Let’s share proceeds of voting in award schemes 50-50 – Leader of defunct Klala music group proposes

Leader of the defunct music group Klala, Daniel Neequaye Kotey, has taken a swipe at colleague musicians for failing to demand remunerations from millions of cedis generated during award schemes through voting.

He is of the view that event organizers take advantage of artistes in the country in the name of award schemes without satisfying their pecuniary demands.

Music awards schemes provide a platform for musicians to be recognized and appreciated for their hard work and talent.

These award schemes acknowledge achievements of artistes whilst motivating them to strive for excellence and contribute more to the music industry.

However, Neequaye Kotey, who was speaking in an interview on Onua FM GH Highlife show expressed fret over how Ghanaian musicians are being exploited by the award scheme organizers.

He opined, Ghanaian artistes earn nothing except a mere plaque from award schemes meanwhile the artistes are compelled to persuade family and friends to spend substantial amounts of money to vote for them to emerge as winners.

“If you are a musician and you have been nominated in any award scheme in Ghana and you have earned nothing then you are not being wise,” he said.

Musicians should come together and tell the organizers that if they lose their respective categories, they should provide them with their respective voting sheets. For example, if family and friends voted GHC50,000 and the artiste didn’t win, the organizers should give the artiste at least 50% of the proceeds, he insisted.

He argued that music award schemes are primarily profit-driven businesses for the organizers, and musicians are not receiving a fair share of the profits despite their critical role in the process.

He told Ohemaa Acheampomaa (hostess of the show) that it is about time Ghanaian artistes have to wise up and demand for their fair share in proceeds of award schemes.

He suggested to musicians to request a portion of the money made from award schemes, proposing a split of 50% to the musicians, 30% to the organizers, 10% to the media, and 10% to aged musicians.