Veteran Highlife musician Kaakyire Kwame Appiah has spoken on the growing trend of Ghanaian musicians, particularly veterans, struggling with financial and emotional challenges throughout their careers.
Speaking in an interview with Neat FM on May 19, 2025, he noted that while musicians may not be poor, the pressure from extended family responsibilities and the lack of sustainable income sources are pushing many into depression.
“Many musicians are going through a lot. Demands from our loved ones are a lot.
So the little you are making to take care of yourself, you also have to sacrifice to support your family and relatives. That is one of the causes of depression among musicians,” he shared.
He also lamented the decline in royalty payments, stating that digital piracy and unregulated use of their works in spaces such as movies, barbershops, clubs, and public transport have left musicians with little to no returns on their creations.
“In those days, we had cassettes and CDs, so we could get a little money. But now, with the rise of digital platforms and smartphones, our works are being pirated. We are not getting anything from them,” he said.
Kaakyire Kwame Appiah also called on stakeholders to consider setting up a fund to support veteran musicians, stating that such an initiative would go a long way to ease their struggles.
His comments come in the wake of the death of Highlife musician Dada KD, who passed away after a sudden illness on May 16, 2025.
Prior to his passing, Dada KD had been vocal about the plight of many Ghanaian musicians are going through.
Watch the video below:
ID/EB
Click here to follow the GhanaWeb Entertainment News WhatsApp channel
Also watch as Robert Klah addresses Felicia Osei’s ticket incident at TGMAs
