Popular Nigerian singer and songwriter Johnny Drille has spoken about how the low streaming revenue in Nigeria is affecting artists financially.
The soulful artist explained that while streaming has become a major way for musicians to share their work, it doesn’t pay well for most African artists, especially those in Nigeria. He revealed that the amount artists earn from streams in the country is very small compared to what artists in other parts of the world get.
According to him, 1 million streams from Nigeria could earn an artist around $300, while the same number of streams from the UK could bring in as much as $5,000.
“For an artist, it can be quite challenging early on,” Johnny Drille said. “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.”
He added that although streaming income is low, artists can still make better money from live shows and performances once their music starts attracting international attention.
Encouraging young and upcoming artists, Johnny Drille advised them not to give up despite the challenges.
“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,” he said.
