-
Tems’ Manager Muyiwa Awoniyi Exposes Stark Disparity in Music Streaming Revenue Between Nigeria and Abroad
Music executive and manager to Grammy-winning Nigerian singer Tems, Muyiwa Awoniyi, has shed light on the harsh realities of streaming revenue for Nigerian artists, calling attention to the financial inequalities embedded in the global music streaming industry.
Speaking on a recent episode of the Afrobeats Intelligence podcast, Awoniyi offered a candid breakdown of how geography influences artist earnings on platforms like Spotify. His revelations have since sparked conversations among creatives and industry stakeholders.
According to Awoniyi, the revenue generated from streams originating in Nigeria pales in comparison to what is earned in more developed markets.
“Do you know how much a million streams is worth out of Nigeria? It’s $300. I am telling you facts, it is N900 to subscribe to Spotify and Spotify treats things territorially,” he explained.
Highlighting the challenges facing artists whose main listenership is based in low-income regions, he emphasized how pricing models and economic strength of a country play major roles in determining revenue outcomes for music streaming.
“A lot of people do not know this, by the way. So for me, I always knew that if my IP is anchored to a region where one million streams is $300, I am cooked,” Awoniyi said. “I knew this from Nonso’s time because, like I said, the trickle-down effect of the economy is going to hit the citizens regardless.”
He further compared the Nigerian reality with that of Spotify’s home country, Sweden — a high-income territory where artists reportedly earn significantly more per stream.
“Your purchasing power is going to be limited. Do you know the highest territory for streaming Spotify? Sweden is where Spotify is from. Your one million streams is between 8–10 grand.”
Awoniyi’s comments highlight the financial challenges faced by Nigerian artists despite having large fan bases and high streaming figures. His remarks have drawn renewed attention to the need for better monetization models that favour creatives from developing regions.