Johnny Drille has revealed that Nigerian artists earn very little from streaming platforms compared to foreign acts.
He said one million streams from Nigeria may pay about $300, while the same number from the UK could earn around $5,000.
Nigerian singer and songwriter Johnny Drille has opened up about how poor streaming payouts in Nigeria make it difficult for artists to earn a living from their music.
Speaking about the realities of being an artist in Africa, the Mavin Records act explained that musicians from Nigeria often make far less from digital streams compared to their counterparts in other countries.
“For an artist, it can be quite challenging early on. Streaming from Africa is not the best in terms of numbers,” he said. “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.”
Johnny Drille noted that while streaming revenue remains low, live performances and international exposure offer artists better financial opportunities once their music gains global recognition.
Encouraging young artists not to give up, he said: “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.”
