Nigerian and South African music earned record-breaking royalties to achieve unprecedented growth on Spotify last year, the audio streaming platform said yesterday.

Mail Online reports that African music genres, led by international superstars such as Nigerian Afrobeats giants Burna Boy and Ayra Starr, and South Africa’s Grammy award-winning singer Tyla, have earned fast-rising popularity in recent years.

In its 2024 report, the streaming giants in a statement “unveiled extraordinary growth across Sub-Saharan Africa’s music industries, with Nigerian and South African artists achieving record-breaking earnings and global reach”.

Royalties to Nigerian artistes 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).

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. (The Nation)