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‘Beyond The Return’ music business masterclass finds innovative ways to market Ghanaian Music

A masterclass with the aim of improving the business side of the Ghanaian music industry has been held at the Accra Tourism Information Centre.

The programme was powered by the Ghana Tourism Authority and the ‘Beyond The Return’ Secretariat in conjunction with the Creative Arts Council and The Bridge Zone.

The initiative which is one of the Return Conversations as part of ‘Beyond the Return’ programme was dubbed, “The Business of Music – Finding Innovative ways to market Ghanaian Music to the Rest of the World.”

Panelists included SONY Music President, Glyn Aikins, Music Producer, Trumpeter, Composer & Educator, Dontae Winslow, Composer, Guitarist & Producer, Vasti Jackson, Senior Integrated Media Specialist – Radio One USA, Coriya Burns, Award Winning DJ, Malcolm Xavier, and President, Creative Arts Council, Mark Okraku Mantey.

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The discussions focused on key areas in the music industry such as marketing, finance, technological advancements, new channels for distribution and sales, networking, and new trends.

Addressing the programme from the Accra Tourist Information Centre where is was streamed live to audience in and outside the country, Mark Okraku Mantey, advised industry players not to allow their creativity to be boxed by recounting how he challenged the status quo in the past and succeeded.

According to him, as a young producer, he did not allow what was the order of the day to dictate to his creativity,  for this reason, he  introduced Hip Hop into highlife with songs like Kokooko by the late Dasebre Gyamenah.

“As creative people, we should not be limited in our creativity but go beyond the box and be innovative in our ways, else the market will outpace us,” he said.

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 Mr Mantey further urged players in music business to be very particular about their recordings and not to compromise on sound, rhythm, chord progression and mastering among others when producing music.

Vasti Jackson, on his part said the tool one used in music production made the change, adding that fundamentally, good infrastructure to produce the right sound was vital.

Touching on streaming, he said, even though it had exposed music from Africa, those who made a lot of money were the top executives and not mostly artistes, saying it had devalued the financial reward of musicians.

Glyn Aikins, said that measurement of music consumption for some time now had been easy due to technology, which made it simple for people to find out the genre making waves, and which market was available for people to tap into.

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“Management need to understand the vision of the artiste, and should be able to put in place the right measures to propel the artistes to get there,” he added.

On music from Ghana crossing over to the global market, he urged those in the circles to network and liaise with other people outside the country to get their music out there.

He said some of the major record labels were opening up satellite offices in Africa which was good news for musicians.

Coriya Burns urged those in the music space to  focus on making their messages clear and getting to the right people to fix their songs at the important places.

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Malcom Xavier, also asked disck jockeys to commence their own initiatives, throw their parties and use social media among other platforms to promote it to be able to make a lot of revenue for themselves and said that he was opened to promoting music from Ghana.

Dontae Winslow called for  dedication and passion to work as well as ensure they actively partake in all the chain of music production.

Participants which included musicians, producers, Djs, music executives and the media expressed appreciation to the organisers for the initiative.

By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme

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Entertainment

Black Star Legacy Awards: Celebrating Ghanaian, African, and Diaspora Achievements

Nineteen57 Events is proud to announce the launch of the Black Star Legacy Awards,a prestigious platform dedicated to honoring exceptional individuals and organizations contributing to the growth and success of Ghanaian society, the African continent, and the African diaspora.

Since its inception as part of Rhythms on the Runway in 2019 during Ghana’s historic Year of Return celebration, the Black Star Legacy Awards has recognized remarkable achievements in creative arts, culture, and beyond.

Esteemed icons from Ghana, Africa and the African Diay such as Obrafour, Ricci Osei, Hon. Lisa Hanna, Reggie Rockstone, Queen Asabea Cropper, Nene Agyemang, Agya Koo Nimo, Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings, Morgan Heritage, Stonebwoy, and Richard Mofe Damijo have been among the honorees, setting the stage for what has become a highly anticipated annual celebration of excellence.

A New Era of Recognition

As the Black Star Legacy Awards grows in scope and ambition, Nineteen57 Events is excited to announce its transition to an independent, standalone event. This shift allows

for an expanded focus, honoring excellence across various fields, including business, leadership, innovation, science, and humanitarian efforts.

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This bold move aligns with the awards’ mission of celebrating the spirit of achievement and innovation that defines Ghana and connects it to the broader Pan-African and global community.

Details to Follow

While specific event details, including categories and selection criteria, are still being finalized, the Black Star Legacy Awards promises to be an unforgettable experience that highlights the very best of Ghana, Africa, and the diaspora.

Join Us in Honoring Excellence

More than just an event, the Black Star Legacy Awards is a celebration of the individuals and organizations whose impact resonates far beyond borders.

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 Kay9ice apologises to Shatta Wale

Shatta Wale (L) and Kay9ice
Shatta Wale (L) and Kay9ice

 Afro-highlife musi­cian, Kay9ice, known in private life as Philip Kay Kissi has publicly apol­ogised to award-winning dancehall musician Shatta Wale and the Shatta Move­ment following his contro­versial remarks about his song.

Kay9ice made the com­ments about Shatta Wale’s song on Adom TV’s Showtime programme with Sally Mann.

Kay9ice believes the comments passed did not sit well with the Shatta Move­ment.

Against this backdrop, in a recent interview on Wontumi TV, Kay9ice ex­pressed regret for his state­ments, clarifying that he never intended to disrespect Shatta Wale.

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“I would like to use this opportunity to apologise to all S.M fans, I might have made some comments which I never intended for it to sound wrong to the fans, I have no intention of dis­respecting such an icon,” Kay9ice added.

Kay9ice is currently promoting his latest release dubbed “Pema”, which is making waves since the release

 By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme

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