Nigeria and South Africa music industries experienced significantly growth in 2024, earning a combined $58 million in royalties from Sportify.

The Afrobeats and Amapiano genres in Nigeria and South Africa have produced globally recognized stars, with Nigerian artists earning more than double on royalties to $37.8 million and South African artists earning $20.9 million.

Sportify in a statement released on Thursday revealed that African music genres — particularly Nigeria’s Afrobeats and South Africa’s Amapiano — have seen “extraordinary growth across sub Saharan Africa’s music industries”, with both nation’s producing globally recognized stars and ranking in unprecedented earnings.

Royalties paid to Nigeria artists more than doubled compared to the previous year, soaring to N58 billion (approximately $37.8 million), while South African artists generated 400 million Rand ($20.9 million).

“Nigerian and South African artists achieved record-breaking earnings global reach”, the report noted.

The success was largely fuelled by the continued international rise of artists like Nigeria’s Burna Boy and Ayra Starr from Nigeria, as well as South Africa’s Grammy Award-winning singer Tyla.