Ghanaian musician Mujahid Ahmed Bello, popularly known as Fancy Gadam, has voiced his dissatisfaction with the Ghana Music Rights Organisation (GHAMRO) regarding the royalties he received this year.
In an interview on Artsy on Saturday, August 3, 2024, Fancy Gadam disclosed that GHAMRO initially sent him GHC102. After he shared this on social media, he received an additional GHC272, bringing his total royalties for the year to GHC374.
“They sent me GHC102 and after I posted it on my status, and then when my boss saw it he then posted it and yesterday they sent another one. They sent me GHC272,” he said. “I don’t even know the period of this payment. It’s been a year since I received money from them.”
Fancy Gadam, known for his hit songs and recent “Competition” album, questioned the basis on which GHAMRO calculates these payments. He expressed frustration over the meager amount, especially given the popularity and reach of his music.
READ ALSO:Fancy Gadam Receives Only GH₵102 in Royalties from GHAMRO
“So you will usually be there, and then they just send you a token for royalties. And I don’t understand because, looking at what I have brought out this year, I know my songs are everywhere in Ghana, especially the Competition album that I dropped. Looking at the streams out there,” he explained.
Highlighting his financial commitments, including regular VAT payments, Fancy Gadam argued that the royalties he received do not reflect his contributions to the music industry. “I have been paying a lot of things before doing my concerts, like VAT, I constantly pay VAT so I don’t understand why they are giving me this token. Is this the only thing I deserve from GHAMRO? The last time they paid me it was GHC1,800 or so,” he added.
Fancy Gadam’s experience sheds light on the challenges artists face in receiving fair compensation for their work, raising concerns about the transparency and fairness of royalty distribution by GHAMRO.
