Lil Uzi Vert rakes in millions from superfans on Spotify

 

Lil Uzi Vert may not have the biggest fanbase in the rap game, but he sure knows how to make the most out of it. According to Spotify's former Chief Economist Will Page, the Philadelphia rapper earned a whopping $19.3 million from streaming in 2020, thanks to a small but loyal group of superfans.

In an interview with Trapital, Page revealed that Uzi had 1.3 million superfans on Spotify, defined as listeners who streamed at least 20 percent of his catalog. These superfans accounted for 75 percent of his total streams, and generated $14.5 million in revenue for him.

Page also calculated that Uzi's superfans spent an average of $11.20 per year on his music, which is more than the average Spotify subscription fee of $9.99. This means that Uzi's superfans were not only streaming his music, but also buying his albums and merchandise.

Page attributed Uzi's success to his unique brand and sound, which appealed to a niche but passionate audience. He also praised Uzi's marketing strategy, which involved teasing his long-awaited album Eternal Atake for years, and then dropping two surprise projects in 2020: Eternal Atake and Lil Uzi Vert vs. The World 2.

Page said that Uzi's case showed the power of superfans in the streaming era, where artists can make a fortune from a relatively small but dedicated fanbase. He said that Uzi's superfans were "the ultimate expression of fandom" and "the future of music consumption".