Muyiwa Awoniyi, manager of Grammy-winning singer Tems, has revealed the massive earnings gap faced by Nigerian artists in the streaming era. Speaking on the Afrobeats Intelligence podcast, he stated that one million streams from Nigeria generate only about $300 for artists — a stark contrast to earnings in countries like Sweden, where the same number of streams can yield up to $10,000.
“It’s ₦900 to subscribe to Spotify in Nigeria. One million streams here is worth just $300,” Muyiwa explained.
He attributed this discrepancy to regional pricing models, Nigeria’s low subscription fees, and the country’s weakened purchasing power caused by broader economic struggles.
“If my intellectual property is anchored to a region where one million streams is $300, I’m cooked,” he added, emphasizing the long-term financial risk for artists relying solely on local platforms.
Drawing from his experience managing artists like Nonso Amadi, Muyiwa warned Nigerian musicians to scale their reach globally. His message echoes Burna Boy’s recent comments urging artists to look beyond Nigeria for sustainable income.
This revelation has reignited conversations in the industry about fair compensation, streaming economics, and the urgent need to build international fan bases and better infrastructure for African artists.
Author
