Shatta Wale received GH¢50k in royalties yet claims GHAMRO is inactive – UEW lecturer

Dr Benjamin Oduro Arhin, a lecturer in the Music Education Department at the University of Education, Winneba, has expressed concern about musicians who criticise the Ghana Music Rights Organisation (GHAMRO) yet continue to receive royalties from the institution.

In an interview on Asempa FM, Dr Oduro Arhin said when musicians are asked to join unions such as the MUSIGA, many decline, claiming the organisations are not functioning properly.

He specifically called out Shatta Wale, noting that the musician badmouths GHAMRO while still accepting royalties.

Dr Oduro Arhin recalled that when he was working at the Copyright Office in 2016, Shatta Wale received GH¢50,000 in royalties despite claiming the institution was ineffective.

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“Musicians in this country often refuse to join the union, claiming it isn’t functioning. Meanwhile, someone like Shatta Wale can sit at home and say GHAMRO isn’t working, yet GHAMRO actually pays royalties. I’m aware that in 2016, he received about GH¢50,000,” he said.

He further explained that many musicians have signed with international distribution platforms in the USA, Germany, South Africa, and other countries, granting these platforms their Universal Royalties Collection License.

He said, this means no other institution can collect royalties on their behalf, raising the question of why these musicians still expect GHAMRO to pay them.

“Why do you expect GHAMRO to give you money when you have signed your song on distribution platforms to a different company,” he added.

Shatta Wale, earlier, raised concerns in 2022 about GHAMRO failing to pay him his royalties. He stated that most of his earnings come from streaming platforms, concerts, and foreign royalty collection bodies he is signed to.

Taking to Twitter in 2022, Shatta Wale wrote: “Our work as musicians or let’s say the creatives, is sad in Ghana but the players of the game will tell you they can’t speak (because) they don’t want people to insult them. Me, I’m hungry, I want everyone to insult me… I am hungry, where is my royalties? GHANA!!!”

@asempa_fm

Shatta Wale was paid 50,000 cedis by GHAMRO in 2016 yet he said the institution is not active - Dr. Oduro Arhin, Lecturer UEW #asempashowbizreview #AsempaFM

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