Media personality and blogger, Kobby Kyei, has urged Ghanaian universities to restructure their music programs by incorporating music business and entrepreneurship into their curriculum.
Kobby Kyei emphasized that the music industry is not only about talent, but also about the knowledge and structures that sustain it. He argued that Ghana has many gifted musicians, but most are unable to build sustainable careers because they lack business knowledge.
“In our universities, when you go to the University of Education, Winneba, that’s where I completed. And when you go to Legon, they also study music. Now, these universities that have programs that accept students every year must also add music business to their curriculum.”
Kobby Kyei
While such training is important, he believes it is not enough to equip graduates to succeed in today’s fast-changing music industry.
The blogger explained that modern music education should go beyond performance and theory to prepare students for the business realities of the creative sector. “It shouldn’t just be about going to learn how to play music or read music. We should be able to produce, especially from Winneba and Legon, people who are music business-oriented so they can have the space to thrive,” he noted.
He added that if courses in music entrepreneurship and business management are introduced, Ghana will be able to produce a new generation of graduates who not only create music but also understand contracts, publishing rights, marketing, branding, and revenue streams. This, he said, would strengthen the creative economy and provide employment opportunities beyond performing.
The blogger further argued that graduates trained in the music business could help bridge the gap between talent and industry structures. By creating managers, promoters, producers, and business executives from academic settings, the industry would no longer rely solely on informal learning or foreign influence.
“Every year, these universities graduate students. But the question is: how many of them are positioned to create jobs or to understand the music economy? If we restructure our curriculum to include music business, then we are giving them the tools to succeed beyond the stage.”
Kobby Kyei
He stated that if universities in Ghana embrace this shift, it will not only help musicians but also create new professional pathways for young people who may not want to perform but still wish to contribute meaningfully to the music and entertainment ecosystem.
Kobby Kyei Calls for Youthful MUSIGA Appeal
The media personality and blogger called on the leadership of the Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA) to rebrand and reposition the union in a way that will attract the younger generation of musicians and creatives.
Kobby Kyei stressed that MUSIGA continues to be seen largely as an association for “old people,” a perception that discourages many young talents from wanting to be associated with it. He cautioned that unless deliberate steps are taken to change this image, the union risks losing its relevance and influence in the country’s music space.
According to him, the music industry has evolved significantly with technology, but MUSIGA has failed to keep pace. He noted that young people with tech expertise can play a vital role in modernizing the union’s operations, particularly in the areas of digital distribution, catalogue management, and revenue mobilization.
“Are they ready to also bring these young boys to be part of their team, because most of them still have this mindset of always moving around with people who do not understand the space. One of the ways we can enlighten our people is to build a partnership with, say, a UK tech company that can actually help monetize the system.”
Kobby Kyei
He explained that artists such as Stonebwoy and other Ghanaian acts have been able to advance their craft because they forged partnerships with international companies that helped them streamline their catalogues and manage their records digitally. Unfortunately, MUSIGA, he said, has been slow to embrace such practices, leaving younger musicians unmotivated to engage with the union.
Kobby Kyei also lamented what he described as an “analogue mindset” that continues to dominate MUSIGA’s leadership. “I think analogue would be better than a kick. Analogue mindset. Thank you so much. Exactly. You know, there’s an analogue way of thinking. You see, and again, we have also not improved our system in terms of partnership,” he noted, arguing that this outdated approach prevents progress.
Beyond technology, he also underscored the importance of innovation and building credibility. According to him, partnerships with international tech firms would not only boost efficiency but also provide opportunities for Ghanaian musicians to benefit financially from global distribution platforms.
“There is always confusion at their end, and they are not making music attractive to the young ones. We have always had that mindset that MUSIGA is for the old people, MUSIGA is for the old. And so that mindset is not even making the young people attracted to be part of the team.”
Kobby Kyei
Kobby Kyei urged MUSIGA to deliberately create a youth-friendly environment where young musicians, digital creators, and industry professionals feel welcome to contribute their ideas. He believes this approach will not only strengthen the union but also secure its future relevance in the fast-changing global music industry.
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