I’ve lost count of how many times Nigerian artists tell me, “My song has streams but my account is empty.” On the surface, it feels unfair. If people are listening, why isn’t the money showing?
This is one of the biggest realities artists struggle with today, and in this article, I want to explain it honestly — without sugarcoating, without technical noise, and without misleading promises.
Why do streaming services pay artists so little?
Streaming services pay artists what many people consider “little” because they operate on a shared revenue system where millions of artists compete for the same pool of money. Your earnings are not based on effort or talent, but on your share of total streams, audience location, and subscription value.
In simple terms: streams alone don’t guarantee money — quality of streams does.
The biggest misunderstanding Nigerian artists have about streams
Most Nigerian artists assume one stream equals one payment. That’s not how streaming works.
Streaming platforms collect money monthly, then distribute it proportionally. If your song gets 100,000 streams, but the platform had billions of streams that month, your share becomes very small.
This is why two artists with the same stream count can earn completely different amounts.
Free users are a major reason earnings stay low
One of the biggest reasons streams don’t translate into money in Nigeria is the dominance of free plans.
Most Nigerian listeners use:
- Free Spotify accounts
- Ad-supported Audiomack
- Free YouTube streams
Streams from free users generate far less revenue than streams from paid subscribers. So even if your numbers look impressive, the money behind them may be weak.
I explained this clearly in how much Spotify pays Nigerian artists.
Listener location matters more than stream count
This part hurts, but it’s the truth.
Streams from Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, and most African countries pay significantly less than streams from the US, UK, Canada, or Europe.
If 90% of your listeners are in Nigeria, your earnings will be lower — even if your song is “blowing.”
This is why diaspora-focused artists often earn more with fewer streams.
Streaming platforms don’t pay artists directly
Another reason artists feel underpaid is because the money passes through multiple hands.
The flow looks like this:
- Listener → Streaming platform
- Streaming platform → Rights holders
- Rights holders → Distributor
- Distributor → Artist
At each stage, deductions may happen — whether it’s distributor fees, label splits, or management cuts.
If you’re signed to a label, this becomes even more complex, which I explained in
independent artists vs label artists on streaming income.
Viral does not always mean profitable
One painful truth Nigerian artists must accept is this: virality does not guarantee income.
A song can go viral on TikTok, Instagram, or WhatsApp without converting to:
- Premium streams
- Playlist placements
- Long-term listeners
If listeners play your song once and never return, the algorithm stops pushing it, and the income fades quickly.
Why streaming platforms are not “cheating” artists
It’s easy to blame platforms, but the truth is more complicated.
Streaming platforms:
- Host millions of songs
- Pay out up to 70% of revenue
- Operate on subscription prices many Nigerians can’t afford
The low payouts are not always exploitation — they are a reflection of market realities.
Why some Nigerian artists still earn well from streams
If streaming pays so little, why are some Nigerian artists earning well?
The difference usually comes down to:
- International fanbase
- Strong playlist positioning
- High repeat listens
- Premium-heavy audiences
This is why Nigerian artists earn differently, which I broke down here:
why Nigerian artists earn differently on streaming platforms.
Streams are exposure first, income second
One mindset shift artists need is this: streaming is more powerful as exposure than as direct income.
Streams help you:
- Build audience trust
- Attract shows and bookings
- Secure brand partnerships
- Monetize elsewhere
Artists who rely only on streaming income often struggle. Artists who combine it with other revenue streams last longer.
What Nigerian artists should focus on instead of stream count
- Listener retention
- Audience location
- Email and fan communities
- Multiple platforms, not one
Understanding how royalties work helps too, which is why you should read
music streaming royalties explained for Nigerian artists.
Final thoughts
Streams don’t always mean money for Nigerian artists because the system rewards scale, premium listeners, and global reach — not just numbers.
If you treat streaming as the only goal, you’ll be frustrated. If you treat it as part of a bigger income strategy, it becomes powerful.
The artists who win are not the ones chasing streams — they’re the ones building systems around them.
