Technology Correspondent
South African artists generated more than R504m on the Spotify music streaming platform in 2025, highlighting the growth of local online music consumption and the global appeal of locally produced music.
Over the past two decades, artists have lost much of the revenue that came from traditional record sales, now relying on live performances, touring, merchandising and a host of other avenues for income.
As such, Spotify and its rivals in streaming have come under fire for what many perceive as an abuse of musicians.
Still, Spotify has made it clear that two-thirds of its revenue goes directly to music rights holders such as record labels and distributors. The share that artists end up with usually depends on their agreements with record labels, distributors, publishers and the like.
