In a defining moment for African music, artists from Nigeria and South Africa collectively earned a staggering $58 million in royalties from Spotify in 2024, underscoring the continent’s growing cultural impact on the global stage.
Spotify’s recent data release sheds light on just how far African music has come, with Nigerian and South African talents driving this remarkable achievement. Nigeria, long considered the heartbeat of Afrobeats, pulled in approximately $37.8 million, while South African acts secured around $20.9 million—both numbers marking significant jumps from previous years.
Burna Boy and Tyla stood out as the year’s frontrunners. Burna Boy, the Afrofusion trailblazer, continued his world tour dominance, while Tyla, who recently bagged a Grammy for her breakout hit, brought Amapiano to new heights in global popularity. Alongside other rising stars like Ayra Starr, they helped catapult African sounds into the ears of millions worldwide.
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“This level of global and local engagement is unlike anything we’ve seen before,” Spotify noted, adding that songs performed in indigenous languages experienced a surge in local streams. It’s not just about global acclaim anymore—listeners at home are tuning in more than ever, embracing music that resonates with their languages and realities.
One of the more compelling aspects of this musical evolution is the collaboration and genre-blending happening across borders. Nigerian and South African artists are increasingly teaming up, merging Afrobeats with Amapiano and other sounds, creating a dynamic new soundscape that’s both rooted and revolutionary.
With over 640 million monthly active users, Spotify has become a major stage for African artists, giving them the tools to break into markets they could only dream of a decade ago. As the platform continues to expand, and African artists continue to innovate, the future of the continent’s music scene looks not only promising—but unstoppable.
