Lagos, Nigeria — As love filled the air on Valentine’s Day, so did heartbreak, with Spotify recording a staggering rise in the streaming of heartbreak songs across Nigeria.
According to a statement released by Phiona Okumu, Spotify’s Head of Music for Sub-Saharan Africa, there has been an unprecedented 626 percent increase in heartbreak song streams between 2022 and 2024.
Heartbreak Outpaces Romance in Streaming Trends
“Spotify data reveals an unexpected trend, while Valentine’s Day is synonymous with love, heartbreak has become an equally dominant theme,” Okumu stated.
She noted that many Nigerians turned to music as an emotional outlet, with heartbreak playlists gaining massive traction.
Interestingly, data from Spotify’s 2025 Valentine’s report revealed that male listeners engaged with heartbreak songs at a significantly higher rate than female listeners. While women’s heartbreak streams increased by 169 percent, men’s numbers soared by 362 percent, indicating that men may be turning to music as a means of processing their emotions more privately.
“The data suggests that men are pressing play on their pain more than expected. While grand romantic gestures dominate Valentine’s Day celebrations, heartbreak remains an equally prevalent experience, though less publicly acknowledged,” Okumu added.
Nigeria joined the rest of the world in commemorating Valentine’s Day on February 14, 2025, but the streaming data indicates that, beyond the chocolates and roses, many found solace in music as they navigated the complexities of love and loss.
By Taiwo Olatinwo| February 16, 2025
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