Nigerian Female Artistes Record 55% Growth as Musicians Earn ₦60bn on Spotify
New data released by the global streaming platform Spotify has unveiled remarkable revenue growth, increased local consumption, rising discovery rates, and the expanding contribution of independent artistes and labels to Nigeria's vibrant music economy. Spotify shared Nigeria-specific insights from its annual Loud & Clear report, which aims to help artistes, fans, and the broader music industry better understand the economics of music streaming.
Each year, Loud & Clear analyzes millions of data points to provide a clearer picture of how artistes build careers, grow audiences, cross borders, and achieve new milestones. In Nigeria, the latest figures point to a rapidly expanding music ecosystem with deepening local impact and growing global reach.
Revenue and Streaming Milestones
In 2025, Nigerian artistes generated over ₦60 billion on Spotify alone, with revenue soaring by more than 140% over the past two years. This reflects both the increasing global appeal of Nigerian music and the growing economic opportunities available to artistes. The report also highlights strong listener engagement, with Nigerian artistes recording 30.3 billion streams and 1.6 billion listening hours on Spotify in 2025.
They were discovered by first-time listeners more than 1.3 billion times, representing a 26% increase compared to 2024. Significant growth was recorded across key segments, as local streams of Nigerian female artistes rose by 55% year-on-year, while streams of Nigerian independent artistes grew by 75% over the same period.
Independent Artistes and Playlist Impact
Notably, about 58% of all royalties generated by Nigerian artistes on Spotify in 2025 went to independent artistes or labels, underscoring their growing influence in the industry. Spotify's editorial ecosystem also played a key role in artiste discovery and amplification. In 2025, nearly 2,000 Nigerian artistes were featured on editorial playlists.
Globally, Nigerian artistes appeared in nearly 320 million user-generated playlists, alongside over 12 million playlists within Nigeria. In total, more than 60 million playlists featuring Nigerian artistes were created on Spotify in 2025.
Diverse Listening Trends and Domestic Dominance
The data further reflects the diversity of Nigeria's listening culture. Over the past five years, the fastest-growing genres on Spotify in Nigeria include pop urbaine, alternative pop, anime, emo, and drill—signaling a dynamic and evolving music landscape. Overall, the report underscores a clear trend: Nigerian artistes are building strong momentum locally, reaching wider global audiences, and generating increasing economic value through streaming platforms.
Domestically, Nigerian music continues to dominate listening habits. In 2025, Nigerian artistes accounted for over 80% of tracks on Spotify Nigeria's Daily Top 50 chart. Local consumption of Nigerian music also surged by 170% year-on-year.
Industry Perspectives and Future Outlook
Managing Director of Spotify Africa, Jocelyne Muhutu-Remy, emphasized that Nigeria's music story remains one of creativity, innovation, and global cultural influence. She noted that Nigeria is a market where talent is not only reaching new international audiences but also building deeper connections at home.
"For us, Loud & Clear is an opportunity to spotlight the evolving pathways artistes are taking to build sustainable careers and to showcase the many ways Nigerian creators are shaping the future of music," she said. This comprehensive report highlights the transformative impact of streaming on Nigeria's music industry, with female and independent artistes leading the charge in growth and revenue generation.
