Scene and Heard: TuneCore Africa
The heartbeat of Africa’s music scene is powering the global music industry. That’s why we started Scene and Heard, a series celebrating the artists, genres, and movements shaping a continent’s sound – and how we’re amplifying them. First up: TuneCore Africa.
From the powerful rise of Afrobeats and Amapiano to the influence of Francophone rap, we’re diving deep into the numbers, trends, and stories driving Africa’s takeover of the charts and hearts of music listeners.
Numbers Don’t Lie
Hip-Hop is Crowned and Conquering.
Hip-hop is the most popular genre in the African continent and, to be honest, it’s not even close.
Afrobeats Is What’s Next
That said: Afrobeats is on the rise.
From 2020 to 2024, the Fela Kuti-inspired subgenre vaulted into the country’s top three most-listened to sounds:
Cities Are Shaping Listening Habits
Five of the top six listening bases in Africa are heavily-populated urban centers. Translation: if you want to grow your career, building your audiences in these cities is a surefire way to do so.
Native Languages Are Resonating
African musicians are unleashing the power of their mother tongues. Over the last four years, the local industry catalyzed a dramatic shift toward native languages.
Bottom line: these trends are leading to record-breaking streams, rising revenue, and explosive genre growth for Africa’s independent artists.
Our Artists: Where Legacy Meets The Future
At TuneCore, we honor the pioneers who paved the way for Africa’s music industry while spotlighting the next wave of viral sensations, powered by tools like TuneCore Accelerator (check out the report here!).
Whether it's local talent disrupting global charts or emerging sounds setting new trends, this guide captures it all.
A Fully Localized Approach
Africa’s music landscape is diverse, and so is our strategy.
We’re amplifying voices across regions—including Francophone markets—while tailoring content to resonate with local audiences. Expect Canva-powered visuals, deep DSP partnerships, and industry insights that move the culture forward.
The Culture, The Community, The Future
Through exclusive blog posts, expert takes, and a showcase of our favorite TuneCore artists, we’re giving you the full picture of how Africa’s independent music ecosystem is evolving.
The industry is moving. TuneCore is leading. And Africa is the future.