Ghanaian rapper and producer, Guru, has bemoaned the irregularities and inconsistencies in royalties’ allocation in the country as he revealed that he has never received royalties from Ghana Music Rights Organization (GHAMRO) after actively doing music for 12 years.
Speaking in an interview, Guru explained that some individuals take the royalties on behalf of artistes and the money ends up not getting to deserving artistes as it is supposed to.
“I have never received my royalties in doing active music for twelve years. Artistes don’t get their royalties. Someone takes royalties on your behalf but won’t locate you to give it to you”.
Guru
Guru stated that due to the ineffective regulation of royalty systems in the country, deserving artistes do not gain their royalties. According to the artist, even when the artists received their money, it was an underserving amount. He further stated that every artiste is supposed to receive huge amount of money after a hit song but this does not happen due to the irregularities of the royalty body in the country.
“Our predecessors went through the hustle and we are not maintaining the agenda in terms of entertainment. Our leaders are not regulating the entertainment system enough. Who is making sure artistes are getting what they deserve? I have been investing and been a producer, artiste manager, executive producer, and we are left out. We are not regulating the system enough”.
Guru
The rapper sadly admitted that he is disappointed by the fact that the system does not offer enough support to artistes and he can personally do nothing about it but only add his voice.
The ‘Lapaz Toyota’ hitmaker suggested that GHAMRO should adopt technological and digitized mode of running royalty allocation. He further suggested that young artistes should be encouraged by offering more support to entertainers in the industry as well as protect the Ghanaian music heritage to increase international appeal.
The concerns about irregular or no payment of royalty in the Ghanaian music industry has been one of the frequently-discussed topics in the industry, as most artistes reveal that they either receive no royalties or receive undeserving amounts.
It can be recalled in August this year, Stonebwoy revealed to Ghana’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Papa Owusu Ankoma that the only amount of money he received from GHAMRO as an artist in his entire music career is just 2000 Ghana Cedis. This disclosure from Stonebwoy unfortunately incited a banter between GHAMRO President, Rex Omar, and Stonebwoy.
One artist who has also been stern about the irregularities of the body is Afro-pop musician, Ded Buddy (QWECi). In one of his fight to bring to bear the shortfalls of GHAMRO, fired shots at the executives of the royalty organization calling them “clowns of clowns”.
According to Ded Buddy, GHMARO is not working as it should, and that they are not fixing the problems they always come out to lament over. The artist also noted that the executives must own up to the “mess” they have created else, some other person will have to pay dearly for it.
Ded Buddy also lamented how an artist who is part of the organization lost his life because he didn’t receive financial aid from the organization. According to him, he can’t be quiet about the situation but vowed to speak up and not remain quiet like other artists.
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