“You can’t make a living out of music in Ghana” - Gyedu Blay Ambolley

Ace Ghanaian musician, Gyedu Blay Ambolley has thrown his weight behind the call for the right structures to be put in place to aid Ghanaian musicians who only make money out of their intellectual properties through performances and no other avenues.

Gyedu Blay Ambolley who spoke on Kapital Radio’s Homestretch with NY DJ explained how advanced plans were for the release of his next album which hits the international market at the end of January 2013.

Answering questions as to why he would consider releasing his album to the European market before his own people in Ghana, Gyedu said; “Well if you want to make a living out of music, and then think about outside Ghana because that is where the money comes from. Outside of Ghana, if they use your music in connection with radios and TV stations, they pay you royalties, in Ghana, they don’t do that”.

Gyedu Blay who believes the structures are not well set said; “The structures are not properly set for these things to happen. That is the reason why most musicians are becoming paupers at some point in time. In Europe and in America, everything is structured. Anything in connection with intellectual property is well structured. Whatever I have and whatever I have done, most of the money is coming from outside of Ghana”.

He was however quick to add that, he would never neglect his people as his album will be made available for Ghanaians after he is done with the European market where his money comes from.

Till then, the Simgwa rapper has advised young musicians to find ways of getting their music out there where their intellectual properties will be paid for.