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Johnny Drille laments poor streaming revenue for Nigerian artistes compared to UK counterparts
Mavin Records singer and songwriter Johnny Drille has shed light on the wide earnings gap between Nigerian artists and their counterparts in more developed markets like the United Kingdom and the United States.
Speaking on the latest episode of the CreativiTea Podcast, which aired on Saturday night, the soulful crooner opened up about the harsh realities of music streaming economics, revealing how much less Nigerian musicians earn per stream compared to artists in other parts of the world.
According to Johnny Drille, digital streaming platforms calculate royalties based on the location of the listener, meaning a stream from Nigeria carries far less value than one from countries like the UK or US.
He explained, “For an artist, it can be quite challenging early on. Streaming from Africa is not the best in terms of numbers. I hear that if your 1 million streams are from Nigeria, it’s probably like $300. But the same 1 million streams from the UK, for example, could be about $5,000.”
The Romeo & Juliet singer pointed out that this disparity makes it difficult for many emerging artists to sustain themselves financially through streaming alone, especially those whose fan bases are mostly within Africa.
Despite these challenges, Johnny Drille maintained an optimistic outlook, noting that global recognition can eventually open doors to higher earnings through live shows, tours, and brand partnerships.
Encouraging upcoming musicians not to lose faith, he added, “It might be tough early on, but if you believe this is your path, just keep pushing. At some point, it will happen for you.”
His remarks highlight the ongoing struggle for fair streaming compensation in developing regions and the resilience of Nigerian artists who continue to make global waves despite systemic barriers.
Watch the video below:
“I hear that 1 million streams if your streams are coming from Nigeria is probably like $300, but the same 1 million streams from say the UK is probably like 5,000…”
– Johnny Drille pic.twitter.com/L7ZL9JlcMs
— @𝗼𝗻𝗲𝗷𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗯𝗼𝘆 (@OneJoblessBoy) October 11, 2025