Zambian Artists Lament Lack of Payments from Boomplay for Over Two Years
Several Zambian artists have raised serious concerns over the lack of earnings from the music streaming giant Boomplay, claiming they haven’t received any royalties from the platform for the past two years. The complaints have sparked fresh debates in the local music industry about transparency, fair compensation, and the value of streaming for African creatives.
According to various gospel and secular musicians, despite having their songs available on Boomplay — and in some cases racking up thousands of streams — they have not seen a single payment reflected in their accounts.
“We were told that once we sign up and distribute our music to Boomplay, we’d earn from streams,” one artist shared anonymously. “But up to now, there’s no income — nothing to show for the numbers we’ve pulled.”
This situation has caused many to question the streaming revenue model, with some asking: How much does Boomplay pay per 1 stream? Official sources suggest Boomplay pays artists based on a revenue share model, with an estimated rate of ₦0.002 (less than $0.01) per stream, though the actual payout can vary by region and licensing agreements.
Checkout: Female Gospel Singers in Zambia (2025 Edition)
Who Owns Boomplay?
Boomplay is owned by Transsnet Music Limited, a joint venture between Chinese tech company Transsion Holdings (known for Tecno and Infinix phones) and NetEase, a major Chinese internet company. The app has grown rapidly across Africa, especially in Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, and Zambia.
Despite its popularity, local artists say the platform’s payment policies remain vague, especially for independent and gospel musicians. Many want clarity on questions like, Does Boomplay pay artists monthly? Ideally, Boomplay is supposed to pay artists on a monthly basis, depending on agreements with distributors, but some artists allege that they’ve waited months or even years without a single disbursement.
Concerns Beyond Just Payment
In addition to late or non-existent payments, artists are also concerned about reporting transparency. Several claim they’ve never seen a proper breakdown of their stream numbers, earnings, or where their content is being consumed most. This lack of analytics makes it hard for artists to plan tours, market strategically, or justify their streaming success to potential sponsors.
Who Is the Most Followed Artist on Boomplay?
While Zambian gospel acts continue to rise in talent and faith-based impact, they still struggle for visibility in comparison to top African artists. Currently, the most followed artist on Boomplay is Nigeria’s Burna Boy, with over 5 million followers — a stark contrast that reflects the visibility gap Zambian artists are trying to overcome.
Calls for Accountability
With increasing frustration, some artists are considering pulling their content from Boomplay entirely, unless the platform provides a clear path forward.
“We don’t want to fight, we just want fairness,” said one gospel singer. “If we can't get paid, at least give us access to real-time data so we know what’s going on.”
As Zambia’s music industry continues to grow, especially in the gospel music space, platforms like Zambiangospel.com will remain vital in amplifying artists’ voices and advocating for accountability in the digital music space.
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