Showbiz
Spotify to Expose Local Artistes to 345 million Global Listeners
By Ahmed Rahma
The opening of Spotify in Africa, especially in Nigeria, will benefit local artistes yearning for global exposure, the music app platform has assured.
The Head of Music for Sub-Saharan Africa at Spotify, Ms Phiona Okumu, said in an interview on Saturday with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the company was focused on engaging the local music market in Nigeria.
She noted that much attention would be given to the promotion of local contents in the music industry, adding that, “Everything we are doing right now is made for Africa.”
“I think you will notice when we roll out, you are going to see New Music Friday which is localized for Nigeria and users that are in Ghana will see New Music Friday that is localized for Ghana.
“In Kenya, it’s the same thing,” she added.
Ms Okumu, while speaking on how Spotify would help develop the music industry, said there would be more exposure for artistes and ease of music exportation with more benefits.
“The launch of Spotify in Africa means that artistes that were considered localized or not international enough as others certainly have the benefit of being exposed to over 345 million listeners around the world.
“So, now we are going to be able to share sound and stories from Nigeria.
“Stories that we once thought were only to be consumed at home, this platform gives the opportunity for those stories to be circulated all-round the globe.
“Local talents will get the credit for their stories and for their voices and for all of these things that we’re doing in the audio space,” she said.
Ms Okumu added that the Spotify app would also help artistes build their career by tracking the performance of their songs in various countries which will help in planning their tours.
“We have a tool which we call Spotify for Artistes. It helps the artistes track in real-time how their new music is performing.
“You know who their audience is if they are gaining popularity in different parts of the globe, where they are going to be successful or something like that.
“So, they are very essential tools which are going to give them just what they need to navigate a kind of a post COVID world, it is what I call it now,” she stated.
According to her, if there is a song of theirs that’s doing really well in Germany, then they know that when they are ready to go on tour again, they should 100 per cent go to this town.
“Those kinds of specific data are points for any artistes’ team that are trying to build a career for themselves,” she added.
Spotify is a digital music service that gives access to millions of songs.
Title-chasing Arsenal will, on Sunday, host London rivals, Chelsea, in a Premier League clash of huge importance to both teams. The match, which kicks off at 2.30 PM, is available for live streaming on Showmax. Second-placed Arsenal, who trail league leaders, Liverpool, by a whopping 15 points, are convinced that they still can win the Premier League title despite the recent indifferent form.
The Mikel Arteta-coached side have won only two of their last five games, losing one and drawing two to leave them with a mountain to climb. A victory over Chelsea would narrow the gap between them and Liverpool, who do not play in the Premier League until April, to 12 points. Anything short of that is a further erosion of their already slender chances of the title.
Chelsea, who have been inconsistent after a bright start to the season, moved into the Champions League places last weekend on the back of a labored 1-0 victory over relegation-threatened Leicester. They will have to be at their best against determined, even if injury-ravaged Arsenal, to get anything from the game and keep alive their hopes of playing Champions League football next season.
Another London derby is available on Sunday when Fulham host Tottenham Hotspur at 2.30 PM. On Saturday, Premier League defending champions, Manchester City, host the fearless Brighton, who have caused headaches for bigger teams this season under coach Fabian Hürzeler. The match is available for live streaming at 4 PM. The wheels have come off City’s campaign, as they sit fifth on the table and are at the risk of missing out on the Champions League if things do not improve fast.
Also available for live streaming at the same time are games between relegation candidates, Ipswich and implausibly third-placed Nottingham Forest; Southampton at home to Wolves as well as rejuvenated Everton at home to West Ham. The day’s diet of live games comes to an end with the impressive Andoni Iraola-managed Bournemouth hosting Thomas Frank’s often resilient Brentford side.
This season, Bournemouth, ninth on the log, have been impressive at home, beating Manchester City, Arsenal and smashing Newcastle 4-1 away from home. Their recent form has been dire with three losses and one win in five games. Brentford, who sit 12th, have no relegation worries. They have won two wins and two losses from the last five games.
The weekend games will end with the doomed Leicester City hosting the wretched Manchester United, who sit in an unfamiliar 14th position. Kick-off is at 8 PM. Fans can catch all the weekend’s action, live on Showmax Premier League mobile. Sign up at www.showmax.com.
A new Nollywood short film, Amira, is set to confront the realities of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), a practice that continues to affect millions of women and girls worldwide. With some of Nigeria’s most prominent filmmakers backing the project, the film aims to shed light on an issue that is often shrouded in silence.
Acclaimed industry figures Imoh Umoren, James Omokwe, Remi Ibinola, and Obinna Okerekeocha have joined the production as executive producers, supporting the vision of director Michael Ichie Panda Okolie and screenwriter Osas Idubor.
According to writer Osas Idubor, Amira is not just a story—it is a reflection of a harsh reality.
“This film gives voice to those who have been silenced. FGM is not just a distant issue; it is happening in communities across Africa and beyond. We cannot afford to look away,” Idubor said.
A Rare Cinematic Approach to FGM
Despite its prevalence, FGM remains a sensitive and often overlooked topic in mainstream African cinema. Director Michael Ichie Panda Okolie says Amira takes an unflinching look at the physical and emotional impact of the practice.
“This is more than just a film; it’s about bringing a critical issue into public discourse,” Okolie stated.
Executive producer James Omokwe believes Nollywood can play a crucial role in shaping conversations about social change.
“Film has the power to challenge norms and shift perspectives. We want Amira to open up discussions that lead to real awareness and action,” Omokwe said.
A Widespread Issue, A Global Conversation
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 200 million women and girls have undergone FGM globally, with millions more at risk. While the practice is illegal in several countries, it continues due to deep-rooted cultural and societal norms.
By telling Amira’s story, the filmmakers hope to challenge these norms and encourage dialogue about the long-term consequences of FGM.
“We are using storytelling as a tool for change. The more we talk about FGM, the harder it becomes to ignore,” said executive producer Obinna Okerekeocha.
Production and Release Plans
Filming for Amira is set to begin in April 2025, with the project expected to make its way to international film festivals upon completion.
While the film industry has often shied away from topics like FGM, the creators of Amira believe it is time for Nollywood to take on stories that not only entertain but also challenge and inform audiences.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Over N58 billion was paid to Nigerian artists by popular audio streaming platform, Spotify, in 2024, the company disclosed in a statement made available to Business Post on Thursday.
It was revealed that this monumental financial milestone recorded by Nigerian music last year doubled what was generated as royalties in the preceding year.
Also, the number of Nigerian artists generating N10 million in royalties from Spotify has more than doubled since 2023 and more than tripled the amount recorded in 2022, according to Spotify’s 2024 Loud & Clear report, underscoring the explosive commercial growth of Nigerian music globally.
In addition, this unprecedented financial success reflects the dynamic creativity emerging from Nigeria’s music scene and signals Spotify’s ongoing commitment to supporting artistic talent across the region.
The report also stated that Nigerian artists were discovered by first-time listeners over one billion times on Spotify in 2024, with over 1,900 Nigerian artists added to Spotify editorial playlists—33 per cent more than in 2023.
Further, a significant portion of the N58 billion in royalties earned by Nigerian artists came from listeners outside Nigeria, with global listeners on average spending more than 1.1 million hours streaming Nigerian artists.
It was observed that users have created approximately 250 million playlists featuring Nigerian artists worldwide as Nigerian artists have seen a 49 per cent export growth over the past three years amid a 206 per cent year-on-year growth in local consumption of Nigerian content and a remarkable 782 per cent increase over the past three years.
Commenting on this development, Spotify’s Sub-Saharan Africa Managing Director, Jocelyne Muhutu-Remy, said, “We remain committed to empowering Nigerian artists to earn from their art whilst maintaining transparency with artists and stakeholders.
“The incredible growth of Nigerian music, both locally and globally, is a testament to the talent and creativity within Nigeria, and we are proud to support its continued rise.”
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