I’ll shut them down” – D-Black slams ineffective music unions and calls for industry reform

Ghanaian hip-hop musician and entrepreneur, D-Black, has expressed his strong views on the functioning of music unions in Ghana. In a recent interview with GhanaWeb, he boldly stated his intentions if he were to hold the position of Minister of Tourism, Arts, and Culture. D-Black emphasized the need for a significant restructuring in the music industry, particularly targeting organizations like MUSIGA, GHAMRO, and COSGA. His critique focused on the lack of accountability within these unions, especially in terms of royalty collection, which is crucial for musicians and producers.

“First thing we don’t have a royalty collection society that is accountable, so I will shut down MUSIGA, GHAMRO and COSGA and restructure a new body to take over the role that they are supposed to play because the royalty collection society for musicians and producers in Ghana isn’t doing what they are supposed to do,” he said in a recent interview with GhanaWeb.

“MUSIGA as well…we have seen different presidents come and go but there is nothing we can speak about at the top of our voices the we can clap and say this body has done something tangible for musicians in our country,” he added.

To address these issues, D-Black proposed a complete restructuring of the existing bodies, aiming to establish a more efficient and transparent system for royalty distribution. He also emphasized the importance of educating industry stakeholders, including business executives and artist managers, on the evolving dynamics of the music business. “I will educate the music industry, especially business executives on how the industry has changed over the years. A lot of artistes have managers who they trust, childhood friends, a lot of training has to go in that to make our industry viable,” he remarked.

One key aspect that D-Black highlighted was the need for better training programs to equip individuals with the skills needed to navigate the modern music industry successfully. By providing relevant examples and case studies, he underscored the importance of adapting to industry changes and maximizing opportunities for growth. Additionally, D-Black acknowledged the widespread discontent among artists regarding unfair royalty practices by GHAMRO, further fueling the call for reform within the music sector.