Amapiano stars Kabza De Small and DJ Maphorisa
South Africa’s music scene is experiencing an exciting wave of transformation, with local artists cashing in big.
According to Spotify’s 2025 Loud & Clear transparency report, musicians in the country raked in a combined R400 million in royalties last year—double what they earned in 2022.
The growth isn’t just financial—global attention is exploding too. South African artists were discovered by first-time listeners more than 1.1 billion times in the past year alone, marking a 55% rise in global exposure since 2023.
Jocelyne Muhutu-Remy, Spotify’s Managing Director for Sub-Saharan Africa, says the platform is playing a major role in reshaping the music business on the continent.
“We’re not just supporting South African artists—we’re revolutionizing how they build sustainable careers,” she said.
“Our ecosystem empowers artists to earn equitably from their talent while driving a powerful wave of cultural innovation that resonates globally.”
One standout trend is the soaring popularity of music in indigenous languages.
Since 2021, royalties for songs in isiZulu, Sotho, and Afrikaans have more than doubled, showing that global listeners are embracing the full depth of South Africa’s diverse soundscape.
With over 3,000 local artists featured on Spotify’s editorial playlists, the platform revealed that international audiences make up a major portion of the revenue stream.
On average, South African music is streamed for over 600,000 hours every day by global users, who have created more than 220 million playlists showcasing the country’s talent.
Tyla’s record-breaking success stands as a symbol of this global breakthrough. Her smash hit Water has surpassed one billion streams, making her the first African solo artist to achieve such a feat on Spotify.
Muhutu-Remy described it as a landmark moment, saying, “This historic moment cements Tyla’s place as one of the most influential new voices in music, solidifying the growing global impact of African artists.”
