Supporting Ghana Artist: A call in the right direction?

It appears that Ghanaian artists, find it cumbersome to break entry, into the international music arena for the needed recognition, a situation which has bedevilled Ghanaian artists, as well as the Ghanaian music industry in entirety for far too long.

One may ask, why this challenge?

Is it that the Ghanaian Music Industry, is relenting in supporting their own, to climb the international ladder, or a case of our artists, not upping their game to break even, internationally?

The whole hullabaloo of ‘supporting our own artists’ , came in the wake of the recent concert held in Nigeria by Zylophon media, which saw attendees present at the event, hailing and cheering their very own Nigerian artists, as compared to that of Ghanaian artists who also performed on the night.

Performing at an event in a country which was attended by people who were predominantly Nigerians, it was quite obvious that Ghanaian artists would not get the requisite yells and applauds they would have gotten if they were to perform in Ghana.

However, what accounted for this, largely was as a result of the the laid down structures and policies implemented by their music industry, to promote their own artists.

Statistics shows that about 70-percent of songs air-played in Nigeria, are local contents, while the remaining 30-percent, been international contents.

Nonetheless, it’s obvious that this policy, has unequivocally, aided in supporting and promoting their artists at large.

However, in order to give GH artists a higher face lift in terms of promoting their music careers, some concerned citizens have proposed and agitated for our industry, to also emulate the sort of policy initiated by our fellow Nigerian country, as a means of supporting our artists.

The critical question am raising is that, can this adoption of policy, be a panacea in terms of supporting our own artists?

However, the honour lies in the hands of the various music bodies in our country, as well as the artists to look for a lasting remedy in terms of initiating vital policies in supporting our artists.

In the strive and numerous voices calling to support our own artists which I believe is a positive advocacy, I also believe that our own artists, also have a critical role to play in regards to this developing issue.

My personal views and opinions as a Television And Radio Producer has to do with some Ghanaian artists, not honouring invitations for interviews by various media houses in the country, as well as the attitude of not appearing on booked and payed for events on time.

Now, if some Ghanaian artists, begin to exhibit some negative character traits in  the aforementioned attitudes, against the very people who are trying in one way or the other, to give them the platform to sell their musical careers, then I guess it’s nothing good to write home about.

The truth of the matter is that, if artists in Ghana do not show some level of commitment to the very institutions, who in a way, are providing the opportunity to exhibit and showcase themselves to the Ghanaian public, and possibly think of penetrating into the international market, then I guess, the call to ‘support our own ‘, will be null and void.

Eradicating these negative attitudes and some others, I believe that it would go a long way to promote the call, to support our very own.

However, artists managers, also have a critical role to play in regards to this pending development, by playing supervisory role over their artists.

Again, they must establish a cordial relationship, between themselves, their artists, and relevant stakeholders who matter in the music industry.

Acquainting themselves as artists managers with those who matter in the music industry, will cement the act of supporting Ghanaian artists.

Moving forward, considering some international collaborations with international artists, would go a long way to put our artists on the international map for the requisite acknowledgement.

 Source: www.thepressradio.com/Ghana/Nana Kay