In a milestone that cements her status as Afrobeats’ rising queen, 22-year-old sensation Ayra Starr has officially eclipsed 3 billion streams across all credits on Spotify, catapulting her into an elite cadre of Nigerian music icons including Wizkid, Davido, Tems, and Burna Boy. The announcement, confirmed by streaming analytics platform Kworb and celebrated across social media, underscores Starr’s explosive global ascent just four years into her career.
Oyinkansola Sarah Aderibigbe, better known as Ayra Starr, hit the mark with a blend of breakout anthems like “Rush”—which alone has racked up over 500 million plays—and her sophomore album The Year I Turned 21, a genre-bending fusion of Afrobeats, R&B, and alt-pop that debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s World Albums chart. “This is for every young girl dreaming big—proof that our stories, our sounds, belong on the world stage,” Starr shared in a jubilant Instagram post, accompanied by a clip of her performing at London’s O2 Arena. The post has since exploded with over 1 million likes, drawing shoutouts from peers like Tems (“Proud of you, sis—keep shining”) and Wizkid (“Star girl energy forever”).
Starr’s journey from a self-taught Benin City teen posting covers online to Mavin Records signee is the stuff of inspiration. Discovered by Don Jazzy in 2020 after a viral TikTok freestyle, her debut EP Ayra Starr spawned the sleeper hit “Away,” but it was 2022’s “Rush” that ignited her supernova trajectory—peaking at No. 24 on the UK Singles Chart and earning a Grammy nod for Best African Music Performance. At 22, she’s the youngest on the 3-billion club roster, outpacing veterans in velocity: Wizkid leads with over 9 billion streams, followed by Burna Boy’s 8.5 billion, Davido’s 4+ billion, Tems’ 3.8 billion, and Rema’s 3.2 billion.
Fans and industry watchers are buzzing on X, where #AyraStarr3Billion is trending globally. “From 2B in October ‘24 to 3B now? That’s not growth, that’s a takeover! 🇳🇬🔥,” one user tweeted, while another marveled, “Afrobeats girls running the game—Tems, Ayra, who’s next?” The feat arrives amid Starr’s packed slate: a sold-out North American tour, features on Michael Bublé’s holiday album, and whispers of a third project dropping in 2026. Her streams hail from over 100 countries, with “Rush” still dominating playlists in the US, UK, and Brazil.
This isn’t just numbers—it’s a testament to Afrobeats’ unyielding global grip, now boasting over 15 billion annual streams on Spotify. As Starr joins the pantheon, she’s not just streaming; she’s redefining what it means to be young, African, and unstoppable.