MTN Ghana recently reaffirmed its commitment to boosting Ghana’s digital economy by hosting a Digital Music Conference in Accra. This event gathered over 100 key figures from Ghana's music and creative industries. The conference focused on transforming creative talent into stable earnings for artists.
The meeting brought together artists, music executives, publishers, rights managers, and digital platform leaders. They discussed how to structure Ghana’s fast-growing digital music scene to turn creativity into lasting livelihoods. The conference also highlighted MTN Ghana’s role in connecting industry players and helping to solve problems with making money, managing rights, and sharing value in the music sector.
This initiative aligns with Ghana's broader push for digital transformation and economic diversification. The creative industry, particularly music, offers significant potential for job creation and GHS revenue generation. However, artists often struggle to earn fair income from their work due to underdeveloped monetisation systems and intellectual property protection.
Bless Sefenu Agordjo, Senior Manager for Digital Services and Verticals at MTN Ghana, stressed the need for artists to earn more than just visibility. He stated, “At MTN, we do not see artists merely as content suppliers; we see them as partners.” Mr. Agordjo explained that while digital streaming increases exposure, many emerging artists do not generate enough income from it. He emphasized building other ways to earn money, like caller ring-back tones (CRBT), which are accessible and predictable.
MTN Ghana aims to strengthen its digital music ecosystem through deeper partnerships. This includes working with groups like the Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA) and the Ghana Music Rights Organisation (GAMRO). These collaborations will improve fairness, openness, and trust across the music value chain. Music executive D-Black called CRBT an “overlooked revenue stream” for artists. Diana Hopeson, founder of GH Music Publishing, looks forward to a future where MTN enables direct digital music sales. She believes listeners should be able to buy songs directly, not just ringtones.
The continuous dialogue and collaboration between telecommunication companies like MTN and music industry stakeholders are crucial. This will help unlock the full economic potential of Ghana’s creative sector. Future discussions will likely focus on improving copyright laws and royalty structures to ensure artists receive fair compensation. This supports both artists' livelihoods and the growth of Ghana’s vibrant cultural economy.