Award-winning Ghanaian dancehall musician Charles Nii Armah Mensah Jr., popularly known as Shatta Wale, has disclosed that he earned a staggering $3 million from selling part of his extensive music catalogue.
The self-acclaimed dancehall king made this revelation during a live session on X (formerly Twitter), where he was engaging fans and fellow creatives on music business strategies and wealth creation in the entertainment industry.
According to Shatta Wale, the decision to sell a portion of his catalogue was a calculated business move aimed at generating capital for long-term investments.
He revealed that he sold 300 of his songs for $3 million, a move he believes many Ghanaian artistes should consider if they want to expand their financial portfolios beyond music.
“I have over 11,000 songs online that my team is still trying to gather. I sold 300 of my songs for $3 million, used the money to buy houses, do whatever I want to do with it, put some in my Shaxi business and other businesses,” Shatta Wale stated.
The musician explained that proceeds from the deal enabled him to invest heavily in real estate and to establish his online ride-hailing company, Shaxi, which continues to operate in Ghana’s transport space.
Shatta Wale also used the opportunity to encourage emerging artistes to understand the value of their intellectual property and explore innovative ways of monetising their work. He urged young musicians not to rely solely on streaming and performances but to think strategically about their catalogues as valuable assets.
In a subtle jab at critics, Shatta Wale recalled how some industry players had previously dismissed the value of his catalogue.
“Your same artiste went to say there’s nobody in Ghana that has a catalogue worth that much,” he added.
The revelation has sparked widespread discussion on social media, with many applauding Shatta Wale for his business acumen and openness about the financial side of the music industry, while others debate the long-term implications of selling music catalogues in the Ghanaian music market.
