Minister of Information, Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah has promised to convene a meeting to discuss challenges facing the Industry after the corona virus pandemic winds down. He made this known in an Instagram live conversation with award-winning Ghanaian musician Stonebwoy yesterday.
The Minister sought to understand how musicians and creative artistes are faring during this season where all activities have come to a halt and also to understand from the perspective of the creative artistes how the government could help.
Stonebwoy mentioned that one huge challenge for musicians in Ghana is generating revenue from their works because structures are not well in place to monitor and monetize their works adding that this makes it difficult for musicians to make money in Ghana.
Responding to talks about diversification of their incomes as suggested by the minister, the Nominate hit maker said, “honestly the income is one way, and where we are supposed to actually make our monies is Ghana where we have the fan base but there is absolutely almost nothing in place apart from the events which we all depend on, so diversifying we would love to but there is nothing to diversify with.”
Stonebwoy further asked the government to help musicians “digitally see what is going on, with pay-per-play. We have to take it serious but there is no machinery in place, neither is the system well positioned for us as younger ones to digitally monetize what is going to even generate revenues”.
The Minister acknowledged the concerns raised by the musician and promised that he will call for a meeting with the Minister of Tourism, Creative Arts and Culture of Ghana, Barbara Oteng-Gyasi and her team together with some musicians to discuss the issues raised thoroughly and see the way forward as far as government’s assistance to the industry.
He also praised the Ghana Music Industry saying, “we’ve come very far, if I look at how the industry was when I was a bit younger and today how many of you are using technology and are now going global, its impressive what many of you are doing and it blows my mind.”
Source: Desmond Okraku Danso/ ATL FM NEWS
