Nigerian Artists Are ‘Cooked’ — Tems’ Manager Exposes How 1 Million Streams Earn Just $300 in Nigeria

Muyiwa Awoniyi, the manager of Grammy-winning singer Tems, has opened the lid on what he describes as a troubling reality for Nigerian musicians: they earn peanuts from streaming, especially when compared to artists abroad.

Speaking on a recent episode of the Afrobeats Intelligence podcast, Awoniyi revealed that one million streams of a Nigerian artist’s song could fetch as little as $300, depending on where listeners are located. In sharp contrast, that same number of streams from countries like Sweden could earn between $8,000 to $10,000.

“Do you know how much a million streams is worth out of Nigeria?” he asked. “It’s $300. Your one million streams [in Sweden] is between $8,000 and $10,000.”

He attributed the disturbing disparity to Spotify’s region-based payout model, combined with Nigeria’s low subscription rates and the broader economic struggles of the country.

“In Nigeria, the cost of Spotify Premium is about ₦900 a month. Compare that to what people pay in the U.S. or Europe—around $10 to $15,” Awoniyi explained. “So if my IP is anchored to a region where one million streams equals $300, I am cooked.”

He said many people don’t realize how location-based digital streaming revenues really are. While Afrobeats continues to break global boundaries and top international charts, artists back home are battling poor monetization structures and limited earnings, even when their music goes viral.

The conversation has since sparked concern among music lovers and up-and-coming artists, some of whom took to social media to express frustration with the current system. For many, it was a wake-up call that going viral in Nigeria doesn’t always mean going home with the bag.

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