Nigerian music producer Sarz has explained why Nigerian artistes earn significantly less from music streaming compared to their counterparts in Western countries, citing economic disparities and lower subscription rates. He spoke on a recent episode of the Afropolitan podcast, highlighting the wide revenue gap based on geographic location.
According to him, one million streams in the United States can generate between $3,000 and $5,000, while the same number of streams in Nigeria may bring in only $300 to $500. He noted that despite the sharp difference in returns, the cost of marketing and promoting songs remains almost the same in both markets.
Sarz attributed the imbalance largely to economic realities, explaining that subscribers in Western countries pay higher fees for streaming services due to stronger economies and greater purchasing power. This, he said, directly impacts how much artistes earn per stream.
He added that although Nigerians have a strong passion for music, many people cannot afford premium streaming subscriptions. As a result, even though music consumption is high, actual revenue generation remains low.
The producer stressed that improving Nigeria’s economic conditions would ultimately increase streaming income for local artistes, as higher earning power among listeners would translate into better subscription rates and returns for musicians.
