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Magixx and Blaqbonez Speak Out Against Rampant Streaming Fraud in Nigerian Music Scene
Nigerian music stars Magixx and Blaqbonez have become the latest voices in the industry to raise concerns about the growing menace of streaming manipulation within Nigeria’s digital music ecosystem.
On July 30, 2025, Magixx, a signee under Mavin Records, took to his X (formerly Twitter) account to call out fellow artists whom he accused of falsifying their streaming numbers to climb music charts dishonestly.
“Y’all faking your numbers I hope you sleep well at night… keep deceiving your family members,” he posted, expressing disappointment at how some artists manipulate data to feign success.
Y’all faking your numbers I hope you sleep well at night… keep deceiving your family members
— Magixx (@Iam_Magixx) July 30, 2025
Echoing the sentiment, Blaqbonez, known for his candour and award-winning lyricism, described the practice as an irreversible wound inflicted on the Nigerian music industry. According to him, the music charts have become a playground for those who can afford to “buy” their way in.
“The irreversible damage we’ve done to our industry, one day it’d finally come crumbling down. For now, let’s keep acting like the charts mean anything more than a showcase of the people who can afford to buy it. It’s like iTunes in the 2000s all over again. Make I go hustle,” he wrote.
Blaqbonez further noted the absence of Ayra Starr’s latest single, “Hot Body,” from the top 10, arguing that the song’s omission points to chart distortion caused by fraudulent streaming, which blocks genuinely popular music from gaining deserved recognition.
The irreversible damage we done to our industry, one day it’d finally come crumbling down, for now let’s keep acting like the charts mean anything more than a showcase of the people who can afford to buy it, its like itunes in the 2000s all over again. make i go hustle https://t.co/0gIqiOdZ8D
— emeka (@BlaqBonez) July 30, 2025
Their comments add to a growing chorus of discontent among Nigerian musicians over streaming fraud—an issue that continues to undermine the credibility of music charts and deprives hard-working artists of their rightful exposure and income.
While streaming platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, and Boomplay have publicly condemned the manipulation of streams, describing it as unethical and illegal, they have also put in place tracking systems and retroactive corrections to identify and deduct fake streams. However, despite these countermeasures, the problem persists, challenging the integrity of digital music metrics.
As debates around the legitimacy of streaming figures intensify, fans and industry stakeholders alike are calling for greater transparency and accountability, hoping to protect the future of an industry that has become a global cultural force.