Streaming music is becoming more popular all over the world, and Nigeria is no different. Many platforms now make it easy to stream many songs at once instead of downloading them or finding hardware to store audio files.
Apple and Spotify are two of the most popular paid streaming services that let music fans listen to their favourite songs and acts with just a few clicks around the world.
Spotify uses an algorithm to make choices based on what users like to listen to and what new music and podcasts they find every day.
Also, it lets subscribers connect with Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, Samsung, Tinder, Google Maps, Nike, and other platforms and apps.
On the other hand, Apple Music gives its subscribers personalised ideas, curated playlists, and access to a huge library of more than 75 million songs.
Users can also watch music videos, listen to live radio stations, and access special material like artist interviews and behind-the-scenes pictures.
But paying for subscriptions is a problem for many Nigerians who use these sites. This is because the usual ways to pay in Nigeria might not work with these foreign services.
Nigerians can pay for their Spotify and Apple Music subscriptions in a number of ways, even if they don’t have a credit card. This piece will talk about three of the most common and easy ways.
Read also: How to Buy Gift Cards in Nigeria
What Spotify accounts are paid for?
The Spotify Free model is limited because Spotify makes money by charging users for premium streaming fees and charging other companies for advertising space. In the free version, users can watch songs for free, but they have to deal with some restrictions.
However, the paid Premium account is the more convenient option, as it removes the constraints of the free version. Users can listen to high-quality music, use their phones as much as they want, and access playlists both online and offline. There are different types of Spotify Premium, such as Spotify Premium Student, Spotify Premium Duo, and Spotify Premium Family (6 people).
3 methods for paying for subscriptions
It’s important to know that Apple Music’s streaming service is not totally free, but new users can get a three-month free trial. Users must pay a monthly subscription fee to keep using the service after the trial period is over. But you don’t need a subscription to listen to Beats 1 radio or other material that is free.
Credit/Debit card
If there were a Naira debit or credit card, it would have been one of the fastest ways to pay for an Apple or Spotify subscription. However, most Naira MasterCards that banks have given out in the past have not worked for some reason.
But because there isn’t enough foreign currency, the CBN has had to stop overseas transactions on MasterCard and Visa debit cards in Naira. Your Naira bank cards (MasterCard and VISA) won’t let you buy or sell things outside of Nigeria.
But ALAT by Wema recently started letting Spotify users pay for things with its debit card.
If there were no limits at all, these are the steps you would need to take to set up your payment method on Apple:
- Click on your personal picture in the App Store on your device.
- Tap on “Payment & Shipping.”
- Click “Add Payment Method” and put in your card information.
- Check that your payment address is correct, then click “Save.”
- Follow these steps to set up your payment method on Spotify:
- Open the Spotify app on your computer and click “Premium” at the bottom of the screen.
- Tap on “Upgrade.”
- Choose how you want to pay and enter your card information.
- Check that your payment address is correct, and then click “Start My Spotify Premium.”
It is advisable to confirm with your bank whether your card can be used for international transactions.
Virtual card
A virtual card is a digital version of a physical credit or debit card. It allows you to make online transactions without exposing your real card details. In Nigeria, there are several virtual card providers, such as Paga and Barter by Flutterwave, that you can use to pay for your Apple or Spotify subscription.
To use a virtual card, you need to follow these steps:
- Sign up for an account with a virtual card provider of your choice.
- Fund your account with the amount you want to use for your subscription.
- Generate a virtual card with the amount you funded.
- Use the virtual card details to make payments on Apple or Spotify.
Using a virtual card is a safe and convenient payment method because it lets you keep your real card details secure. Additionally, virtual cards can be generated quickly, making them a great option for making urgent payments.
Gift Cards
Gift cards are another way to pay for access to these platforms, though Nigerians don’t use them as often.
To do this, you’ll need a valid iTunes account and to add the amount of your gift card to your account. Once you’ve done that, you can pay for your Apple Music subscription with the remaining amount. This is how:
Step 1: Open your device’s App Store or iTunes Store.
Step 2: Tap your profile picture or the “Sign In” button in the upper-right part of the screen.
Step 3: Sign in with your Apple ID and password.
Step 4: Tap on “Redeem Gift Card or Code.”
Step 5: Scan the gift card with your device’s camera or type in the code by hand.
Step 6: You can pay for your Apple Music subscription once the amount has been added to your account.
It’s important to know that Spotify gift cards can only be used for regular subscriptions, not student subscriptions. Follow these steps to use your Spotify gift card to pay for your account:
On your Mac or PC, go to www.spotify.com/redeem and log in to your Spotify account.
Type in the PIN or code that’s printed on the back of your gift card. Use the zip code from the address you put in when you started the account.
When you’re done, click “ENTER CODE.”
The money on the card will be taken off of it and put into your account. Then you can pay for your subscription.
Users who have a Spotify gift card can only add up to 18 months of premium payments at once.
On Spotify.com, you can only use gift cards that have already been enabled. If you bought your card at a store but haven’t activated it yet, you may need to go back to the store and ask them to activate it. If your card doesn’t work after 24 hours of being activated or the code is hard to read, you can contact Spotify’s customer service to make a complaint.
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MTN Apple Music recharge
So, in April, MTN Nigeria announced a collaboration with Apple Music that allows its users to subscribe to the streaming platform with airtime instead of virtual cards, which commenced on April 14, 2023.
Also, as part of the official agreement and announcement, MTN and Apple Music offer Nigerian users a six-month trial period before they can easily pay with airtime recharged to their phone numbers.
So, Apple Music fans with Android phones or iPhones will be able to use their MTN lines to sign up for Apple Music for $1,000 per month. They can do this through SMS, USSD, or the myMTN app.
It’s pretty easy in these ways, and you don’t even need a bank card:
Via USSD: Dial *447# > Click on “New Services.” Choose 4 > Apple Music Choose 1 if it’s free and 2 if it’s not.
Via SMS: Send “Music” to 8000 to sign up for a regular service.
Via web: MTN Play site, mtn.ng, MyMTN App
After the SMS, you’ll get a page that asks you to confirm twice that you agree. After you agree by clicking “Accept Renewal,” you’ll get an SMS from 8000 telling you how to use the service.
In the end, no matter how you pay for your accounts on these platforms, make sure that your transactions are safe and that your information is not sent to a third-party link you don’t trust.
