Ranking the Top 10 Nigerian Musicians Earning the Most Per Performance 

BY EMMANUEL CHIDERA AMOKE

With the extravagant lifestyles of music artists often on display, it’s natural to wonder how they manage to make so much money. And while it’s true that many artists have achieved global success, it’s important to recognize that not all artists are equally successful in terms of income. For this episode of the ” Groove Odyssey”, we will highlight some of the streams of income of these artists, and how it’s often a combination of several revenue streams that leads to financial stability for those who are able to generate significant earnings.

Some of the few sources from which artists generate income include streaming royalties, merchandise sales, and endorsement deals. Streaming royalties are payments made to artists by streaming services like Spotify and Apple Music whenever their music is streamed. Merchandise sales refer to the earnings generated from selling items like t-shirts, hats, and other branded products. Endorsement deals are agreements between an artist and a company in which the artist promotes the company’s products or services in exchange for financial compensation. These are just a few of the many ways that artists can generate income from their music.

However, amidst all these revenue streams available to artists, live performances stand out as one of the most common and lucrative sources of income for artists. Without the ability to perform live, many artists would struggle to maintain a sustainable career in music. Whether it’s performing at festivals, shows, or personal concerts, artists can make a significant amount of money by performing their music in front of an audience. Meanwhile, not all artists are able to generate the same level of income from live performances. It often depends on factors such as the artist’s popularity, the venue, and the size of the audience.

For established artists with a large fan base, live performances can be a significant source of income. For up-and-coming artists, this may not be as lucrative, and they may need to rely more heavily on income from streaming royalties and other sources.

It’s worth noting that the global popularity of Nigerian music, particularly the Afrobeats genre, is having a major impact on the earning potential of artists. International collaborations, touring opportunities, and increased visibility are all contributing to a rise in income for some Nigerian artists. This trend is likely to continue in the future, with more opportunities for Nigerian artists to earn income from outside the country, causing most of them preferring to charge in dollars to better align with the dynamics of the international market.

Here’s the rankings of these musical maestros:

Burna Boy ($1 million)

With a performance fee of $1 million or more, Burna Boy has firmly established himself as one of the most sought-after Nigerian musicians on the global stage. With multiple Grammy-winning albums and a knack for captivating audiences with his performance, it’s no wonder he commands such a hefty fee. Burna Boy’s music is so much more than just entertainment – it’s a powerful force for change, with lyrics that speak to the challenges and triumphs of everyday life.

Wizkid ($800,000)

Wizkid has long been recognized as one of the most influential Nigerian artists of all time. With a performance fee of up to $800,000, he is one of the most highly sought-after artists in Africa. His collaborations with some of the world’s biggest artists like Drake and Beyoncé, have solidified his position as a global superstar. Also, his undeniable talent and charisma make him a formidable force in the music industry. There’s no doubt that Wizkid’s fee is well-deserved, and he continues to be a driving force in the ever-evolving industry.

Davido ($500,000)

With a performance fee of $500,000, Davido is a force to be reckoned with in the music industry. His global hits, including “If,” “fall,” “Blow My Mind,” “Fem,” and his most recent album Timeless receiving a nomination, in addition to two other nominations for “Unavailable”, and “Feel”(Both in Timeless) at the 66th Annual Grammy Award. David is on the map as one of the most in-demand African artists. His star power is undeniable, underscored by his reputation as the most followed Nigerian Musician on Instagram. Also his influence in popularizing Afrobeats on the world stage is undeniable. From sold-out concerts to record-breaking deals, Davido’s success is undisputed, and his fees reflect his immense talent and appeal.

Olamide ($500,000)

His impressive discography has earned him a reputation as one of Nigeria’s most respected artists. His $500,000 fees reflect his success. It’s clear that he has made a significant impact on the Nigerian music scene, especially in the Afrorap genre, a subgenre of Afrobeats that blends traditional Nigerian music with rap and hip hop elements. His influence shows no signs of waning, as it can be heard, reflected in the music of younger artists.

Rema ($200,000)

Rema has quickly become one of the hottest names in the Nigerian music scene, and his fees reflect his rising star power. With chart-topping hits like his 2022 hit single “Calm Down” featuring Selena Gomez, with which he’s internationally known for. The song peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100. It also led the U.S. Afrobeats Songs chart for a record-setting 58 weeks. With his ever-increasing fan base, Rema commands a performance fee of $200,000. 

Kizz Daniel ($200,000)

Kizz Daniel has achieved massive success both in Nigeria and abroad. He is known for his hit songs encased in 5 successful albums, his electrifying live performances, and his $200,000 fees reflect his popularity. His unique blend of Afrobeats, R&B, and Afropop has earned him a loyal and devoted following, and he is showing no signs of slowing down.

Asake ($100,000)

In just a year, 2022-2023, Asake’s meteoric rise has been nothing short of spectacular. His career highlights include a string of record-breaking albums, awards, nominations and international recognitions. Mr. Money with the Vibe was a hit on Apple Music, and the subsequent release of Work of Art continued to elevate his status in the music industry. He has been nominated for awards across a range of prestigious bodies, including the BET Awards, MOBO Awards, Rolling Stone Magazine and won the 2023 Headies’ Next Rated category. Just recently, earlier this month, 2023, Asake was nominated for his first Grammy Award for the song “Amapiano”, featuring Olamide. With all of these incredible achievements and accolades, it’s clear that Asake is one of the most successful African artists of recent times. It equally justifies his place on this list for commanding a performance fee of $100,000.

Tiwa Savage ($100,000)

Tiwa Savage is not only one of the most popular female artists in Africa, but she is also acclaimed the queen of Afrobeats in Nigeria. Tiwa is a trailblazer for women in the Nigerian music industry. She is the highest-paid female artist in the country, commanding a performance fee of $100,000. Her success is a testament to her talent and perseverance. Tiwa Savage continues to inspire a new generation of female artists to break down barriers and make their mark in the music industry.

Tems ($50,000)

Tems is one of Nigeria’s most talented and in-demand artists, with a performance fee of $50,000. She has made a name for herself both in Nigeria and internationally, collaborating with artists like Drake, and Future on Future’s hit single ‘Wait For U,’ which debuted atop the Billboard Hot 100, making her the first African artist to debut at number one and the second Nigerian artist to top the chart. The song also earned her the Grammy Award for Best Melodic Rap Performance. She was initially nominated for the previous year’s Grammy alongside Wizkid for their collaboration on “Essence.” Tems covered Bob Marley’s “No Woman, No Cry” for the Black Panther: Wakanda Forever soundtrack album in July 2022 and in the same month, her song “Free Mind” from her debut EP which debuted on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 46 and breaking the female record for longest charting number one song on R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart.

Ayra Starr ($50,000)

Ayra Starr is one of the hottest young artists in Nigeria, currently with a rapidly growing fan base and a performance fee of $50,000. She burst onto the scene with her hit song “Away,” and has since released a string of successful singles including her “19 & Dangerous” album. Her sound is a blend of R&B, soul, and pop, and she has been praised for her unique vocal style and songwriting. Ayra Starr would later achieve mainstream international recognition in 2022, with the release of her song ‘Rush'” charting in several European territories, including Switzerland, Ireland and the United Kingdom, where it peaked at number 24 on the UK Singles Chart. ‘Rush’ also earned Starr her first nomination at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards for Best Global Music Performance.

In conclusion, the Nigerian music industry is providing many opportunities for artists to earn a living, but there is still a great deal of diversity in terms of income sources and earnings potential. Artists are finding new and innovative ways to generate income, and the global success of Afrobeats is opening up new possibilities for artists to earn from their work.