Ghanaian musician, Eric Turkson, also known as Ded Buddy, has joined the growing list of artists expressing frustration with the Ghana Music Rights Organization (GHAMRO) over what they describe as inadequate royalty payments.
In a recent interview with DJ Qwequ on Ahomka FM, Ded Buddy revealed that he was so disappointed with the royalties he received that he decided to discard the Mobile Money (Momo) SIM card linked to the payments.
According to Ded Buddy, he received a mere GH₵158 as royalties from GHAMRO, an amount he found insulting given the effort and resources he invests in creating and promoting his music.
“My last Momo payment from GHAMRO was GH₵158. I buy pure water with such an amount. As an artist, I record songs and promote them with a significant budget, only for GHAMRO to send me such a paltry sum. I’ve even thrown away that Momo SIM. I don’t need their money again,” he lamented.
Ded Buddy also highlighted the broader implications of GHAMRO’s practices, arguing that the lack of substantial royalty payments deters foreign investors from supporting Ghana’s music industry.
“When foreign investors consider investing in your music, they ask for your royalty stats. The current system pushes them away because they realize they won’t get a return on their investment. Young artists are struggling to make money from their craft through GHAMRO, and it’s a serious problem,” he added.
His comments come at a time when artistes have repeatedly called for reforms to ensure fair compensation for their work.
Various artistes, including Fancy Gadam, Michael Adangba and Ohemaa Mercy, among others have consistently expressed dissatisfaction with GHAMRO over their royalty structure.
Source: www.ghanaweb.com
