Calls are growing louder within Ghana’s creative industry over alleged unpaid or underpaid royalties from telecommunications companies, with musicians and stakeholders arguing that artists deserve fair compensation for the use of their works.
According to concerns circulating within the entertainment space, telecom operators—who benefit from the distribution of music through caller tunes, mobile streaming services, and digital downloads—are being urged to fully account for and remit royalties owed to musicians whose content drives significant consumer engagement.
Industry voices say the issue is not new, but it has become increasingly urgent as digital music consumption continues to expand. Many artists rely on royalties as a key source of income, especially in a streaming-driven era where physical sales have sharply declined.
Some musicians and industry advocates argue that while telcos profit from music-related services, payments to rights holders remain inconsistent or insufficient, leaving many creatives struggling to benefit from their own intellectual property.
The debate has also reignited broader discussions about copyright enforcement in Ghana’s music industry, with calls for stronger regulatory oversight, transparent reporting systems, and timely disbursement of royalties to ensure fairness across the value chain.
Others, however, caution that the issue may be more complex, pointing to the need for clearer agreements, improved tracking systems, and better collaboration between telecom firms, collecting agencies, and rights holders to avoid disputes and delays.
As the conversation continues, stakeholders are increasingly framing the matter as a critical test of Ghana’s commitment to protecting creative work in the digital economy.
For many musicians, the message is simple: if their music helps drive telecom revenue, then proper payment is not optional—it is overdue.
