Charterhouse PRO, Robert Klah
The Public Relations Officer for Charterhouse, Robert Klah, has advised artistes to make efforts to understand the terms of their contracts before signing with record labels.
His comments come in the wake of Sarkodie's feature on the Hennessy South Africa Cypher 2024, which delivered a scathing verse criticizing the growing influence of major record labels in the African music industry.
In an interview on Hitz FM on June 27, 2024, Robert Klah pointed out that a record label's proposal is not just about the money but also includes the skills, connections, and exposure they offer to artistes.
"Signing onto a record label could be good or could be bad. What is important is the fact that you need to understand that you are signing a deal. What are the details of that particular deal? What is the contract stating? We need to appreciate how the record labels work.
"And then you (the artiste) also need to understand your role in the grand scheme of things. When it comes to record labels and why they need you to be able to play ball or what you are bringing to the table. The raw material they need is you. The artiste they want to make and sell records," Klah explained.
He further elaborated on the business model of record labels, likening them to banks in their investment nature.
Klah discussed the return on investment, payback periods, and the impact of inflation on investments, stressing the need for artistes to be well-informed about these aspects.
“It's like a bank you're dealing with, in this case, the bank comes to you. I've noticed that this is what you have. Let's do something together. We'll give you x amount of money and all of that. We should also understand that record labels are not just about money. They come in with skills that you may not have. They come in with links that you may not have. There are plugs that you don't have. They leverage. They can plug you into the NBA and other places that you cannot plug yourself.
“So, yes, maybe on your own you can achieve 10%, but with the help of a record label, you can achieve 200% in two days, because you are relying on the strength of a machinery,” he explained.
Drawing examples from international stars like Davido, Burna Boy, and Drake, Klah questioned why these successful artistes still choose to work with labels.
He suggested that despite the potential for both good and bad deals, the support of a label could amplify an artiste's reach and success significantly.
Klah concluded by advising artistes to seek legal counsel when negotiating deals, to fully grasp the scope of their contracts, whether it involves album commitments, publishing rights, or the extent of the label's control over their earnings.
“Everybody ought to educate themselves about the kind of deals available. So, you know clearly,” he said.
ID/NOQ
Watch the latest episode of Talkertainment here;
Ghana’s leading digital news platform, GhanaWeb, in conjunction with the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, is embarking on an aggressive campaign which is geared towards ensuring that parliament passes comprehensive legislation to guide organ harvesting, organ donation, and organ transplantation in the country.
