Nigerian artist Rema has made history with his hit song “Calm Down,” which has now surpassed one billion streams in the United States, as reported by Chart Data on June 17, 2024. This milestone marks a significant achievement for African music on the global stage.
Released as the lead single from Rema’s 2022 album “Raves & Roses,” “Calm Down” received an additional boost with a remix featuring American singer Selena Gomez, included in the deluxe version of the album. This remix not only contributed to the song’s massive streaming numbers but also set a new record: it became the first Afrobeats and African song to reach one billion on-demand streams in the US.
Moreover, “Calm Down” holds the title for the most-streamed Afrobeats song on Spotify. The song’s success is further underscored by its impressive performance on YouTube. The original music video has garnered over 596 million views, making it the most-viewed music video by a Nigerian artist on the platform. The remix featuring Selena Gomez has surpassed this, accumulating over 893 million views and counting.
These staggering numbers highlight the powerful impact of Rema’s music and the growing influence of Afrobeats on the global music scene. The visual appeal of the “Calm Down” videos has played a significant role in attracting a wide audience, demonstrating the potent combination of music and visuals that artists like Rema are using to captivate listeners around the world.
Rema’s accomplishment with “Calm Down” is not just a personal victory; it signifies a broader shift in the music industry, where African artists and genres are gaining unprecedented recognition and success. African music is beginning to reach and resonate with global audiences.
