Spotify reveals the top streamed South African artists, songs and albums of 2019

Wrapped showcases how more than 248 million people around the world listened to and discovered music and podcasts in 2019, taking a look at music, culture and streaming through the eyes (and ears) of the fans and artists that made it all possible.

Globally, Post Malone is the most streamed artist this year. This is the first time the rapper-singer-songwriter tops Spotify’s Wrapped list, just over 12 weeks after dropping his latest album, Hollywood’s Bleeding – which is also the second most-streamed album globally and the most-streamed album in South Africa this year.

Khalid came in at the top spot for the most streamed artist in South Africa followed by Post Malone and Drake respectively.

AmaPiano dominated South African dance floors in 2019, so it comes as no surprise that AmaPiano breakout star Kabza De Small is the most streamed local artist in South Africa this year, followed closely by DJ Maphorisa, with hip-hop megastar Nasty C taking the third spot.

Female voices were a force on Spotify in 2019, with Billie Eilish and Ariana Grande coming in as the second and third most-streamed artists globally. The second most-streamed artist of 2019, 17-year-old singer/songwriter Billie Eilish had an earth-shaking breakout year. She surpassed six billion streams this year alone, and her album When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? is 2019’s most-streamed album of the year on Spotify, marking the first time a female-led album has topped Wrapped.

Shekhinah, who recently opened for legendary RnB singer Toni Braxton, remained the most streamed local female artist in South Africa. Lady Zamar, whose much anticipated second album Monarch, churned out more chart-topping hits, followed in second place with Afrikaans rock artist, Karen Zoid, claiming the third spot.

The year’s most-streamed song globally is “Señorita” by Shawn Mendes and Camilla Cabello with more than one billion streams followed closely by Billie Eilish’s hit track “bad guy” with more than 990 million streams.

While Post Malone and Billie Eilish dominated global streaming lists, they also featured prominently in South Africa’s most-streamed songs for 2019. Post Malone claimed the first and fifth spots, with “Sunflower” featuring Swae Lee as the most streamed song and “wow” in fifth position and Billie Eilish’s “bad guy” taking the fourth spot.

Closer to home, South Africans showed their support for local artists with “Drive” by Black Coffee and David Guetta (featuring Delilah Montagu) maintaining its position as the most-streamed song, spearheaded by a local artist. ‘’Fetch Your Life’’ by Prince Kaybee and Msaki is the second most-streamed song in South Africa, with “Dames” by Biggy, the song that became a viral sensation locally,  in at number three.

Prince Kaybe and Kabza De Small also feature on the list of most-streamed South African albums in South Africa. Prince Kaybee’s Re Mmino topped the list with Kabza De Small and DJ Maphorisa’s Scorpion Kings in the second most-streamed album slot.

Check out the Spotify Wrapped 2019 South Africa top lists 

Most Streamed Artists in South Africa

1.    Khalid
2.    Post Malone
3.    Drake
4.    Ed Sheeran
5.    Billie Eilish
6.    Ariana Grande
7.    Chris Brown
8.    The Chainsmokers
9.    Beyoncé
10.  J. Cole

Most Streamed Tracks in South Africa

1.       “Sunflower” - Post Malone, Swae Lee
2.       “I Don’t Care” – Ed Shereen and Justin Bieber
3.       “Eastside” – Halsey, Khalid, benny blanco
4.       “bad guy” - Billie Eilish
5.       “wow” – Post Malone
6.       “Old Town Road (Remix)” - Billy Ray Cyrus, Lil Nas X
7.       “Señorita” - Camila Cabello, Shawn Mendes
8.      “Happier” - Bastille, Marshmello
9.       “Someone You Loved” - Lewis Capaldi
10.   “7 Rings” - Ariana Grande

Most Streamed Albums - in South Africa

1.       Hollywood’s Bleeding - Post Malone
2.       When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? - Billie Eilish
3.       Free Spirit - Khalid
4.       No.6 Collaborations Project – Ed Sheeran
5.       thank u, next  - Ariana Grande
6.       Shawn Mendes - Shawn Mendes
7.       Beerbongs & Bentleys - Post Malone
8.       7 EP - Lil Nas X
9.       Indigo (Extended) - Chris Brown
10.   Scorpion - Drake

Most Streamed Female Artists in South Africa

1.       Billie Eilish
2.       Ariana Grande
3.       Beyoncé
4.       Taylor Swift
5.       Halsey
6.       Camila Cabello
7.       Rihanna
8.       Nicki Minaj
9.       Cardi B
10.   Bebe Rexha

Most Streamed South African Artists in South Africa

1.       Kabza De Small
2.       DJ Maphorisa
3.       Nasty C
4.       Prince Kaybee
5.       Spoegwolf
6.       Black Coffee
7.       Joyous Celebration
8.       Sjava
9.       Snotkop
10.   AKA

Most Streamed South African Tracks in South Africa

1.       “Drive” – Black Coffee, David Guetta, Delilah Montagu
2.       “Fetch Your Life” (Edit) – Prince Kaybee, Msaki
3.       “Dames” – Biggy
4.       “Amantombazane” - DJ Maphorisa, Kabza De Small, Mfr Souls, Samthing Soweto
5.       “Akulaleki” - DJ Maphorisa, Kabza De Small, Samthing Soweto, Sha Sha
6.       “Vula Vala” - DJ Maphorisa, Kabza De Small, Nokwazi, Vigro Deep
7.       “SMA” - Nasty C, Rowlene
8.       “Kokota” - Bizizi, KayGee DaKing, Killer Kau
9.       “Gugulethu” - Afro Brothers, Indlovukazi, Prince Kaybee, Supta
10.   “Whipped” - Nasty C, Shekhinah, Tellaman

Most Streamed South African Albums in South Africa

1.       Re Mmino – Prince Kaybee
2.       Scorpion Kings – Kabza De Small, DJ Maphorisa
3.       Emakhaya – Mlindo The Vocalist
4.       Strings And Bling – Nasty C
5.       Umqhele - Sjava
6.       Isphithiphithi - Samthing Soweto
7.       Koma - Spoegwolf
8.       Die Platinum Reeks - Snotkop
9.       Africa To The World - Sun-El Musician
10.  Alles Van Die Beste - Die Heuwels Fanstasties

Most Streamed South African Female Artists in South Africa

1.       Shekhinah
2.       Lady Zamar
3.       Karen Zoid
4.       Simmy
5.       Juanita Du Plessis
6.       Ami Faku
7.       Lebo Sekgobela
8.       Zonke
9.       Sho Madjozi
10.   Karlien Van Jaarsveld

Most Streamed South African Male Artists in South Africa

1.       Kabza De Small
2.       DJ Maphorisa
3.       Nasty C
4.       Prince Kaybee
5.       Spoegwolf
6.       Black Coffee
7.       Sjava
8.       Snotkop
9.       Mlindo The Vocalist
10.     AKA