Randy Nunoo, a highlife musician, has claimed that the royalties paid to musicians are nothing to write home about.
The musician lamented that if Ghanaian musicians had to rely on royalties from the Ghana Music Rights Organisation (GHAMRO) to support themselves and their families, they would not survive.
He asserted that the royalties paid to Ghanaian musicians should be investigated, as they are simply an insult. He made this statement during an interview with Papa Taste on Rainbow Radio 87.5FM’s midmorning program.
“This is a multimillion-dollar question. It’s not that I can’t answer it, but everyone knows I am an industry advocate for GHAMRO and MUSIGA. If musicians relied solely on royalties paid in Ghana to support themselves and their families, they would have died by now. It’s terrible and nothing to write home about. If you travel the world, you will realize that royalties are a big deal. When I compare the amount I’ve received to my twenty albums, it’s an insult to me.”
When asked to specify the amount he received, he refused, stating, “The amount I received is an insult.” He continued, “That’s what’s happening. Musicians are still working, but there are people who benefit from their sweat and toil.”
He recounted the various efforts he and others have made to ensure that musicians are not cheated, but nothing seems to be working.
“Musicians are suffering. Look at how they are dying. This is a matter that, in my opinion, should be addressed by the president. We’ve done a lot of advocacy on this issue, but nothing has changed,” he said.
