Kenyan men streaming more heartbreak songs than women, data reveals

Spotify shared interesting data showing that male listeners are streaming heartbreak songs more at 107%, compared to ladies at 105%.

Love can be sweet until it’s not. One moment it's “my person forever” and the next it’s “who sent me here?”. 

For Kenyan men, the heartbreak seems to be hitting harder than ever. Whether it’s ghosting, unreciprocated love or just bad luck in the dating game, one thing is clear; the boychild is feeling it. 

With ‘You Broke Me First’ by Tate McRae topping Spotify charts as Kenyan’s ultimate heartbreak anthem in 2024, it looks like Kenyans were keeping score.Originally released in 2020, the track became a global heartbreak anthem, striking a chord with listeners navigating love and loss. 

The track also holds the record as the longest-chart-topping song by a female artist in 2020 on the Billboard Hot 100, spending an impressive 38 weeks at number 17. Its enduring success proves that everyone sings heartbreak.

Even though everyone experiences love and loss in their own way, a 189% increase in heartbreak tracks streamed by Kenyans in the last three years, overall says something about where they find comfort when love takes an unexpected turn. 

It’s the men who carry Kenyans through the heartache

Male artists' tracks in the top 10 most streamed heartbreak songs include ‘Someone You Loved’ by Lewis Capaldi, ‘Say You Won’t Let Go’ by James Arthur, ‘Let Me Down Slowly’ by Alec Benjamin, and ‘In The Stars’ by Benson Boone. Men therefore form a large part of the comforting music Kenyan listeners turn to, to get through the heartbreak. 

Billie Eilish holding it down for the emo girls has made three appearances on the top 10 list at number 3, 7, and 10. These tearjerker tracks are ‘Lovely’ by ‘Billie Eilish’ and‘Khalid’, ‘What Was I Made For’? from The Motion Picture "Barbie" and ‘when the party is over’.