Muyiwa Awoniyi, manager of Grammy-winning Nigerian singer Tems, recently shed light on the significant revenue gap faced by Nigerian artists in the streaming industry. Speaking on the Afrobeats Intelligence podcast, Awoniyi revealed that one million streams from Nigeria generate approximately $300, a figure that starkly contrasts with the $8,000 to $10,000 earned for the same number of streams in countries like Sweden, Spotify’s home base.
Awoniyi attributed this disparity to Nigeria’s low subscription rates and the platform’s territorial revenue model. He explained that Spotify charges around ₦900 per month in Nigeria, significantly less than in many other markets. This pricing, combined with Nigeria’s struggling economy, limits the purchasing power of Nigerian listeners, thereby affecting artists’ earnings.
He emphasized the challenges faced by artists whose primary audience is based in regions with lower streaming payouts:
“If my IP is anchored to a region where one million streams is worth $300, I’m cooked.”
Awoniyi’s insights highlight the financial hurdles Nigerian artists encounter in the digital music landscape, underscoring the need for diversified revenue streams and broader international reach.
