifts in the Nigerian music scene, the female artist category maintained both stability at the top and exciting, dynamic movement within the ranks. The Top 10 most-streamed female artists list features a blend of global stars and local breakouts, showcasing a wide range of genres and influences.

Following Ayra Starr, the list includes global sensation Tems (#2), whose international profile has been a key factor in exporting Nigerian sound. The defining narrative for 2025 in this category, however, is the explosive rise of Smur Lee (#3), whose swift ascendance is attributed to high-profile collaborations that successfully blend street-hop with the increasingly popular Amapiano textures, positioning her as a vital new voice driving the contemporary sound. Collaborations on songs like Management and Juju have made her a fan favorite.

The inclusion of international stars like Billie Eilish (#4) and SZA (#5) in the Top 10 shows that while local love is dominant (with an 82% rise in local music consumption), Nigerian listeners maintain a global perspective. The strong performances of Darkoo (#6) and Qing Madi (#7) further enrich the list with younger talents bolstering the multi-layered music culture.

The enduring presence of female music legends is also noted, with Tiwa Savage (#8) and international star Rihanna (#9) still in the charts.

Faith singer Sunmisola Agbebi takes the final spot on the top 10 list. Conversely, Sunmisola’s presence in the top 10 is deeply significant, as it underscores the love Nigerians have for gospel music. Her ranking demonstrates how faith-infused sounds comfortably sit alongside Afrobeats on listeners’ daily playlists, adding a crucial spiritual dimension to Nigeria’s digital life.

The global influence of Nigeria’s women artists also remains unshakeable. The Most Exported Artists list—a measure of who is being streamed outside of Nigeria—features Ayra Starr at #4, with Tems even higher at #2, right behind Burna Boy.