Apple Music raises its subscription prices in Nigeria by 30%
The new pricing brings it in line with Spotify and YouTube Music.
There I was, scrolling through my inbox like any other day, when I saw an email from Apple Music: “We’re updating your subscription price.” If you’re an Apple Music user in Nigeria, now might be a good time to check yours too.
Starting June 22, Apple is raising its monthly individual plan from ₦1,000 to ₦1,300 — a 30% increase, and the biggest jump we’ve seen from the company since it entered the Nigerian market in 2015. The last hike, in November 2022, was just 10% (from ₦900 to ₦1,000), so this feels... different.
Officially, there’s no explanation. But with the Naira’s ongoing struggle against the dollar, pricing adjustments like this aren’t surprising. Still, this might not just be about exchange rates as it also looks like Apple is realigning with the competition.
Spotify, for instance, raised prices twice last year across several countries, including Nigeria, where it now charges ₦1,300/month. YouTube Music followed suit, bumping its individual plan to the same ₦1,300. With this move, Apple Music now joins the pack.
The company says its Nigerian subscriber base has more than doubled in the past year, even though it hasn’t shared exact numbers. Streams in the country also rose by 119% year-on-year, and Apple has expanded its reach across 37 African countries — up from just 12 the year before.
But despite this growth in the Nigerian Market, Apple Music continues to trail platforms like Audiomack and Boomplay, both of which have a stronger foothold (via Sensor Tower) and offer premium plans for as low as ₦900/month.
Apple is likely banking on features like Sound Therapy, the 24/7 Chill radio station, and its locally curated playlists, built with African creatives, to keep subscribers locked in. But whether those additions are enough to justify the extra ₦300 is up to listeners.
For now, one can only wonder if this price hike will roll out across other African countries and when. But in Nigeria, at least, the message is clear: Apple Music is growing and so is the bill.
Fishon Amos
