Okyeame Kwame Frowns On Music Distribution In Ghana

Okyeame Kwame, known in the music scene as Rap Doctor, has stated that no Ghanaian hit song has in recent times reached over a million people out of 24 million Ghanaians, via Ghana’s traditional system of music distribution.

According to him, Ghana’s music distribution system was not the best and was one major factor that was making musicians poorer.

He made these statements at the launch of his latest album, ‘The Clinic’ in Accra, during which he also introduced a new digital distribution system for the album at the African Regency Hotel in Accra last Thursday.

Kwame’s ‘The Clinic’ album is a masterpiece of 12 songs including ‘Faithful’ which has so far proven to be the favourite of many music lovers in Ghana and abroad. It was produced by Zapp Mallet, Appietus, Jay-Q, Richie, Kaywa, Morris D’Voice, Oteng and Victor Dey among others.

The album features sensational songstresses Efya, Irene Logan, Bertha, Raquel, Vera as well as Kese of Project Fame, Edwin of Soul Black and others.

Okyeame Kwame, who called the new digital system, digital migration of Okyeame Kwame, described the old system as outmoded as it was losing control of the music market.

He noted that over the years, the acquisition and accessibility to songs had evolved from vinals, ‘what we call in local parlance as Apaawa to a-dats, to cassettes and then to CDs. The trend keeps changing everyday and now the world has gone more digital and technological. This therefore means that the traditional triangular distribution of musical works in the country is fast losing its control of the market.’

He referred to the triangular distribution system to how cassettes and CDs had for years been sold from three traditional domains in Ghana- Katamanto in Accra, Kejetia in Kumasi and Abeiku Container in Takoradi.

Okyeame said this distribution system was no longer as effective as it used to be; hence the need for a new system.

‘In recent times this distribution system had reached about a million people upon the release of a hit song. This therefore presents a huge challenge to musicians as about 10 percent of 24 million people in the country patronise the works of musicians. The situation further worsened by emerging revolutionary developments in technology which has made it possible for pirates to now benefit from our songs more than we do,’ he added.

Consequently, he said, he decided to go for digital migration of Okyeame Kwame. With this system, his music could be accessed on MTN radio by simply dialling 1303 to listen to the song on the album and to download them onto one’s phone at a cost of only 95 pesewa per song.

Okyeame said proceeds from the downloads would go to support not only his career but also a worthy cause, which is the Okyeame Kwame Hepatitis B free screening organised nationwide.

Already, other artistes as Buk Bak, Tic Tac, Stay Jay, Gyedu Blay Ambolley Florence Obinim, Adane Best, KK Fosu are on the MTN radio distribution system.

However, Okyeame maintained, ‘I do not mean to say that my works could no longer be accessed through the aforementioned triangular system. I am rather adding to the existing to ensure that lots of music enthusiasts and my fans in the country get easy access to my music or songs wherever they find themselves in the country.’

By Francis Addo
modernghana.com