Shasha Marley
Legendary roots reggae musician, Shasha Marley, has raised concerns about the fairness of royalty distribution by the Ghana Music Rights Organisation, GHAMRO describing the current system as questionable.
Speaking in an interview on Sunshine with NYA on Accra-based CTV, Shasha Marley alleged GHAMRO does not have a reliable monitoring system to accurately track how often songs are played.
According to him, the system used in the past was more dependable, as some radio stations, including the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation, properly documented music airplay.
“When I was growing up, radio stations were logging music play. These days, they don’t,” he said.
The reggae icon noted that this lack of proper monitoring raises questions about how royalties are shared among musicians.
His comments add to concerns that have been expressed by other players in Ghana’s music industry over the years, particularly regarding inconsistencies in royalty payments and delays in disbursement.
Shasha Marley further claimed that royalty distribution now appears to be influenced more by which artistes are trending or viral than by actual airplay.
He said his songs continue to receive significant airplay in several parts of the country, but he believes this is often not reflected in royalty assessments.
“I can tell you that I’m getting serious airplay in the Bono Region, the North, the Western Region…” he stated.
Beyond the issue of royalties, Shasha Marley also advised young musicians to prioritise education, saying it can help them improve their craft and better understand the music industry.
“My father wanted me to be a lawyer. Sometimes I wish I had gone to school a little more. But then, I’m glad I can read to understand,” he added.