Spotify’s royalty payouts to Nigerian and South African artists soared to approximately $59 million in 2024, reflecting the continent’s rising influence in global music.
While Africa still accounts for a small share of Spotify’s total $10 billion global royalty disbursement, the growing international acclaim of artists like Burna Boy and Tyla has fueled a surge in streams and earnings for African talent.
According to reuters.com, around 250 million user-created playlists now feature at least one Nigerian artist, and 220 million contain a South African, the company said on Thursday.
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“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.
Nigerian artists received over 58 billion Nigerian naira ($38 million) in royalties last year, more than double the 2023 figure. Royalties for South African performers reached 400 million rand ($21 million), up 54% year-on-year.
Much of that came from outside their home markets. Nigerian artists have seen a 49% increase in export growth over the past three years, while South Africa saw export growth of 104%.
The number of Nigerian artists earning 10 million Naira, meanwhile, doubled year-on-year and has tripled since 2022.
In South Africa, the number of those earning between 100,000 and 500,000 rand has doubled over the past three years.
