Johnny Drille, a prominent singer and songwriter signed to Mavin Records, recently highlighted the vast disparity in streaming income between Nigerian artists and their counterparts in the United Kingdom.
During an appearance on the CreativiTea Podcast last Saturday evening, the soulful musician shed light on how regional differences in royalty payments significantly impact the earnings of Nigerian musicians from digital streaming platforms.
He explained that streaming services calculate payouts based on the geographic location of the listener, which means that streams originating from Nigeria generate considerably lower revenue compared to those from more developed markets such as the UK or the US.
For instance, Johnny Drille noted that while an artist might earn roughly $300 from one million streams in Nigeria, the same volume of streams from the UK could yield as much as $5,000.
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He remarked, “It’s quite tough for artists, especially in the early stages. Streaming numbers from Africa don’t translate into substantial income. If you get a million streams from Nigeria, you might only make about $300, but a million streams from the UK could bring in around $5,000.”
Despite these financial challenges, Johnny Drille emphasized that as Nigerian music gains traction on the global stage, artists have the opportunity to boost their earnings through live shows and performances.
He also urged emerging musicians to stay persistent and committed, encouraging them by saying, “The beginning can be difficult, but if you’re certain this is your calling, keep pushing forward. Success will come eventually.”
