Record Labels: Listen to what Sarkodie was saying - Nana Poku Ashis

Industry pundit and artiste manager Nana Poku Ashis has expressed his support for Sarkodie's comments about the risks associated with record labels.

It could be recalled that in Sarkodie's feature on the Hennessy South Africa Cypher 2024, the rapper delivered a scathing verse criticising the growing influence of major record labels in the African music industry.

In a discussion with GhanaWeb's Isaac Dadzie, Ashis noted that the rapper, having experienced the music industry firsthand, understands the challenges and risks that come with record deals.

"It was a good call for Sarkodie to educate the younger ones because he has been there, done that, and he knows what risks the younger ones start to take. He’s probably gone into deals that didn’t go well with him. So when he’s talking from that angle, I think it’s very important for the younger ones to listen to what he was saying," Ashis remarked.

He echoed Sarkodie's warning against being lured by the immediate benefits offered by record labels, such as money, cars, and houses, which can lead to long-term constraints.

"You probably would be thinking, 'Oh, they're giving me the money. They've given me a car. They've given me a house. You might be locked for a very long time," Ashis cautioned.

Ashis also advised artistes to carefully evaluate their financial power, goals, and the direction they want to take in their careers before signing with a record label.

"You need to look at your financial power. You need to look at the goals you have set for yourself. You need to look at where you are going. And if you feel that you’re strong enough to handle the little that will come your way, to become a bigger person, that you can branch off and then take everything, becoming a win-win situation for you, that’s okay. Go ahead," he advised.

However, Ashis clarified that record labels are not inherently bad, describing them as "necessary evils" in the music industry.

ID/ ADG

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