When Melody Nehemiah first began producing music in Abuja over a decade ago, access was never the biggest problem for African artistes; monetisation was. Songs could go viral overnight, rack up millions of streams, and still generate little to no income for the creators.
From struggling to upload music to global platforms due to payment barriers to chasing royalties across foreign systems, African musicians were often excluded from the very infrastructure powering the international music economy.
That gap is what birthed SongDis, a homegrown music distribution and creative operations platform built specifically for African artistes, labels, producers, and songwriters.
Founded by music producer-turned-entrepreneur Melody Nehemiah, SongDis is a digital music distribution platform that helps African creatives get their music onto over 200 global streaming and retail platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, TikTok, and physical music stores.
But beyond distribution, SongDis positions itself as a creative operating system.
Artistes can upload songs, manage releases, track real-time analytics, pitch for editorial playlists, and receive royalties directly. Creators can withdraw earnings in local currencies, eliminating the friction of dollar-based payment systems that have long excluded many African musicians.
The platform also integrates AI-powered tools that help artistes resize album artwork to platform standards, generate cover art, interpret analytics in simple language, and receive data-backed visibility tips.
The motivation behind SongDis
SongDis did not begin as a startup idea but emerged from Nehemiah’s lived experience in the Nigerian music scene.
While working closely with an independent artiste named Kdiv Coco, Nehemiah helped produce and promote a song titled Gratitude. A simple lyric video posted on YouTube unexpectedly went viral, surpassing three million streams and over 100,000 Shazam searches.
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Despite the traction, monetising the song proved difficult. Most international distribution platforms required PayPal accounts or dollar cards, tools that many Nigerian artistes did not have access to or trust.
As Nehemiah helped more artistes navigate these hurdles manually, it became clear that the problem was systemic.
“Poor distribution access, royalty collection bottlenecks, and foreign payment infrastructure were quietly draining value away from African musicians,” Nehemiah says.
In December 2024, Nehemiah partnered with longtime collaborator and software developer Obed Ugwu to formally launch SongDis’ MVP, transforming years of informal distribution support into a scalable platform built specifically for Africa.
How SongDis works
SongDis is designed for simplicity and speed. Any artiste with a smartphone and an Internet connection can register on the platform in under a minute. After selecting a subscription plan, users upload their music, fill in contributor details, and submit releases for distribution. SongDis’ system automatically delivers the tracks to over 200 streaming platforms worldwide.
Before approval, uploaded songs undergo content verification checks to detect potential copyright conflicts. If a song contains third-party material, artistes are prompted to provide clearance documentation before distribution proceeds.
Once live, artistes gain access to streaming and geographic analytics, royalty dashboards showing earnings in real time, instant withdrawal options in African currencies, and playlist-pitching tools for editorial placements.
For producers and songwriters, SongDis also offers publishing administration services that track performance royalties from public plays, TV usage, and live performances, revenue streams often overlooked by independent creatives.
The platform’s built-in AI assistant further simplifies tasks such as artwork formatting, cover generation, and data interpretation, making professional-grade tools accessible even to first-time artistes.
SongDis’ business model
SongDis operates a multi-layered revenue model combining subscriptions, commissions, and service fees. The majority of users fall into two main subscription tiers.
The Starter Plan is ₦2,500 monthly and is designed for individual artistes beginning their journey, allowing distribution for one artist profile.
The Growth Plan is ₦10,000 a month and targets more serious creatives managing multiple artistes or releases. This tier includes enhanced customer support, playlist-pitching tools, and advanced marketing features.
Currently, about 70% of paying customers use the Starter Plan, while roughly 30% opt for the Growth Plan.
For higher-profile artistes receiving hands-on support, including marketing, A&R services, and development, SongDis takes between 18% and 20% commission from royalties generated. This hybrid model mirrors traditional label services while maintaining creator ownership.
Songwriters and producers can pay a one-time $250 fee to enable SongDis track and collect performance royalties on their behalf. So far, five users have signed up for this service. While artistes can withdraw royalties in dollars for free, converting earnings into African currencies attracts a 1% conversion fee, offering SongDis an additional revenue stream.
While recurring subscription income provides predictable cash flow, it also means scale is essential for profitability. Heavy support services could also strain margins as the user base grows.
So far, SongDis has generated over $5,000 in internal revenue, all of which has been reinvested into the business as the company continues to bootstrap operations.
Since launching its MVP in 2024, SongDis has recorded 1,200 registered users, nearly 400 active distributors on the platform, and $24,000 in royalties processed for artistes.
The startup also hosted a community event initially planned for 100 creatives but drew over 500 attendees, signalling strong grassroots demand. SongDis was also selected as a winner in the NBA Triple Double Accelerator Program, providing early validation and exposure.
Competitive advantage and the future of SongDis
SongDis’ biggest edge lies in its African-first approach.
Unlike global distribution platforms that operate remotely with dollar-based systems and minimal local support, SongDis is embedded in the creative communities it serves.
The company offers local currency payouts, native-language customer support, physical access to its team and upcoming workspace, and education-driven engagement through events and community programs.
Nehemiah argues that while some Nigerian distributors focus only on a handful of breakout stars, SongDis is deliberately building for the long tail of independent artistes who are mostly excluded from global systems.
Looking ahead, the company plans to launch its mobile app later this year, further expanding accessibility.
“We want to be more than a distribution platform for artistes, instead we want to be the backbone of Africa’s independent music economy,” Nehemiah says.
