When Spotify launched in South Africa in March 2018, new customers and music lovers raced onto the platform to stream <\/span>Thelonious Monk<\/b>\u2019s<\/span><\/a> \u201c\u2018<\/span>Round Midnight<\/span><\/a>.\u201d In the 5 years since, listeners within the area have made thousands and thousands of playlists spanning nostalgic jazz, pop, hip-hop, rap, home-grown Amapiano, and far more, and have spent billions of hours listening to podcasts. This has led to hundreds of artists and creators discovering an viewers for his or her craft, with South African artists themselves having launched over a million tracks.<\/span><\/p>\n Today, we mark this five-year milestone by wanting again on the early days of Spotify streaming in South Africa.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Originally, the one South African tune featured within the first 10 tracks performed available in the market was <\/span>Shekhinah\u2019s<\/b><\/a> \u201c<\/span>Thirsty<\/span><\/a>.\u201d Now, Canadian rapper <\/span>Drake<\/span><\/a> takes the highest spot. He\u2019s adopted by Amapiano artist <\/span>Kabza<\/b> de<\/b> Small<\/b><\/a> in second place, <\/span>The Weeknd<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>Juice WRLD<\/span><\/a> in third and fourth, and South African <\/span>DJ<\/b> Maphorisa<\/b><\/a> to spherical out the highest 5. The mixture of world and native expertise is additional testomony to the large attraction and development of Amapiano, and South African music generally.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cSpotify provides a global platform for these creators to share their music and podcasts with the world, and our entrance into the market has allowed local artists to grow their audiences and monetize their creativity,\u201d stated <\/span>Jocelyne<\/b> Muhutu<\/b>\u2013<\/span>Remy<\/b>, Managing Director for Spotify in Sub-Saharan Africa. \u201cSpotify programmes like EQUAL, Fresh Finds, RADAR, and GLOW have also helped to market and support local, emerging, and underrepresented artists.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Last 12 months, we introduced that we would come with 4 South African podcasts in our <\/span>Africa Podcast Fund<\/span><\/a>. With this initiative, we\u2019re supporting burgeoning podcasters by way of monetary grants, workshops, and networking alternatives, and amplifying their tales. Our purpose is to assist platform African creators on a world scale and shift the traditionally restrictive view of tales concerning the continent.<\/span><\/p>\n Celebrate South Africa\u2019s milestone anniversary with the Top 50 tracks being streamed within the nation immediately.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/pr-newsroom-wp\/1\/2023\/03\/Spotify-Celebrating-South-africa-5.png\")
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