African music’s global influence has translated into serious earnings, with Spotify announcing that Nigerian and South African artists collectively earned nearly $59 million in royalties in 2024 alone.
The music streaming giant revealed the figures in a statement on Thursday, spotlighting the surging global popularity of African sounds and the rising fortunes of homegrown talents.
Nigerian artists raked in over ₦58 billion (approximately $38 million) more than double their 2023 earnings.
South African acts also experienced a major boost, with royalties increasing by 54% to reach 400 million rand (about $21 million).
This impressive growth is fuelled by a mix of global stars like Burna Boy and Tyla, alongside a new generation of emerging and mid-level artists finding global audiences through streaming platforms.
“African artists are reaching more listeners than ever before, and many are now able to make a decent living through streaming alone,” said Jocelyne Muhutu-Remy, Spotify’s Managing Director for Sub-Saharan Africa.
“This isn’t just about the big names, it’s about an entire ecosystem of talent finding its audience.”
Spotify noted that over 250 million user-generated playlists now feature at least one Nigerian song, while South African music appears in more than 220 million playlists globally.
In Nigeria, the number of artists earning over ₦10 million annually from Spotify has doubled since last year and tripled compared to 2022.
South Africa has seen similar progress, with the number of artists earning between 100,000 and 500,000 rand also doubling over the past three years.
A large portion of this revenue is from international streams. Spotify revealed that Nigerian artists saw a 49% increase in earnings from outside Africa over the past three years.
South African musicians, meanwhile, recorded a staggering 104% rise in export income over the same period.
Spotify reaffirmed its commitment to empowering African creators with tools, exposure, and access to global markets to grow their careers and expand their reach.
