10 Most Popular Zim Artists on YouTube
Quite a good number of local artists have now gotten to grips on the importance of properly managing their social media presence especially their how their music and videos is distributed. YouTube is the world's biggest video streaming platform by far and having a well curated profile as an artist is vital. YouTube offers the artist additional revenue from the many plays they will get and it also opens doors for them on a global scale, collaborations and festival invitations are all birthed by a well curated profile.
For us fans YouTube also offers us an easy to use and free platform where we can follow the offering s of our favorite whilst at the same time supporting them financially though playing their music and sharing with friends, colleagues and family and we also get to brag about our favorite artist racking up amazing view counts. Today will sort of be doing that, but not to brag but just decided to find out which local artists have the most YouTube views, who has the most songs over a million views, the most subscribers...etc
About 10 years back, very few artists had tracks that surpassed a million views but right now most artists have tracks that have surpassed that. There is a growing acceptance of YouTube in the nation, more and more people are now getting online and the figures are showing. The list I am compiling only considers official organized channels and there will wont be any record label channels such as Passion Java Records and OCD Department as they contain songs from various artists. Also this list is not a definite measure of who is the bigger artist, but just who is more popular in the current space, as you may see legends like Mukanya, Dembo, Mtukudzi, Macheso, Chopper, Bundu Boys, Chibadura, Tazvida, Majaivana, Four Brothers, Mai Suluma, Chiwoniso, Matavire, James Chimombe who will ordinarily congest the top of GOAT lists for millions of Zimbos will not appear as they made their names before the era of YouTube, so keep that in mind.
The list is subject to change as the viewing it still ongoing and all the artists here are still active and will release more tracks, this is only valid as of these next few weeks.
Before we get into the top 10 lets share some honorable mentions in no order, those artists who just missed out of the top ten but after a few more releases they may enter the top ten.
Chillmaster: Total Views: 30.6 million views, Total Subscribers: 105k,
Janet Manyowa: Total Views: 21.3 million views, Total Subscribers: 77.1k,
Baba Harare: Total Views: 43.5 million views, Total Subscribers: 188k.
Voltz JT : Total Views: 25.5 million views, Total Subscribers: 191k.
Takura : Total Views: 28.6 million views, Total Subscribers: 121k.
Takesure Zamar : Total Views: 45.1 million views, Total Subscribers: 164k.
Enzo Ishall : Total Views: 32.5 million views, Total Subscribers: 165k.
ExQ : Total Views: 46.1 million views, Total Subscribers: 107K.
The Unveiled : Total Views: 47.5 million views, Total Subscribers: 232k.
Nox Guni (Zaka Prince) : Total Views: 47.9 million views ,Total Subscribers: 159K.
Nisha Ts : Total Views: 21.8 million views ,Total Subscribers: 100K.
Seh Calaz: Total Views: 20 million views ,Total Subscribers: 102K.
Now lets get to the top ten:
10. The Charambas & Fishers of Men : @charambas
Total Views: 54,4 million views
Total Subscribers: 158k
Songs/Videos With Over 1 Million Views: 15
Most Popular Song: Buruka Reloaded : 3.2 million views.
9. Dorcas Moyo: @Dorcasmoyoofficial
Total Views: 57,8 million views
Total Subscribers: 153k
Songs/Videos With Over 1 Million Views: 13
Most Popular Song: Ndinokutungamirira feat First Class Group Of Schools : 3.2 million views
8. Mambo Dhuterere : @mambodhuterere
Total Views: 66.9 million views
Total Subscribers: 202K
Songs/Videos With Over 1 Million Views: 19
Most Popular Song: Hameni Hlebanna : 8.3 million views
7. Freeman: @FreemanHKDBOSS
Total Views: 70.2 million views
Total Subscribers: 236k
Songs/Videos With Over 1 Million Views: 17
Most Popular Song: Pombi : 6.8 million views
6. ZimPraise: @ZimpraiseLegacyTV
Total Views: 74.5 million views
Total Subscribers: 226K
Songs/Videos With Over 1 Million Views: 16
Most Popular Song: There is a Race feat Jabu Hlongwane : 7.7million views
5. Killer T: @KillerTVEVO-km3jx
Total Views: 84.6 million views
Total Subscribers: 283k
Songs/Videos With Over 1 Million Views: 11
Most Popular Song: Kana Ndanyura : 9.1 million views
4. Minister Michael Mahendere : @ministermahendere
Total Views: 95.3 million views
Total Subscribers: 275k
Songs/Videos With Over 1 Million Views: 24
Most Popular Song: Makanaka Jesu feat UFIC Choir : 10 million views
3. Winky D: @winkydonline
Total Views: 95.7 million views
Total Subscribers: 349k
Songs/Videos With Over 1 Million Views: 27
Most Popular Song: MuGarden feat Gemma Griffiths : 10 million views
2. Holy Ten : @holyten
Total Views: 102.6 million views
Total Subscribers: 311k
Songs/Videos With Over 1 Million Views: 23
Most Popular Video: Pressure ft Michael Magz & Mr Candy : 11 million Views
1. Jah Prayzah : @jahprayzah
Total Views: 324.9 million views
Total Subscribers: 827k
Songs/Videos With Over 1 Million Views: 68
Most Popular Song: Watora Mari feat Diamond Platnumz : 26 million views
So ya those are the ten most popular Zim artists on YouTube and as many already expected Jah Prayzah is head and shoulders above everyone on all metrics. Five of the ten are all Gospel artists (Min Mahendere, ZimPraise, Charambas, Mambo Dhuterere & Dorcas Moyo), three are Dancehall artists (Winky D, Freeman, Killer T), one is Hip Hop (Holy Ten) and one is Traditional (Jah Prayzah). The biggest omission is Sungura, at least one was sufficient given their artists dominate the Goat Lists seems they are not that big online. Alick Macheso if he had a organized channel would have been top of this list
One may conclude that Gospel is the most popular genre given it has more entries which is partly true but statistically JP who is an ambassador of Zimbabwe's traditional culture, values and norms has around the same number of total views as all the five gospel artists combined.
Now like I said this is not true measure of who is bigger but just who is more popular. To gauge which artist is really big among the ten lets try to predict who among these ten can best convert their popularity to real attendance figures. Will take the HICC as the standard venue. Who can sell out a one man/band show at HICC for $10. Let me group them according to all the info I have and obviously some personal input.
Fill Up HICC: Jah Prayzah, Winky D & Minister Michael Mahendere.
Maybe, with some serious marketing: Zimpraise & Freeman.
For the others its not entirely impossible but it will take a lot for them to fill up HICC with just only them performing. So this little exercise was to prove popularity doesn't always mean best, converting likes and views to lifelong paying fans is the ultimate win for any artist. Alick Macheso in not on this list but can fill up the HICC without any issues. Another living legend not on the list Thomas Mapfumo can sell it out in basically an hour, he can sell it out for even $50 or $100 per ticket with no major hustles. JP can sell it out for $50/ticket easy, Winky & Macheso can do it but with some more than ordinary marketing. JP can sell it out for $100/ticket but with some than ordinary marketing, Winky & Macheso I doubt they can fill it at $100. At the moment JP has managed to cultivate a fanbase that is willing to pay premium prices to watch him.
Anyway those are just my thoughts and my be wrong, I would love to be proven wrong here because its the artist who will benefit. To conclude this article, I would love every reader to know its very important to support those artists you love, view their videos, share them, attend their shows, your contribution makes a serious difference and as a bonus you get to brag when you fav artist hits milestones.
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