Nigerian singer Chike recently claimed that the Apple Music Nigeria charts, particularly the Top 10 and Top 20, are often manipulated. In an appearance on Curiosity Made Me Ask, a show hosted by content creator Bae U Barbie, Chike discussed how artists could pay to boost their positions, potentially distorting the chart's accuracy.
“Your Top 10 and Top 20 on Apple Music are rigged... not all the time, but most times,” Chike noted, explaining that while some placements are genuine, many high-ranking songs are pushed up through paid promotion. He acknowledged that in today’s competitive music landscape, visibility is critical, prompting artists to invest heavily in promotion. "If I wanted to reach the top 10, I could tell my team to spend $30,000, and we’d get there. But it wouldn’t be real," he said, emphasizing that this strategy is common among artists with larger promotional budgets.
Chike’s comments have sparked discussion about chart transparency and the pressures artists face to stay visible in a crowded industry.
