Ghana’s rap icon Sarkodie has urged the music industry to establish stronger systems that protect artistes’ earnings and ensure financial stability long after their peak years. According to him, no veteran musician should face hardship if the sector was built on proper structures.
Speaking at the Kumasi Rising Music, Media, and Tourism Dialogue on September 25, 2025, Sarkodie said music revenue alone could sustain artistes throughout their lives. However, poor contracts and the lack of well-regulated industry practices have forced many pioneers into financial struggles.
“All these old-age artistes, what music can make for you monthly, there’s no old-age artiste who should be asking for any money from anyone. But if you listen to their stories, somebody gave them some small change and then took the music, so now they have nothing to live off. If the system was right, nobody would have been able to get them to sell their catalogue,” Sarkodie explained.
The multiple award-winning rapper emphasized that investment and monetization are the two pillars needed to transform the industry.
“If we get those right, Ghana wouldn’t need to go anywhere. We’d just go out there for the looks, but we’d still make money even if we stay local,” he added.
Clears Air on Catalogue Rumors
Addressing speculation about his own catalogue, Sarkodie denied ever selling his works. He clarified that as an independent artiste, he only changes distribution partners from time to time.
“No, so we have partnerships. That’s what I’ve been doing. I do distribution with Ditto, and now with a new company. That’s the luxury I have as an independent artiste. I can pick and choose who distributes my music,” he said.
