Rapper D Black has joined the list of artistes complaining about how little royalties from the Ghana Music Rights Organisation (GHAMRO) are.
Speaking in an interview, the rapper said the monies given to artistes as royalties cannot by champagne in his club.
“In 2016 someone called me from there and told me all the A list artistes and producers had 600 cedis each with them so I should send my mobile money number,” he explained.
D Black added B list artistes were given 450 cedis
The Black Avenue boss said he questioned how GHAMRO arrives at the amount A list or B list artistes are given, but he was told that is how the system is.
“That means if Sarkodie releases 10 songs in a year and I don’t, we are all A list artistes we still get the same amount of money, it does not make sense,” he told Dr Pounds, host of the show.
D Black added he was told the group R2Bees had money with the organisation.
He stated, “for theirs, they would have to share the 300, 300 instead of being given 600 each. Rubbish!
“When GHAMRO collects the monies from radio stations and co, they do not account to the musicians,” he lamented.
The rapper revealed he does not take money from the organisation but focuses on his companies, his music and how he can make money from that by himself.
D Black is not the only musician who has resorted to other livelihoods instead of depending solely on royalties.
Okyeame Kwame in an interview said the royalty system in the country does not work and urged his fellow musicians to find other sources of income.
“Elsewhere, if you produce one music, you get a lot from royalties but the case is different in Ghana. That is why you need other income streams to cushion you,” he said.
Veteran musician Amakye Dede ventured into farming, the maestro Kojo Antwi owns a hotel.
Rapper Sarkodie owns a record label and has a clothing line.
Some actors have also ventured into other businesses aside acting. John Dumelo is into farming, Fella Makafui owns a wine shop and a delivery service.
Yvonne Okoro is into real estate while Yvonne Nelson has her own production house.
“You can’t always be on top so you need a backup,” Okyeame Kwame stated.