Ghanaian Gospel musician Obaapa Christy has disclosed that the music industry was more lucrative during the era of DVDs and VCDs than it is today with digital streaming.
Speaking on a cooking show on UTV on November 2, 2025, the musician shared her thoughts on the current state of the music business and the financial challenges that come with it.
According to her, although technology has improved access to music, it has also made the profession more expensive and less profitable for artistes.
“A lot of things have changed now. The job is difficult these days because it involves more money as compared to before. A lot of money is involved now if you want to promote a song, but initially, it wasn’t like that,” she said.
She explained that physical CDs and DVDs made it easier for musicians to recoup their investments.
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“I think it’s because we’ve stopped using CDs. If we were still using the CDs, someone would have just bought many copies when I release a song.
“Now, we invest a lot in both audio and video, and the only way to get that money back is through performances at shows and events,” she stated.
Obaapa Christy noted that although online platforms have brought convenience, they do not generate the same revenues as physical sales did in the past.
She urged industry stakeholders to put proper structures in place to ensure that musicians can benefit financially from their craft.
“The online era is good, but the DVD era was better. The music industry needs to be saved. When we do our things well, I think it will do a lot of good,” she added.
FG/AE
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