Afrobeats To Get Its Own Billboard Chart

<p> Afrobeats is a global phenomenon that’s popping up on American charts with increasingly regularity—Wizkid and Tem’s song “Essence” reached number nine on the <em>Billboard</em> Hot 100 and was number one on the R&B/Hip-Hop airplay chart for an astonishing 27 weeks, just to name one example. Riding this groundswell, <em>Billboard</em> has announced that Afrobeats will have its own American chart, tracking the 50 hottest Afrobeats songs. <br> </p> <p>The chart goes live on March 29 on Billboard.com and is a collaboration with the music festival and global brand Afro Nation. <a href="https://afronationpuertorico.com/?gclid=CjwKCAjwiuuRBhBvEiwAFXKaNBU6_imI_J99N0xKt8skOiyeNiDwjiEaUH2rdz00Fn-3dkARNPJlaxoCDioQAvD_BwE" target="_blank">This year’s Afro Nation Festival happens March 24-26 in San Juan, Puerto Rico</a>. Afro Nation also helped launch the British Top 20 Afrobeats Chart in July 2020. <br> </p> <p>"The last decade has seen Afrobeats explode into a worldwide phenomenon, influencing culture and fashion across the globe and I am humbled to have made a contribution to growing the genre alongside many talented, passionate people,” Obi Asika, Afro Nation’s founder, stated in a press release.<strong> “</strong>There is still so much more potential within the scene and the community that has grown around it and I believe it is vital that with <em>Billboard</em> we now have a U.S. chart that reflects this growth and provides a platform for emerging artists from every continent to showcase their talent to new audiences”.<br> </p>