Veteran Ghanaian gospel musician Grace Ashly has raised serious concerns about the country’s music industry, revealing that she has not received any royalty payments for nearly two decades despite her long-standing contribution to gospel music.

Speaking in an interview, the award-winning singer expressed deep frustration over what she described as a weak and ineffective system for tracking and distributing music earnings to artistes.

Grace Ashly, who has been active in music for about 25 years, said her experience in Ghana has made her believe she would have been better off pursuing her career elsewhere, particularly in the United States.

“I would choose the US if I had the opportunity to start music all over again. Reading about them, there are a lot of things musicians in a country like the US get that musicians in Ghana can’t even get access to,” she said.

She further disclosed the extent of her dissatisfaction with Ghana’s royalty structure, stating that despite her long career, she has not benefited financially from her recorded works through the national royalty system.

“When we talk of music royalties in Ghana, in my 25 years in music, for the past 18 years, I have not received even a dime,” she revealed.

According to her, a more structured system like that of the United States would eliminate such struggles, as artistes there directly benefit from clear and transparent payment frameworks.

“If I were in the US, I wouldn’t even need to talk about it. The reality will show that ‘this is it.’ Our structure here in Ghana is not straight,” she added.

Industry stakeholders are yet to officially respond to her latest claims.

Watch the nterview below:

18 years without royalties!

Grace Ashly shares her painful experience in the music industry and reveals why she would choose to build her music career outside Ghana if she had the chance to start over.

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Source: Yvonne Nyarko Agyemang