Nigerian rapper Emeka Akumefule, popularly known as Blaqbonez, has raised concerns about the manipulation of the Apple Music Nigeria chart through the purchase of “fake streams” by certain artists.
In a recent interview with Cool FM Nigeria, co-hosted by reality star Tacha, Blaqbonez asserted that a technology called “streaming farm” is being used to manipulate the chart, leading to the inclusion of songs that are not genuinely popular in the top 20.
The rapper expressed disappointment, urging listeners to check the songs ranked from number 10 to 20 on Apple Music Nigeria and see if they are familiar with them. He further stated that his own song, “Like Ice Spice,” deserves to be in the top 10 but is being overshadowed by the prevalence of artists engaging in this fraudulent practice.
According to Blaqbonez, Apple Music holds significant influence in the music industry, as being in the top 10 on this platform attracts attention and garners publicity. Consequently, some artists resort to buying fake streams exclusively on Apple Music Nigeria, even if their presence is virtually nonexistent on other platforms.
The rapper concluded by expressing his frustration with this trend, emphasizing the need for a more transparent and fair system in determining chart positions on Apple Music Nigeria.