MTN Ghana plans to double the number of musicians using its digital platforms. This initiative aims to help artistes earn more money in the digital music world. The company hosted its first Digital Music Conference on Thursday, April 29, 2026. Key figures from Ghana's music industry attended. These included D-Black, Bessa Simons, and Camidoh. The conference focused on revenue generation and sustainability for creatives.
Bless Sefenu Agordzor, Acting Chief Digital Officer at MTN Ghana, stated the goal is to increase “opportunity, ownership, and sustainability.” He highlighted that many artistes struggle to turn popularity into income. Streaming platforms like Spotify and Apple Music require millions of streams for significant earnings. For example, nearly one million streams on Boomplay are needed to earn $1,000. Apple Music demands around 250,000 streams for the same amount. Alternative services, however, offer a clearer path.
Caller Ring-Back Tones (CRBT) present a more accessible revenue stream. Earning $1,000 from CRBT requires about 200,000 downloads. CRBT also provides recurring monthly income. MTN’s platforms, such as CallerTunez and MTN Radio, reach millions. However, adoption is currently below potential. This is due to low awareness and misconceptions about how artistes are paid. MTN sees artistes as partners, not just content providers. The telco expects to achieve its doubling goal by strengthening industry partnerships.
Diana Hopeson, Founder of GH Music Publishing, stressed the importance of proper music registration. She stated, “At this time that the whole world has gone digital, music has changed. The song is everywhere, but where is the money?” Without correct registration, artistes risk losing royalties. Proper registration ensures money goes to the rightful owners. She urged musicians to register with the Copyright Office. Joining organizations like GHAMRO is also crucial. Publishers play a key role in collecting revenues.
Bessa Simons, President of MUSIGA, called for industry collaboration. He clarified MUSIGA’s role is to support musicians. GHAMRO is the entity that collects and distributes royalties. He described the conference as a vital step. Many artistes gain visibility but struggle financially. Simons advised musicians to explore CRBT and diversify income. He warned that future music revenue depends on multiple streams, not just one platform. A pension scheme for musicians was also announced.
D-Black expressed concerns about transparency in royalty systems. He noted that many artistes do not understand publishing or royalty types. He shared an experience where a song earned over $100,000 internationally. Yet, the earnings locally were zero. He called for better accountability. He also requested digital systems for easier music management. Online registration should be standard practice.
Nsroma Amoabeng, a gospel musician and MTN Ghana employee, shared her own experience. Promoting a song on YouTube cost her about $500. This yielded no direct revenue. She stated that the same amount spent on CRBT could have resulted in 40,000 downloads. This would generate approximately GHS 2,200 monthly. Unlike streaming, CRBT offers continuous income. She urged artistes to leverage these opportunities.