WizKid joins famous singers such as Sam Smith, Mariah Carey, and Coldplay, as one of the latest recipients of the award, for one billion streams in the UK.
By Helena Olori
Nigerian artiste, Ayodele Balogun, popularly known as WizKid, has once again, etched his name in history as the first African singer to receive the Brit Billion Award, celebrating a musical milestone for having over one billion streams in the United Kingdom.
The award was presented to him by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) music award body, after his stunning performance at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday, July 29th, 2023.
“It’s one billion UK streams for @wizkidayo, who was presented with his BRIT Billion Award while in London for his incredible show at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium,” shared the Brits Award on X.
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The Grammy award-winning singer rose to global prominence after his chart-topping collaboration with Drake, on the hit single “One Dance” in 2016, which became pivotal to WizKid’s international success.
WizKid’s international collaborations have since continued, with notable features with globally celebrated singers such as Beyonce (“Brown Skin Girl”), Chris Brown (“African Bad Gyal”), and Justin Bieber (“Essense” remix with Tems). These collaborations, along with the success of his recent albums, Made in Lagos and More Love, Less Ego, have contributed to achieving this milestone.
The Afrobeats superstar is one of the most awarded musicians in Africa, with a total of 80 trophies to his name, including one Grammy Award, four BET Awards, and 17 Headies Awards.
In May 2022, WizKid surpassed one Billion Streams on Apple Music, becoming the first African singer to achieve this feat. As of July 2023, WizKid has had over five billion streams on Spotify.
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The Brit Billion Award was launched in May 2023, to commemorate the 50th anniversary and certifications programme of the BPI, which was founded in 1973. The award recognises remarkable achievements in recorded music, specifically for musicians with over one billion career streams in the UK, as calculated by the Official Charts Company. The Brit Billion award is based on Official Charts data for verification, similar to the Brit Certified scheme – platinum, silver, and gold grades.
The awards have been given to famous singers such as Whitney Houston (presented to Pat Houston), Sam Smith, Mariah Carey, Ellie Goulding, Coldplay, and a few others. WizKid is one of the latest recipients of the award.