Spotify gave over $42 million to Nigerian artists in 2025

Nigerian musicians generated more than ₦60 billion (approximately $42.9 million) from Spotify streams in 2025, highlighting the rapid growth of the country’s digital music economy and the expanding global reach of Afrobeats.

According to Spotify’s annual Loud & Clear report, Nigerian tracks were streamed 30.3 billion times last year, accumulating 1.6 billion listening hours and attracting over 1.3 billion first-time listeners worldwide, a 26% increase from 2024.

Local music dominated Spotify’s Nigerian charts, with Nigerian artists appearing on over 80% of the platform’s Daily Top 50. Domestic streaming of Nigerian tracks surged 170% year-on-year, demonstrating strong homegrown support, while international audiences increasingly embraced the country’s music offerings.

Jocelyne Muhutu-Remy, Spotify’s Managing Director for Africa, said, “Nigeria’s music story continues to be one of creativity, innovation, and global cultural influence. What we’re seeing is a market where talent is not only reaching new audiences around the world but also building deeper connections at home.”

Independent and female artists expand Nigeria’s music ecosystem

The report highlighted remarkable growth among emerging and independent artists. Streams of Nigerian female musicians rose 55% year-on-year, while independent acts saw a 75% increase. Collectively, independent musicians and labels earned 58% of all Spotify royalties paid to Nigerian artists in 2025, signalling a broadening of the industry beyond established stars.

Spotify’s editorial team also contributed to this expansion, adding nearly 2,000 Nigerian artists to curated playlists. Nigerian music appeared in almost 320 million user-generated playlists globally, while more than 12 million playlists were created within Nigeria. In total, over 60 million playlists featuring Nigerian tracks were made on the platform in 2025.

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The report revealed evolving listener preferences, with genres such as pop urbaine, alternative pop, anime, emo, and drill growing fastest over five years, reflecting a move beyond mainstream music.

Spotify’s Loud & Clear initiative is designed to increase transparency in music streaming economics, providing artists, fans, and industry stakeholders with clearer insights into earnings and engagement trends in the digital era.

This surge in streaming revenue reflects a broader trend of Nigerian music gaining global appeal. The country’s artists are not only commanding attention at home but also influencing international music culture, reinforcing Nigeria as a leading hub for creative content in Africa.

Analysts note that continued investment in independent talent and the diversification of musical genres will likely sustain the country’s global momentum in coming years.

With streaming revenues climbing by more than 140% over the past two years, the Nigerian music industry demonstrates a robust digital growth model.

The combination of strong domestic engagement, growing international audiences, and an increasingly diverse music ecosystem positions Nigerian artists to expand their cultural footprint and generate more economic value through global platforms like Spotify.