Nigerian and South African music achieved unprecedented growth last year on Spotify, earning record-breaking royalties, the audio streaming platform said on Friday. Led by international superstars such as Nigerian afrobeats giants Burna Boy and Ayra Starr, and South Africa’s Grammy award-winning singer Tyla, African music genres have earned fast-rising popularity in recent years.

Spotify’s 2024 report “has unveiled extraordinary growth across Sub-Saharan Africa’s music industries, with Nigerian and South African artists achieving record-breaking earnings and global reach”, the streaming giant said in a statement. Royalties to Nigerian artists more than doubled compared to the previous year, reaching 58 billion naira ($37.8 million) in 2024, while South African artists generated 400 million rand ($20.9 million).—AFP

Nigeria’s afrobeats and South Africa’s amapiano have become some of the most notable genres worldwide, with artists from both nations collaborating and embracing each other’s styles but also competing over accolades such as the Grammys. Music from both countries achieved “unprecedented international reach”, Spotify said, each reaching more than one billion first-time listeners.

But they also saw a surge in local consumption, and “royalties for music performed in indigenous languages have skyrocketed”, Spotify added. Launched in 2008, the streaming behemoth has more than 640 million monthly active users worldwide.--AFP