Billboard to Launch US Afrobeats Chart
“Afrobeats To The World” is a phrase that has been out there for a while. Today, the term is taking shape, as recently, Billboard announced its partnership with Afro Nation (Afrobeats biggest brand) to launch the first-ever United States chart for Afrobeats. The chart will feature 50 popping Afrobeats songs from streaming platforms, including download sales from music retailers.
This comes almost two years after the UK based company; Official Charts Company launched the “Official UK Afrobeats Chart”, which contained the top 20 songs in the Afrobeats genre in the UK. The UK Afrobeats Chart came as a result of the growing popularity of the genre in the UK. The same can be said about the US, as there has been increased consumption of Afrobeats in the US.
It is certainly welcome news that the efforts of artists like Fela Anikulapo Kuti (from whom the genre originated or influenced from/by), D’banj, P-Square, Fuse ODG, Castro etc., have certainly contributed to this. Having cracked the ceiling, Wizkid, Burna Boy, Davido, Sarkodie, Mr. Eazi etc., created a path and “cleared the road” for the incoming generation. This set of artists carried Afrobeats to the world and commanded the interests of the world to the genre.
This has made it possible for the new generation of artists to reap the fruit of the labour of their heroes and inspirations. Today, we see artists like Ckay, Kidi, Fireboy, Rema etc., getting raves in the diaspora. The potential remains vast and largely untapped. There are many alternatives to explore, markets to conquer, and collaborations. It no longer seems strange or rare to see Afrobeats acts collaborating with global stars. We have witnessed Omah Lay and Justin Bieber, Fireboy and Ed Sheeran, Fireboy and Madonna, Beyonce and a host of African stars etc.
It is about time for Afrobeats to have its chart in the US. The first significant collaboration of Afrobeats artists with the biggest stars was in 2011 with P-Square, who had affiliations with artists like Akon and Rick Ross. D’banj also followed suit in 2012 with his record-breaking single, Oliver Twist, which made him the first Afrobeats artist to score a UK Top 10. The music video had superstars making appearances, including Kanye West, Big Sean, and Pusha T. Artistes like Sarkodie and Fuse ODG also made remarkable strides in taking Afrobeats to the world in the early 2010s.
The fact that Billboard is taking the step to give Afrobeats its chart reflects the work and growth that has been put in to take Afrobeats to the world. The genre has produced some of the biggest songs of this decade, including Wizkid’s Essence and Ckay’s Love Nwantiti. There is no doubt that this is well-deserved. We have seen Afrobeats songs on top charts and is no longer a perennial visitor in world charts. At a different point in time this decade, Master KG, Wizkid, Ckay, and Pheelz’s songs were the most shazamed song worldwide, proof that Afrobeats was going global.
However, people should note that the chart will be based on streams in the country, which means that what may be termed the “biggest song” in Africa may not be the “biggest song” in the US. The chart reflects which Afrobeats song is gaining popularity and earning raves solely in the US.
Lastly, artists should note that whilst this chart may give them a platform to showcase their music and gain recognition for their hard work and craft; it will also bring more scrutiny to their music. This is important as many Afrobeats songs sample western songs without obtaining proper clearances from the relevant party. Where a song that contains such a sample starts getting airplay in countries like the US, the chances are that the right holders of the sampled work will recognise such sample and come for the infringing artiste.
Perhaps, this may make artists do the proper clearance and introduce more structure in the Afrobeats genre. This charts can also lead to more financing and investment for the genre, as more investors and labels may be interested in investing in Afrobeats.
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