Spotify Posts 163.5% Streaming Growth in Nigeria as Afrobeats and Indigenous Music Surge
Five years after launching in Nigeria, Spotify reports that music streaming in the country has expanded at an average rate of 163.5 per cent — reinforcing Nigeria’s rapid ascent as a major force in the global digital music economy.
Since entering the market in February 2021, the platform says it has recorded triple-digit year-on-year growth in its early years, with sustained momentum through 2025.
At the centre of this expansion is Afrobeats, which grew by an extraordinary 5,022 per cent in local streams between 2021 and 2025. Other genres have also experienced sharp growth. Amapiano surged by 10,330 per cent, Gospel and Praise expanded by 5,499 per cent, Hip-hop and Rap rose by 3,020 per cent, while R&B climbed by 2,602 per cent over the same period.
Language-driven listening has also emerged as a powerful growth engine. Indigenous language streams within Nigeria increased by 554 per cent in 2024 and a further 87 per cent in 2025. Globally, indigenous language streams rose by 141 per cent in 2024 and 41 per cent in 2025, reflecting growing international demand for African storytelling and sound.
Spotify noted that Nigerian listeners have consistently demonstrated broad musical curiosity. The first track streamed locally at launch was “到此為止” by Shiga Lin — a detail the company cites as evidence of an eclectic and discovery-driven audience.
Across five years, Nigeria’s most-streamed artistes on the platform include Burna Boy, Davido, Asake, Wizkid and Seyi Vibez. Popular tracks over the period include “Remember” and “Lonely At The Top” by Asake, “Kese (Dance)” by Wizkid, “Doha” by Seyi Vibez, and “With You” by Davido featuring Omah Lay.
Spotify says the number of Nigerian artistes on its platform has grown by 158 per cent since launch, while users have created more than 25 million playlists. In 2025 alone, Nigeria recorded over 1.4 million play hours.
Podcast consumption is also rising, with more than 59 billion total podcast hours streamed since the platform’s entry into the market. The average Nigerian Spotify listener is 26 years old, and recent data suggests users stream an average of 150 different artistes — reinforcing the profile of a young, exploratory digital audience.
Industry observers welcome the growth figures but caution that consumption expansion must translate into sustainable income for creators. They highlight ongoing concerns around royalty transparency, revenue distribution and algorithm-driven visibility for emerging acts.
Stakeholders recommend stronger monetisation systems, improved access to data analytics, and clearer royalty frameworks to ensure that Nigeria’s streaming boom becomes economically durable.
BRANDECONOMY Insight
Spotify’s growth metrics confirm one strategic reality: Nigeria is no longer just a cultural exporter — it is a digital consumption powerhouse.
Three structural implications stand out:
- Afrobeats as an Export Engine
The 5,000%+ growth in Afrobeats streaming demonstrates that Nigerian music has shifted from niche appeal to mainstream global relevance. Structured international playlisting, metadata optimisation and cross-border collaborations could further amplify export earnings. - Indigenous Language as Competitive Advantage
The surge in local-language streaming signals authenticity as a monetisable asset. Rather than diluting identity for global audiences, Nigerian artistes are proving that linguistic originality strengthens market differentiation. - Monetisation Gap Risk
While streaming volumes are rising exponentially, sustainable revenue models remain critical. Transparent royalty structures, fair algorithmic exposure and stronger advertising frameworks — particularly in podcasts — will determine whether streaming growth translates into wealth creation.
Nigeria’s digital music expansion sits at the intersection of youth demographics, smartphone penetration and global cultural influence.
The next phase of growth will depend less on streaming numbers and more on value capture — ensuring that creators, labels and the broader creative ecosystem retain a greater share of the economic upside.
