Ace Nigerian music producer, Osabuohien Osaretin, popularly known as Sarz, has shed light on why music streaming revenues in Nigeria remain significantly lower than in the United States and other Western countries.

Speaking on a recent episode of the Afropolitan podcast, Sarz revealed that while a million streams on Spotify in the U.S. can generate between $3,000 and $5,000, the same number of streams in Nigeria earns only around $300 to $500—even though marketing and promotion costs are nearly identical.

“A million streams from the United States is maybe $3,000–$5,000. That same 1 million streams from Nigeria is arguably maybe $300–$500, but it will cost you the same amount to market or promote a song in Nigeria as it would abroad,” he explained.

Sarz attributed the disparity to economic factors, noting that subscribers in Western countries pay significantly more for premium services due to stronger economies. In contrast, while Nigerians are passionate about music, many cannot afford paid subscriptions, making local streams less financially valuable.

On the prospects for improvement, Sarz said, “We [Nigerian entertainers and executives] are waiting for the state of the country to get better so other things can start improving. I think we have done very well with the resources we have, despite all the obstacles. People are streaming music; those who can’t simply don’t have the means. How do we empower them? That comes back to the government. We are just waiting until the economy gets better.”