THE 17th edition of the prestigious Headies Awards, held on Sunday, 27 April 2025, at the Landmark Event Centre in Lagos, Nigeria, did more than celebrate musical excellence it confirmed the seismic shift in African music’s digital economy. Leading this transformation was award-winning Afrobeat superstar David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, who clinched the Best Digital Artiste of the Year, underscoring the mounting influence of streaming platforms and online fanbases in shaping today’s music successes.
Davido’s triumph in this category arrives at a critical time when digital streaming has become the lifeblood of the global music industry.
According to the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) Global Music Report 2024, streaming accounted for 69.0% of global recorded music revenues, surpassing US$20 billion for the first time and marking a 10.3% increase compared to the previous year. Sub-Saharan Africa recorded significant growth with a 22.6% rise in revenues, largely driven by gains in paid streaming. Nigeria, as a key market, continues to be a major contributor to this growth, with Afrobeat acts dominating international charts and global online conversations
“Winning Best Digital Artiste of the Year is a huge honour,” Davido stated in his acceptance speech, thanking fans for their “unwavering online love and support.”
The Headies’ return to Lagos after a two-year stint in the United States signalled a renewed focus on the Nigerian market, where artists now command vast digital empires. Davido’s digital footprint exemplifies this dominance: with over 34 million followers on Instagram, 13 million monthly listeners on Spotify, and a YouTube channel boasting over 1 billion views, his online presence is a commercial juggernaut.
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His nominated collaborative track, “Ogechi Remix”, featuring Hyce, Boypee, and Brown Joel, has made an impressive mark in the Nigerian music scene since its release on June 26, 2024. The track swiftly climbed the TurnTable Nigeria Top 100 chart, reaching the top spot for the week of June 28 – July 4, 2024. According to data from Pulse, the remix garnered an astounding 6.76 million on-demand streams and 49.3 million radio impressions during its initial week.
Beyond chart performance, the song’s viral growth across digital platforms has been remarkable. The track gained massive traction on TikTok and Instagram Reels, recording over 450,000 user-generated videos within just six weeks of release, as noted in Chartmetric data. The song’s visual counterpart also performed exceptionally well, with the music video surpassing 1 million views on YouTube in less than five days.
This viral success underscores the power of social media in amplifying the reach of music releases, further cementing “Ogechi Remix” as a significant player in the digital music space.
Beyond Davido, the awards night also recognised a new wave of artists thriving on digital platforms. Zerry DL, who won Rookie of the Year, and Odumodublvck, who took home the coveted Next Rated award, are prominent examples. Odumodublvck, whose gritty street anthems like “Declan Rice” amassed millions of streams across Boomplay, Audiomack, and Spotify, represents a new generation of Nigerian rappers leveraging online platforms for mass appeal without traditional record label support.
The Headies’ expansion of digital categories, such as the Best Digital Artiste award introduced recently, reflects broader industry trends.
According to the PwC report, Nigeria’s overall E&M revenue is set to rise from $6.0 billion in 2022 to $12.9 billion by 2027, at a 16.5% CAGR. Music streaming revenue is a key part of this growth, reflecting the increasing demand for accessible digital content across the country.
Platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, Boomplay, and Audiomack are at the forefront of this transformation, offering Nigerian artists new opportunities to reach international audiences. As these platforms continue to expand, they are playing a critical role in reshaping the future of Nigeria’s music industry, making digital strategy essential for artists aiming for global recognition.
The night also highlighted emotional moments that resonated deeply online. Late artist Mohbad was posthumously honoured with the Best Street-Hop Artiste award for his hit single “Ask About Me”. His family’s acceptance of the award moved audiences both onsite and across social media platforms, where #Mohbad trended globally, underlining the emotional power and reach of digital communities.
Other significant winners like Tems, who bagged Best Recording of the Year with “Burning”, and Rema, whose album “Heis” won Afrobeats Album of the Year, have all built careers with digital-first strategies.
For instance, Rema’s viral TikTok moments have directly translated into Billboard Hot 100 placements, while Tems’ collaborations with international acts such as Drake and Future, amplified through Spotify playlists and YouTube premieres, have bolstered her global profile.
The hosting duo, Nancy Isime and IK Osakioduwa, added glamour and wit to the event, which was broadcasted live to millions via YouTube and other digital platforms a testament to how the Headies itself has evolved into a transnational digital experience.
The 17th Headies Awards, themed “Back to Base”, captured a vital truth: the future of African music is online, and its architects are those who understand how to wield digital influence.
