More Kenyan Men Listening To Heartbreak Songs Than Women: Report

If you believe that Kenyan men are not as hit hard by heartbreak as Kenyan women, think again. Swedish audio streaming and media services giant, Spotify on Friday, February 14 revealed data showing a significant increase in male listeners streaming heartbreak songs.

Love can be sweet until it’s not. One moment it’s “Meet my person” and the next it’s “How did I end up with you?”

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

Spotify has confirmed this, and in the intriguing data, Kenyan male listeners are streaming heartbreak songs more at 107%, compared to their female counterparts at 105%.

Spotify logo on a phone. /BRITANNICA

You broke me first

The choice for the ultimate heartbreak anthem in 2024 on the music streaming platform happened to be You Broke Me First by Tate McRae, the message seeming to be directed to the women who broke men's hearts.

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 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2020, spending an impressive 38 weeks at number 17. Its enduring success proves that music has become the go-to for comfort during the emotional fallout of ending relationships.

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

Male artists carrying Kenyans through heartache

Tracks by male artists in the top 10 most streamed heartbreak songs by Kenyans 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.

It would, therefore, appear that men are the go-to artists for Kenyan listeners going through heartbreak.

"Billie Eilish, who is holding it down for the emo girls, has made three appearances on the top 10 list at numbers 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’," added the statement.

When did things change?

What’s interesting is how quickly things have shifted. Just a year ago, romance was still in full bloom, with Qing Madi’s American Love reigning as Kenya’s top Valentine’s song in 2024. Now, love songs have taken a backseat as heartbreak anthems dominate playlists.

Whether it’s the weight of an unsent “good morning babe” text, the sudden realisation that love isn’t what it used to be, or just the morning blues hitting extra hard, one thing is clear: 11 am is heartbreak o’clock in Kenya.

Spotify asked, "Could this be because the morning alarm stings more than the breakup or that breakfast tastes better when someone else makes it?" Either way, as the world wakes up, so do Kenyans' emotions.

Whether love is sweet or serving premium tears, experience Spotify Africa’s Valentine’s Day 2025 with all the feels by diving into the End In Tears playlist for the ultimate heartbreak songs, or set the mood going with 100 Best African Love Songs.

A person holding an armband with Kenya and a heartbreak sign engraved on it. /INSTAGRAM.SPARTAN BEADS