The Bob Marley Movie titled “Bob Marley: One Love” is having a direct impact of culture beyond the box office, as it has reignited interest in the legendary reggae artist’s music, driving substantial audio streaming both in the U.S. and abroad according to Billboard sales tracker Luminate.
The film which opened Valentine’s Day and earned 56 million its opening weekend is inching towards 200 million in ticket sales Worldwide after one month has caused a surge in streaming numbers, at least for Bob Marley’s Global On-Demand Audio (ODA) streams which have been consistently rising throughout 2024. In the first full music chart week following the film’s release, his catalog saw a staggering 150% increase compared to the previous month, topping 108 million ODA streams. The U.S. alone experienced a remarkable +187% gain during the same period, while international growth reached 131%.
Interestingly, the marketing push for “Bob Marley: One Love” also sparked renewed interest in related content, such as Marley related books and the Bob Marley-focused episode of the Netflix original series “ReMastered: Who Shot the Sheriff?”. Utilizing Luminate’s Streaming Viewership Model, the documentary’s viewership began to surge in the weeks leading up to the film’s release.
Moreover, insights from Luminate Insights’ consumer research reveal the habits of reggae fans, who spend an impressive 70 hours per month listening to music in the U.S., significantly higher than the average listener’s 45 hours. Reggae enthusiasts are not only 20% more likely to discover music through movies and soundtracks but also exhibit a remarkable +76% likelihood of finding new music through curated playlists on streaming services.
The impact of Bob Marley’s legacy extends beyond nostalgia, as evidenced by the recent success of YG Marley, grandson of Bob and son of Lauryn Hill and Rohan Marley. His track “Praise Jah In The Moonlight” made history by cracking the Billboard Global Excl. U.S. Top 10, with 23.7 million streams outside the U.S. during the week ending February 29, 2024. This achievement hints at a potential resurgence of reggae music on the global stage.
The previous reggae song to make the Billboard Hot 100 was Bam by Jay-Z featuring Damian Marley which samples Jacob Miller’s “Tenement Yard” and Sister Nancy’s “Bam.”
