Churches have failed gospel artistes – John Winner

Urban gospel musician, John Winner asserts that churches have not done enough to complement the efforts of singers they are blessed with, a reason some of these singers veer off and produce secular songs.

John Winner in an interview on Radio Univers’ mid-morning show, Brunch2Lunch stated that there is little or no financial support from churches to members who have demonstrated beyond reasonable doubt, their ability to sing and readiness to produce quality records.

“With all humility, the church has failed. The church has failed to celebrate young talents in the church. They have refused to push the raw talents of these young guys who can actually make more money and create a lot of opportunities for themselves… I believe the church has lost all her heroes. In my last research I conducted, all secular musicians, right from R. Kelly to Sean Cater were all boys from the church. When you come to Ghana, the likes of KK Fosu, Kuami Eugene are all victims,” he noted.

“I am pleading with the church to get on board to support the urban gospel move because it is something that is going to move very big to hit the shores of Africa. Already I think Nigeria, South Africa and Kenya are doing it very big, especially in Kenya, the big artiste there are gospel musicians but that’s not the case in Ghana. I am not saying they are not doing their best but I am just pleading with the big men in the industry, leaders, men and women of God who love God and the Ministry to support us,” he added.

Responding to claims that the posture of the church is as a result of signs of ungratefulness on the part of some artistes who were fortunate to receive financial support from the church, John Winner admitted but stressed that ‘innocent’ talents should not be frustrated.

He suggested that the church should have a fund purposely for this course.

“They should have a talent fund for every big church that every year, we have this amount of money to blow up an artiste. Pastor Chris Oyakhilome is doing that. Love World Media and Art is for Pastor Chris which has Eben, Sinach, Frank Edward, Joe Praiz on and they are paid good money and living good. I am just praying and hoping that the church will value the talents and the gift of the young people because the future of the church is in the youth,” he postulated.

John Winner further called on record labels as well as corporate entities to invest in gospel artistes while urging organisers of the annual Ghana Meets Naija concert to put together an urban gospel edition of the event.

Born John Oppong Inkoom, the artiste recently released a video of his single ‘Big God’, directed by Phamous Films.