Nigerian artists have seen their music exports jump by nearly half over the past three years, fueled by the worldwide rise of Afrobeats, streaming giant Spotify reported this week. The Swedish company’s 2024 Loud & Clear report shows a 49 percent increase in Nigerian tracks played outside the country since 2022, underscoring the genre’s rapid ascent on the global stage.
According to Jocelyne Muhutu-Remy, Spotify’s managing director for Sub‑Saharan Africa, markets such as France and the Netherlands have become key growth areas for Nigerian acts. She predicts that the United States and United Kingdom will soon rival those countries as top destinations for Afrobeats.
On home turf, Nigerians themselves streamed local music 206 percent more than in 2023, contributing to a three‑year surge of 782 percent in domestic consumption. This swelling audience helped drive Spotify’s payouts to Nigerian artists to over ₦58 billion (about $38 million) in 2024—more than double the sum paid in the previous year.
Playlist culture has played a major role in this boom. Listeners around the world have added Nigerian songs to user‑generated playlists some 250 million times, and editorial curators on Spotify have featured more than 1,900 Nigerian artists in their official playlists—a 33 percent rise over 2023. “Discovery is at the heart of streaming,” Muhutu‑Remy said. “Whether you’re in Oslo, Tokyo, or New York, you can stumble upon a new Nigerian voice and make it part of your daily soundtrack.”
While superstar names like Burna Boy and Rema continue to dominate headlines, Spotify is placing fresh emphasis on emerging talent. The number of Nigerian musicians earning at least ₦10 million per year via the platform doubled in 2024, highlighting a widening circle of artists who can now build sustainable careers.
Yet, challenges remain. Muhutu‑Remy warns that gaps in metadata management—details on songwriting credits and contributions—along with underdeveloped rights‑management systems and limited financial literacy, can leave artists underpaid. In response, Spotify plans to roll out education programs across Nigeria, equipping creators with the knowledge to navigate streaming revenues and claim their full share.
As Afrobeats cements its place in playlists worldwide, Nigeria’s music industry is enjoying both economic windfalls and cultural influence. With global listening hours topping 1.1 million per day, the Afrobeats wave shows no sign of ebbing—heralding a new era for Nigerian sounds on the world stage.