How to Monetize Your Hausa Songs on YouTube and Spotify

A quick, true-feeling moment

When I first released a single from my cousin Sani’s wedding ceremony, we did it the old way. We recorded on a borrowed mic, shared the MP3 on WhatsApp, then posted a shaky video to YouTube. A month later someone used the same audio in a viral dance clip and the clip had millions of views. We got nothing. That hurt, but it taught us two things. First, the internet pays when you set things up right. Second, you must own the path from studio to platform, and know how to claim what is yours. This guide shows you that path for Hausa/Arewa artists on YouTube and Spotify.

Why this matters for Hausa artists

Streaming and video platforms are where listeners find new Hausa music now. Streams add up to real income when you nail the basics. This is about more than clicks. It is about rights, metadata, and simple systems that make sure every play, every reuse, and every sync counts for your pocket.

Quick primer: what you need to understand first

• Distribution means getting your audio files and metadata into streaming services.
• Identifiers like ISRC and UPC make every track and release trackable.
• Content ID on YouTube helps you claim videos that use your music so you earn from them.
• Publishing and PROs collect public performance and mechanical royalties for you.
• Promotion makes the listeners come. Monetization follows audience and usage.

Below I show how to do every step, in order, with real actions you can take this week.

1. Prepare professional releases — files, metadata, and artwork

Why it matters. Bad files and wrong metadata cause lost royalties and missed opportunities for playlisting.

Step-by-step

1. Export your final mix as a high quality lossless file. Use WAV or FLAC at 44.1 kHz or 48 kHz and 16 or 24 bit.
2. Name files clearly. Use this format for a track: Artist - Song Title (feat. Guest).wav.
3. Create clean metadata before upload. Include:
   • Artist name exactly as you want it displayed
   • Track title with capitalization and punctuation you prefer
   • Songwriter and producer credits
   • Release date and territory
   • Language tag: Hausa or Arewa if the distributor asks
4. Prepare cover art sized 3000 x 3000 pixels. No website URLs or phone numbers on the cover.
5. Write a short release description and song credits for streaming portals.

Practical tip. Keep a single spreadsheet of all your releases. Record ISRCs, UPCs, release dates, and where each release went. This becomes your evidence when chasing missing payments.

2. Choose a distributor and deliver music the right way

What a distributor does. A distributor or aggregator delivers your tracks to Spotify and registers them with stores. They can also register your music for YouTube Content ID if you choose that option.

How to pick one, step-by-step

1. Decide if you want a one-off fee per release or an annual plan. Each model affects your long-term costs.
2. Check if the distributor issues ISRCs or requires you to supply them. You need ISRCs for track-level tracking.
3. Confirm the distributor supports YouTube Content ID uploading. That is how you monetize third-party videos that use your music.
4. Look for dashboard clarity. You want clear earnings reports and payout terms.
5. Verify payout thresholds and payment methods relevant to Nigeria. Ask how long payments take and what the fee is for international transfers.

What to upload. When the distributor asks, give them lossless files, artwork, complete metadata, and the ISRC if you have one. If you do not, the distributor can usually assign one.

Why this matters. Spotify will not accept sloppy uploads. Spotify recommends working through an approved distributor to make sure your metadata and anti-infringement checks pass. (Spotify, Spotify for Artists)

3. Get identifiers right: ISRC and UPC explained

Short answer. ISRC identifies a recording. UPC identifies the release.

How to do it

1. Ask your distributor if they will issue ISRCs and UPCs for you.
2. If you self-manage ISRCs, register with the national ISRC agency or buy them through a trusted provider.
3. Put the ISRC into your distributor’s upload form for each track.

Why this matters. ISRCs are your track’s digital fingerprint. They let services and collection societies track plays and allocate earnings. Without them the split and tracking can break. (help.songtrust.com, Soundcharts)

4. Claim and set up your artist profiles

On Spotify. Claim your Spotify for Artists profile. This lets you edit your bio, submit to editorial playlists, and see audience analytics. Prepare a good artist photo and short bio before claiming. Spotify expects releases uploaded via a distributor and will ask you to confirm your connection to the release. (Spotify for Artists)

On YouTube. Create an artist channel. Make sure the channel name matches the artist name used on audio stores. Apply for the YouTube Partner Program once you meet eligibility and platform rules. YouTube has specific thresholds for subscribers and watch time or Shorts views for a channel to join the program and earn ad revenue. Check the official YouTube guidance for the most current thresholds. (YouTube, Google Help)

Action steps

1. Open Spotify for Artists and follow the verify flow.
2. On YouTube, claim your channel and keep your uploads regular and original.
3. Link your distributor account to Spotify for Artists if the distributor offers that option.
4. Make sure the artist name is consistent across platforms.

5. Use YouTube Content ID to monetize reuse of your tracks

What Content ID does. When other creators use your music in their videos, Content ID finds matches and lets you monetize those videos or block them.

How to set it up

1. Choose a distributor or partner that can register your recordings with Content ID. Not all distributors do this automatically.
2. Opt in to Content ID when you upload your release with your distributor. They will send your audio files and metadata to YouTube’s system.
3. Monitor claims in your distributor dashboard or via the Content ID reports your partner gives you.

Practical advice. Content ID can be a steady revenue stream because it catches user-generated content that uses your music. The system lets you decide to collect ad revenue, track view counts, or block. If you want to manage every claim yourself you must be an approved Content ID partner, which is not common. Using a distributor that handles Content ID is the easiest route for most Hausa artists. (Google Help, amuse)

6. Register with performing rights organizations and publishers

Why you need this. Streaming platforms pay recording royalties. Performance rights organizations collect and pay performance and mechanical royalties from radio, public venues, and some digital uses. In Nigeria, groups like COSON and MCSN handle collection locally. Registering helps you collect all revenue streams. (cosonng.com, songtrust.com)

Step-by-step

1. Join your national collection society. In Nigeria, look at COSON and MCSN.
2. Register your songs with the society using complete writer and publisher data.
3. Consider a publishing administrator if you write and own the compositions and want help collecting worldwide mechanical royalties.
4. Keep records of agreements when you collaborate. Clear splits make collecting simpler.

Tip. Publishing royalties are often overlooked by indie artists. If you wrote the song, you might get two streams: recording royalties and publishing royalties. Treat both seriously.

7. Monetize directly on Spotify — streams plus direct features

How you get paid on Spotify. Spotify pays recording royalties through the distributor. Your per-stream payout depends on agreements between Spotify and rights holders. Spotify for Artists reports streams and basic revenue data for the artist. You cannot upload directly to Spotify without a distributor, so use your distributor for placement and tracking. (Spotify for Artists)

How to improve earnings

1. Release consistently. Spotify rewards regular, quality releases with playlist and algorithm attention.
2. Pitch for editorial playlists well before release with your distributor dashboard.
3. Build a pre-save campaign. More listeners on release day signals the algorithm.
4. Use Canvas, artist pick, and profile tools on Spotify for Artists to make your profile look professional.

Case study: Amina Danladi, a realistic path from village studio to steady income

Amina records in Kano using a 2-year-old audio interface. She releases a single called “Zuciya Ta” and follows these steps.

1. She polishes a WAV file, creates 3000 x 3000 art, and compiles metadata in a spreadsheet.
2. She chooses a distributor that offers Content ID registration and global delivery.
3. The distributor assigns ISRCs and pushes the single to Spotify and YouTube Music.
4. A week later a TikTok dance using her track goes viral. The distributor’s Content ID claims the video and the ad revenue starts flowing to her account.
5. A radio station in Abuja uses the song. Because Amina registered the composition with a PRO, she receives a performance royalty payment through COSON within months.

Outcome. Within six months Amina sees modest but steady income from Spotify streams and Content ID, and she earns extra from radio and public performance royalty collections. She reinvests into better recording gear.

Realistic quotes — what industry people might say

“As a manager, I look for clean metadata and proper rights paperwork first. Without that, you do not get the money you earned.”
— Musa Abdullahi, Lagos music manager

“I love it when an Arewa track makes the playlist. If the artist claimed their rights, we see them get paid for the life of the song.”
— Fatima, streaming playlist fan, Kaduna

“Content ID turned a viral reuse into a reliable monthly payment stream for my client. But it only works when the distributor uploads the music correctly.”
— Nnamdi Okoye, digital distribution consultant

Promotion and growth tactics that boost monetization

1. Make short-form friendly moments. Cut stems for 15 to 30 second hooks for reels, TikTok, and YouTube Shorts.
2. Give creators permission with guidelines. Post a clear creator policy and a download link for stems so creators can legally use your music.
3. Pitch early for playlists. Use your distributor to submit to editorial playlists weeks before release.
4. Work with local influencers. Collaborate with Hausa dancers, comedians, and content creators who can seed your song.
5. Run small ad tests. A small budget to boost a video on YouTube can push you over thresholds for discoverability.

Actionable insights — what to do this month

• Export one song as lossless WAV and prepare 3000 x 3000 cover art.
• Pick a distributor that supports Content ID and request ISRC assignment.
• Claim Spotify for Artists and verify your YouTube channel.
• Register your compositions with a PRO like COSON or MCSN in Nigeria.
• Create 3 short clips for Shorts and Reels from the most hooky part of your song.

FAQ

Yanxu, Closing call to action

Which step are you on right now? Drop one line in the comments about your current release and I will suggest the next technical move. Share this post with a fellow Hausa artist who needs real, practical steps to start earning from their music.