South African musicians saw a significant increase in royalties from Spotify in 2024, reaching a total of R400 million—a 54% jump from the previous year. This surge in earnings not only highlights a local success story but also signifies a broader shift in the global music industry, where African sounds are gaining unprecedented traction and revenue potential.
According to Spotify, South African music is now featured in over 220 million user-generated playlists worldwide, with listeners streaming over 600,000 hours of it daily. Jocelyne Muhutu-Remy, Spotify’s Sub-Saharan Africa head, described this growth as an “excellent evolution,” especially as more mid-tier and emerging artists are starting to generate consistent income.
Over the past three years, music exports from South Africa have grown by an impressive 104%, largely fueled by the global interest in genres like Amapiano and Afrobeats. This increased demand is translating into tangible earnings, with Spotify reporting a doubling in the number of South African artists making between R100,000 and R500,000 annually since 2022.
Spotify is also contributing to this growth through new revenue channels. The platform’s integration of concert ticketing and merchandise sales has generated over $300 million globally, allowing artists to diversify their income streams beyond just streaming. Efforts to reduce data barriers are also underway, with Spotify partnering with telecommunications companies to offer data bonuses in countries like Madagascar and Mali.
While South Africa is basking in the limelight, Spotify’s latest earnings data reveals a continent-wide trend. Nigerian artists, for example, earned over ₦58 billion (approximately $38 million) from Spotify in 2024, more than double the previous year’s total. The number of Nigerian artists earning over ₦10 million has tripled since 2022, showcasing the growing monetization opportunities across Africa.
Locally, Spotify’s presence has been expanding since its launch in South Africa in 2018. The platform has tailored its pricing and partnerships to better serve regional users, such as adjusting subscription fees for Nigerian users to meet market demands and introduce new features.
With international platforms playing a significant role in artists’ incomes and digital exports on the rise, South Africa’s music industry is at a transformative juncture. If current trends persist, streaming could soon become one of the most sustainable income streams for African creatives, propelling the continent’s music scene to new heights.
