“Afrobeats Remain King”: Reactions As Spotify Pays Nigerian Singers Over N25B in 2023

• Spotify, one of the global streaming platforms, recently revealed it paid over N25 billion to Nigerian singers as royalties in 2023
• The streaming platform management revealed the payout was double what was recorded in 2023
• Further reports revealed that Nigerian singers earning over N10m in royalties have quadrupled since 2018

Amid some Nigerian music stars distancing themselves from Afrobeats, the music genre has continued to grow in terms of fanbase and listeners.

A recent update shared by Spotify, one of the leading online music streaming platforms, revealed that Afrobeats remained king among Nigerian music listeners.

Spotify shares data about Nigerian music genres.
Credit: @burnaboygram @wizkidayo @davidoSource: Instagram

The streaming platform, in a statement via its Managing Director for Sub-Saharan Africa Jocelyne Muhutu-Remy on Friday, May 10, revealed it paid more than N25 billion to Nigerian artists as royalties in 2023.

According to Muhutu-Remy, this is double what was recorded in 2022, with a 2,500 per cent increase since 2017.

She further revealed that Nigerian singers earning over N10m in royalties have quadrupled since 2018.

While Afrobeats retained its spot as the most popular genre in Nigeria, Spotify revealed other homegrown genres like Highlife witnessed a significant increase in listenership in the last 12 months by 224 per cent, Igbo Pop by 303 per cent, and Fuji by 187 per cent.

The streaming platform revealed that Highlife, Fuji and Igbo Pop also saw listenership increase in Q1 2024, growing by 240 per cent, 175 per cent, and 270 per cent, respectively, compared to Q1 2023.

Of the over N25 billion paid out in 2023, Spotify revealed over half of the royalties went to independent singers or labels, showcasing the democratising power of streaming.

Reactions as Spotify pays Nigerian singers N25B

Read the comments below:

IamEriOluwa:

“That’s incredible. Nigerian musicians are far ahead, and competing with them now is like China reminding the UK they aren’t competitors in any shape or form lolz. Did you see that video? It’s hilarious you should search for it.”

DenPaul_:

“They make quality music, and they know how to market them.”

FrankWriter1:

“Nigeria has the most popular Musicians in Africa, not Ghana, not South Africa , and not Tanzania.”

Remy4yo:

“Rema is responsible for half of the royalties.”

ericboatenggh:

“Nigeria is the giant of Africa, but they don’t have light.”

LordJB5:

“Even as we dash them Amapiano.”

aduola_michael:

“The wealth of Nigerian musicians is much more than double of the riches the wealthiest people in South Africa have.”

Wizkid’s album hits over 200m streams on Spotify

Amid Wizid and Davido’s fight, TheTalk.NG reported that the Grammy Award winner recorded a new feat on Spotify.

Wizkid’s album, More Love Less Ego, also known as MLLE, had been streamed over 200 million times on the platform.

The album, which is the fifth work of the superstar, released in 2022, featured Ayra Starr, Naira Marley, Skepta, and other music artists.

Source: TheTalk.NG