M.anifest highlights barriers to growth in Ghana’s Music Industry

Ghanaian rapper M.anifest has voiced concerns about the challenges hindering the growth of the country’s music industry and what it takes to attract serious investment.

In an interview on Hitz FM, the ‘God MC’ rapper pointed out the stark differences between Ghana’s music scene and other thriving creative sectors.

“Globally, people are making remarkable progress. Even Ghana’s visual arts sector is soaring in terms of business, yet the music industry continues to lag behind,” M.anifest noted.

He stressed that despite the wealth of talent in the country, the industry lacks both influence and impact.

“To put it plainly, we are behind. We haven’t built the industry to a level that truly reflects the talent we have,” he remarked.

While acknowledging the challenges of inadequate infrastructure, M.anifest emphasized that creatives also have a role to play in reshaping the industry.

“Yes, infrastructure is an issue, but creatives must take a more serious, business-oriented approach. The industry needs to be something tangible.

“We still don’t have a profitable structure that benefits both artists and consumers,” he explained.

The rapper also cautioned against relying solely on raw talent to succeed in the music business.

“Being talented isn’t enough to attract investment. Investors look for talent with a solid business model,” he pointed out.

Rather than focusing on the industry’s shortcomings, M.anifest urged creatives to take action and build a stronger foundation.

“Money follows good ideas, not the other way around. We need to be intentional about growing this industry.

“We spend too much time making excuses instead of treating this as a serious business,” he concluded.