Artists from Nigeria and South Africa collectively earned $59 million in royalties from Spotify in 2024, highlighting the rising global demand for African music, according to newly released data from the streaming service.
Spotify revealed that Nigerian musicians generated over $38 million — more than double their 2023 earnings — while South African artists amassed $21 million, reflecting a 54% year-on-year growth.
This surge mirrors the international success of African stars like Nigeria’s Burna Boy and South Africa’s Grammy-winning singer Tyla.
"We’re witnessing a positive shift, with more mid-level and emerging artists now making a living," said Jocelyne Muhutu-Remy, Spotify’s Managing Director for Sub-Saharan Africa, during an interview with Reuters.
Globally, Spotify paid out roughly $10 billion in royalties last year. Although Africa’s share remains small, it is rapidly expanding as a key market.
Currently, about 250 million playlists feature at least one Nigerian act, and 220 million include a South African artist, demonstrating Africa’s growing impact on global music trends.
Beyond local success, Nigerian artists have seen a 49% rise in exports over the past three years, while South African acts enjoyed an impressive 104% boost in international streams.
Additionally, the number of Nigerian musicians earning at least 10 million Naira annually has doubled year-on-year and tripled since 2022. Similarly, South African artists making between 100,000 and 500,000 Rand annually have doubled over the past three years.
With genres like Afrobeats and Amapiano gaining global traction, Spotify’s report underlines the expanding commercial success and worldwide influence of African music — signaling even greater opportunities ahead.
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