Sarkodie has called for stronger industry structures to protect the financial future of Ghanaian artistes, insisting that no veteran musician should be left in poverty if the music business were properly managed.
At the Kumasi Rising Music, Media, and Tourism Dialogue on September 25, 2025, the award-winning rapper argued that music has the potential to generate steady income for artistes well into old age. He said the financial hardships many face today stem from exploitative contracts that deprived them of ownership of their catalogues.
“All these old-age artistes, what music can make for you monthly, there’s no old-age artiste who should be asking for any money from anyone. But if you listen to their stories, somebody gave them some small change and then took the music, so now they have nothing to live off. If the system was right, nobody would have been able to get them to sell their catalogue. So it’s a lot,” Sarkodie said.
He emphasized that investment and monetization remain the two pillars the industry must strengthen to thrive. “But these two, the investment part and the monetization of the industry, if we get that right, Ghana wouldn’t need to go anywhere. We’d just go out there for the looks, but we’d still make money even if we stay local,” the rapper explained.
The ‘Otan’ composer also addressed speculation that he had sold his own catalogue. When moderator Serwaa Amihere raised the issue, Sarkodie clarified that he has only changed distributors, something he can freely do as an independent artiste.
“No, so we have partnerships. That’s what I’ve been doing. I do distribution with Ditto, and now with a new company. So that’s the luxury I have as an independent artiste. You are able to pick and choose who distributes my music,” Sarkodie explained.
Watch his remarks below.
@dailywatchtvonline I Have Not Sold My Catalog; Sarkodie Finally Speaks Out On Rumours Saying He Has Sold His Catalog for Music Company & Added Up That What Music Money Can Make You Monthly Like No “ Old Age Artist Should Be Begging For Money “ Follow Us For More Updates #viral #sarkodie #dailywatchtv #music #tiktok ♬ original sound – DAILY WATCH TV
