Spotify’s royalty payments to artists from Nigeria and South Africa — its two largest African markets — surged to approximately $59 million in 2024, marking a significant leap in earnings for African musicians on the global stage.
The audio streaming platform disbursed a total of $10 billion in royalties worldwide last year, reflecting a growing global appetite for music originating from Africa. While the continent remains a relatively small segment of Spotify’s global catalogue, its influence continues to expand rapidly, propelled by internationally acclaimed artists such as Nigeria’s Burna Boy and South Africa’s Tyla.
According to data released by the company on Thursday, April 3, Nigerian artists collectively earned over 58 billion naira ($38 million) in royalties in 2024, more than doubling the amount received in 2023. South African artists received 400 million rand ($21 million), representing a 54% year-on-year increase.
Much of this revenue was driven by international audiences. Nigerian artists experienced a 49% growth in music exports over the past three years, while South Africa’s export growth reached a staggering 104% during the same period. Spotify revealed that approximately 250 million user-generated playlists now include at least one Nigerian artist, while South African acts appear in over 220 million playlists.
“What we’re seeing is an excellent evolution around more and more mid-tier or up-and-coming artists making a living,” said Jocelyne Muhutu-Remy, Spotify’s managing director for Sub-Saharan Africa.
In Nigeria, the number of artists earning over 10 million naira annually on Spotify doubled last year and has tripled since 2022. In South Africa, the number of artists earning between 100,000 and 500,000 rand also doubled in the past three years, underscoring the streaming platform’s role in transforming music careers across the continent.
