How does YouTube pay Nigerian YouTubers?
Short answer: YouTube pays Nigerian YouTubers mainly through ad revenue, YouTube Music streaming revenue, YouTube Premium revenue, and fan-supported features. Payments are based on monetized views, watch time, audience location, and advertiser demand — not just total views.
YouTube Music earnings are part of the larger YouTube ecosystem, not a separate payment system like Spotify or Apple Music.
This article connects directly to my main guide here:
How Musicians Make Money in Nigeria.
Understanding the difference between YouTube and YouTube Music
This is where many artists get confused.
YouTube Music is not a standalone payout platform. It is simply a music-focused service built on top of YouTube.
That means:
- Music streams on YouTube Music count as YouTube views
- Revenue flows through YouTube’s monetization system
- Artists earn through Content ID, ads, and subscriptions
If you understand YouTube, you understand YouTube Music.
How YouTube actually pays Nigerian creators
YouTube pays creators through the YouTube Partner Program (YPP).
To qualify, Nigerian creators must:
- Have at least 1,000 subscribers
- Reach 4,000 valid public watch hours in 12 months or 10 million Shorts views in 90 days
- Comply with monetization and copyright policies
Once approved, creators earn money from multiple sources.
Ad revenue: the foundation of YouTube earnings
Ads are the most common way Nigerian YouTubers earn.
When ads play on your videos:
- Advertisers pay YouTube
- YouTube shares a percentage with the creator
Your earnings depend on:
- Audience location
- Advertiser demand
- Watch time, not just views
This is why 100,000 views can earn very different amounts across channels.
How YouTube Music generates revenue for artists
YouTube Music revenue comes from two main sources:
- Ads played on free YouTube Music streams
- YouTube Premium subscriptions
When premium subscribers stream your music, YouTube pools subscription revenue and distributes it based on watch and listen time.
This model is similar to other streaming platforms but still tied to YouTube’s system.
Content ID: how music earns even without your channel
One of YouTube’s most powerful tools for musicians is Content ID.
Content ID allows your music to earn money when:
- Other people use your song in their videos
- Your music appears in background clips
- Your audio is reused across YouTube
You don’t need to upload the video yourself to earn.
This is a major advantage YouTube has over platforms like Apple Music and Spotify, which I explained here:
How Apple Music Pays Nigerian Artists and
How Much Spotify Pays Nigerian Artists.
Does YouTube pay per stream or per view?
No fixed rate exists.
YouTube does not pay a fixed amount per view or per stream. Earnings depend on:
- CPM (cost per 1,000 ad impressions)
- RPM (revenue per 1,000 views)
- Audience demographics
Nigerian-focused audiences usually generate lower ad rates than US or UK audiences, but volume and engagement can compensate.
YouTube Premium and Nigerian creators
YouTube Premium is another income source.
When premium subscribers watch your content:
- No ads are shown
- You earn from the subscription pool
This revenue is often overlooked, but it adds up over time.
Independent artists vs label artists on YouTube
Structure matters here as well.
Independent artists
- Control their channels
- Earn directly from ads and Content ID
- Keep a larger share of revenue
Label or distributor artists
- Earnings may pass through a distributor
- Revenue splits depend on contracts
- Content ID may be controlled by the label
This is why many artists feel YouTube money but don’t see it immediately.
Why Nigerian YouTubers complain about low earnings
I hear this a lot.
The main reasons include:
- Low advertiser demand in Nigeria
- Short watch times
- Non-monetized views
- Copyright claims
Views alone don’t equal money.
How Nigerian creators can earn more on YouTube
Instead of chasing viral clips, smart creators focus on:
- Longer watch time
- Music ownership
- Content consistency
- Audience retention
YouTube rewards creators who keep people watching.
YouTube Music vs Audiomack vs Spotify
Each platform plays a different role.
- YouTube: discovery, ads, Content ID
- Audiomack: engagement and early monetization
- Spotify: algorithmic growth
I explained Audiomack’s model fully here:
How Audiomack Pays Nigerian Artists.
How YouTube fits into a full music income strategy
YouTube should never stand alone.
It works best when combined with streaming platforms, live performances, and brand leverage.
This full structure is explained here:
How Musicians Make Money in Nigeria.
Final thoughts
YouTube pays Nigerian creators — but only those who understand how the system works.
If you chase views, you’ll stay confused. If you build watch time, ownership, and structure, YouTube becomes one of the most powerful income tools available.
In this game, clarity beats hype every time.
