A Heartfelt Melody: The Rise of Heartbreak Song Streams in Nigeria.

On Thursday, Spotify unveiled a remarkable trend concerning the listening habits of Nigerians during the Valentine’s Day season. According to a statement made by Phiona Okumu, Spotify’s Head of Music for Sub-Saharan Africa, heartbreak song streams experienced an astonishing 626 percent increase from 2022 to 2024.

Okumu noted, “Spotify data reveals a surprising trend, a massive surge in heartbreak song streams.” She elaborated that many Nigerians are turning to music as an emotional outlet, declaring that the sound of love this Valentine’s season is, indeed, intertwined with the sound of heartbreak.

Interestingly, the data indicated that male listeners engaged with heartbreak songs at a significantly higher rate than their female counterparts, witnessing a 362 percent increase compared to 169 percent among women. This observation may suggest that men specifically resonate with themes of heartbreak, utilizing music as a private means to process their feelings.

“There’s a notion that while Valentine’s Day is often celebrated with grand gestures, heartbreak remains a common theme, often overlooked,” Okumu commented. As Nigerians prepare to join the global festivities on February 14, 2025, the intertwining of romance and sorrow appears to play a substantial role in shaping their musical landscape.