Burna Boy’s “I Told Them…” album set global Apple Music records, showcasing African music’s expanding influence. In the week of August 25th to 31st, the album, featuring artists like J. Cole and Dave, broke the first-week streams record for any African album, spanning 100+ countries. It became 2023’s biggest debut in Nigeria and ruled album charts in 69 countries.
The album also made history by placing ten tracks simultaneously in Apple Music’s Global Daily Top 100. “Cheat on Me (feat. Dave)” reached No. 44 globally, and “City Boys” hit No. 1 in Nigeria and No. 16 on Shazam’s Global Charts.
“I Told Them…” mirrors African music’s global ascent. Recent releases by Asake, Davido, and Burna Boy have also excelled on Apple Music and Shazam. African music streams grow four times faster than the average, with Shazam searches doubling yearly, particularly in France, the UK, and the US.
In summary, “I Told Them…” set records and highlighted African music’s global reach, marking a milestone in the music industry’s evolution.
