Spotify Royalties Soar for Nigerian, S. African Artists

THE AFRICA TIMES | NIGERIA — Johannesburg | April 4, 2025 — African musicians experienced unprecedented royalty earnings from Spotify in 2024. Artists from Nigeria and South Africa collectively earned approximately $59 million. These figures come directly from the audio streaming platform. Royalty Revenue Surge Nigerian artists garnered over 58 billion naira, equating to roughly $38 million. This is more than double their earnings from 2023. South African artists earned 400 million rand, about $21 million. The South African earnings show a 54% year-on-year increase. The upswing indicates growing global interest in their music. Viral hits and international success greatly impacted this growth. Spotify’s Role and Growth Spotify distributed $10 billion in royalties globally last year. Africa represents a smaller segment of the streaming giant’s catalogue. However, the continent’s music is rapidly gaining global recognition. Nigerian artist Burna Boy and South Africa’s Tyla are leading this charge. Both artists have garnered millions of listeners and significant playlist placements globally. Africa’s music is expanding rapidly. Playlist Inclusion and Artist Impact Currently, over 250 million user-generated Spotify playlists include at least one Nigerian artist. Additionally, 220 million playlists feature South African artists. This showcases wide appeal. Jocelyne Muhutu-Remy is Spotify’s managing director for Sub-Saharan Africa. She stated that more artists can now earn a living through streaming. This shift positively impacts mid-level and emerging artists. International Growth Statistics Export growth has been critical in the rise in earnings. Nigerian artists experienced a 49% increase in international streams during the past three years. South African artists had a staggering 104% growth over the same period. Artist Earnings on the Rise The number of Nigerian artists earning at least 10 million naira annually on Spotify has doubled since last year. It has also tripled since 2022. Artist earnings are demonstrating strong growth. In South Africa, the number of artists earning between 100,000 and 500,000 rand has doubled. This growth has occurred over the past three years. This signifies a positive trend for South African musicians.