Tyla, Ayra Starr, and Moliy Dominate 2025 MTV VMAs, Elevating Afrobeats Globally

South Africa’s Tyla stole the spotlight at the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards on September 7 in New York, clinching Best Afrobeats for her hit “PUSH 2 Start,” a pulsating blend of amapiano and R&B that amassed 500 million streams. Joined by Nigeria’s Ayra Starr, nominated for Best New Artist and rising star Moliy, the trio showcased Afrobeats’ unstoppable ascent, drawing a record 20 million global viewers.

Tyla’s win, her second VMA underscores the genre’s evolution from niche to mainstream, with producers crediting its rhythmic fusion for crossing borders. Ayra Starr’s “Rush” remix collaboration with Tyla hinted at more pan-African collabs, while Moliy’s set highlighted emerging talents from the diaspora. As Tyla declared onstage, “This is for every African dreamer turning beats into breakthroughs.”

For cultural entrepreneurs, the VMAs signal a $1 billion Afrobeats export market by 2026. Labels like those behind Moliy can leverage streaming royalties, while festivals like Afrochella eye VMA tie-ins. This triumph isn’t just awards, it’s a cultural export fueling Africa’s creative economy, where music moves markets.