Spotify’s royalty payouts to artists from Nigeria and South Africa — its two largest markets in Africa — rose to approximately $59 million in 2024. Globally, the audio streaming giant disbursed about $10 billion in royalties as global appetite for African music surged. Although Africa makes up a small share of Spotify’s total catalogue, interest in artists from the continent has soared, driven by international stars like Nigeria’s Burna Boy and South Africa’s Tyla. Nigerian artists earned over 58 billion naira (around $38 million) in royalties last year, more than twice the amount received in 2023. South African artists earned 400 million rand (about $21 million), reflecting a 54% year-on-year increase. A significant portion of this income came from outside Africa. Nigerian music exports have grown by 49% over the past three years, while South African exports have jumped by 104%. Spotify also reported that 250 million user-generated playlists now include at least one Nigerian artist, and 220 million feature a South African act. “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. The number of Nigerian artists earning at least N10 million annually has doubled compared to last year and tripled since 2022. In South Africa, the number of artists earning between 100,000 and 500,000 rand has also doubled over the past three years.