Spotify’s royalty payments to African artists hit new highs in 2024, with Nigerian and South African performers earning a combined total of $59 million. The global streaming giant, which paid out approximately $10 billion in royalties worldwide, saw a surge in interest for African music, driven by internationally recognized stars like Burna Boy from Nigeria and Tyla from South Africa.
Nigerian artists saw their royalties more than double, reaching a total of 58 billion Nigerian naira (around $38 million) in 2024, compared to the previous year. Similarly, South African artists earned 400 million rand ($21 million), a 54% increase year-on-year.
Notably, much of the royalty revenue for these artists came from outside their home markets. Over the past three years, Nigerian artists have experienced a 49% increase in export growth, while South African music exports have surged by 104%.
Spotify also reported that around 250 million user-created playlists now feature at least one Nigerian artist, and 220 million feature a South African artist. These numbers underscore the growing global appeal of African music.
Jocelyne Muhutu-Remy, Spotify’s managing director for Sub-Saharan Africa, commented on the positive shift, noting, “What we’re seeing is an excellent evolution around more and more mid-tier or up-and-coming artists making a living.”
The trend has been especially evident in the increasing number of Nigerian and South African artists reaching new financial milestones. In Nigeria, the number of artists earning N10 million annually has doubled, while in South Africa, the number of artists earning between 100,000 and 500,000 rand has also seen significant growth over the past three years.
This rising wave of success highlights the impact of African music on the global stage and solidifies the continent’s growing influence in the global music industry.
