Spotify, an online streaming platform, says gospel music featuring chants is gaining more prominence globally.

Phiona Okumu, Spotify’s Head of Music for Sub-Saharan Africa, in a statement in Lagos on Saturday, said this was according to Spotify data.

She said with this development, Spotify had released a worship chants playlist for music lovers.

According to her, gospel music has continued to grow, captivating audiences of all ages and steadily increasing in popularity.

“Its appeal stems from more than just its captivating sound, it offers solace during challenging times and inspires hope for a better future.

“As the genre evolves, we are witnessing exciting new developments and fascinating shifts in Nigerian gospel music, with chants emerging as a notable trend.

“Recent data from Spotify shows that the growth of gospel music featuring chants is undeniable both globally and locally.

“Listeners on the platform streamed 160% of gospel music with chants in Q1 2024 compared to Q1 2023 globally.

“In Nigeria, the trend is even stronger, with a more than 282% increase in streams in the same period.

“Spotify has launched a dedicated playlist for chant lovers.

“Worship chants is designed to provide a curated selection of soul-stirring gospel chants, offering a space for spiritual connection and reflection,” she said.

According to Spotify data, for 2024, the top five Nigerian gospel artistes renowned for worship chants are:Sunmisola Agbebi, Ebuka Songs, Dunsin Oyekan,1Spirit & Theophilus Sunday, and Nathaniel Bassey.

Okumu described chants in this new gospel style as distinctively minimalist.

“Gospel music typically lacks traditional lyrics, backup singers, or other hallmarks of conventional gospel songs.

“Instead, chanters often perform in a freestyle manner, accompanied only by simple string instruments.

“The result is a pure, unfiltered expression of faith that resonates deeply with listeners.

“Gen Zs and younger adults are a core part of the streaming audience.

“45% of the listeners are between 18 to 24-years-old, 26 per cent fall into the 25 to 29 age group and 13 per cent are between 30 to 34-years-old,” she said.