Why Nigerian artistes struggle to earn from streams – Tems’ manager

Muyiwa Awoniyi, the manager of Grammy-winning Nigerian singer Tems, has voiced concern over the vast disparity in music streaming revenues between Nigeria and other parts of the world.

Speaking on the Afrobeats Intelligence podcast, Awoniyi revealed that one million streams in Nigeria generate approximately $300, a figure that pales in comparison to the $8,000 to $10,000 artistes earn for the same number of streams in countries like Sweden—Spotify’s home base.

“Do you know how much a million streams is worth out of Nigeria? It’s $300. I am telling you facts. It is N900 to subscribe to Spotify, and Spotify treats things territorially,” he said.

Awoniyi attributed the issue to Nigeria’s low subscription rates and struggling economy, which significantly affects artistes’ earnings. He explained that the platform calculates revenue based on regional economic factors, which ultimately limits the purchasing power of Nigerian listeners.

“If my IP is anchored to a region where one million streams is worth $300, I’m cooked,” he added.

The seasoned music executive, who has also worked with Omah Lay and Nonso Amadi, stressed that the economic realities in Nigeria make it difficult for artistes to rely solely on local streaming numbers for sustainable income.