Sarkodie has urged Ghana’s music industry to build stronger systems that secure artistes’ long-term earnings, arguing that no veteran musician should face financial hardship if the sector were properly managed.
Speaking at the Kumasi Rising Music, Media, and Tourism Dialogue on September 25, 2025, the rapper stressed that music revenue alone could sustain artistes throughout their lives. He blamed the struggles of many older musicians on poorly negotiated contracts that stripped them of ownership of their work.
“All these old-age artistes, what music can make for you monthly, there’s no old-age artiste who should be asking for any money from anyone. But if you listen to their stories, somebody gave them some small change and then took the music, so now they have nothing to live off. If the system was right, nobody would have been able to get them to sell their catalogue. So it’s a lot,” Sarkodie said.
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He added that safeguarding investments and creating stronger opportunities for monetization remain the most urgent needs for the industry. “But these two, the investment part and the monetization of the industry, if we get that right, Ghana wouldn’t need to go anywhere. We’d just go out there for the looks, but we’d still make money even if we stay local,” he explained.
The Sarkcess Music boss also dismissed speculation that he had sold his own music catalogue. Moderator Serwaa Amihere raised the question during the dialogue, giving him the chance to clarify. Sarkodie responded that he has only shifted between distribution partners, something he is free to do as an independent artiste.
“No, so we have partnerships. That’s what I’ve been doing. I do distribution with Ditto, and now with a new company. So that’s the luxury I have as an independent artiste. You are able to pick and choose who distributes my music,” he clarified.
Watch his statement below.
@dailywatchtvonline I Have Not Sold My Catalog; Sarkodie Finally Speaks Out On Rumours Saying He Has Sold His Catalog for Music Company & Added Up That What Music Money Can Make You Monthly Like No “ Old Age Artist Should Be Begging For Money “ Follow Us For More Updates #viral #sarkodie #dailywatchtv #music #tiktok ♬ original sound – DAILY WATCH TV
