Royalties are crucial for musicians, providing them with earnings from the use of their creative works, such as songs played on the radio, streamed online, or used in public performances.
In Ghana, the Ghana Music Rights Organization (GHAMRO) is responsible for collecting and distributing these royalties to artists. However, the system has faced criticism over the years, with many artists expressing dissatisfaction with the transparency and amounts received.
Contemporary Ghanaian gospel musician, Joyce blessing has disclosed that she’s received only Gh1,200 from GHAMRO in her 10 years of doing music in the country.
Speaking in an exclusive interview on GHONE TV, the ‘I Swerve’ hitmaker averred that she hasn’t received any royalties for a long time, emphasizing that the last time she received money from the organization was in 2016.
“A lot of Ghanaians will be shocked to hear me speak. GHAMRO sent me GH₵1,200 as royalties payment in 2016 after 10 years.”
The award-winning singer went on to stated that she and some of her colleagues in the Ghanaian music industry have complained to GHAMRO about the small monies they earn as royalties but to no avail. According to her, she came to meet the current structures at GHAMRO after she entered the industry, so it would be impossible for her to change them to benefit Ghanaian musicians.
”That is what I came to meet. We’ve complained about it several times but to no avail. I don’t know what else we can do about it. All we can do is to focus on how to produce quality music for our fans that will help us get some gigs” she added.
Recently, Joyce Blessing made known that she does not depend solely on music royalties for her livelihood. In a recent interview on GTV’s Breakfast Show, the award-winning singer highlighted the challenges musicians face with royalty payments in Ghana. She noted that while the Ghana Music Rights Organization (GHAMRO) is responsible for collecting royalties, the system is not always reliable enough for artists to depend on for steady income.
To ensure financial stability, Joyce Blessing disclosed that she has diversified her income streams, including a 10-acre cocoa farm, which supports her beyond her music career. She also expressed interest in exploring other ventures, stating she might have pursued different interests had she furthered her education
