Ghanaian musician Mr Drew has called on music industry stakeholders to give emerging and lesser-known artistes greater exposure, arguing that too much attention is currently concentrated on a few established acts.
The “Case” hitmaker believes the industry can support a broader range of talent if more musicians receive meaningful opportunities to perform, promote their music and engage with audiences.
Mr Drew said the full potential of Ghana’s music industry is being overshadowed by the continued concentration on the same group of artistes.
He said,“The industry is so big for all of us, but sometimes, we’ve made it so small. We’ve made it look like it only revolves around a few people, and this is not helping the industry to go far”.
According to Mr Drew, many talented musicians remain in the background because major platforms and industry opportunities are largely accessible to already established artistes.
Mr Drew also stated, “There are so many artistes who are not getting attention, but over the years, the industry has been built around a few people. If those few people are scattering things, everybody else suffers”.
He also criticised the frequent inclusion of the same artistes on event bills and performance line-ups, saying the practice limits opportunities for other musicians to showcase their talent.
He added, “Meanwhile, it can be bigger. Every day, it’s the same people, the same names and the same line-ups. If the other good artistes are given the platform, they can even do more”.
Mr Drew’s remarks have renewed attention on the need to broaden representation within Ghana’s music industry, particularly when artistes are selected for major events and other key industry platforms.
He believes expanding opportunities for more musicians to connect with audiences could help discover new talent and support the continued growth of Ghanaian music.
Mr Drew’s call ultimately centres on creating a more inclusive music industry where emerging artistes have greater opportunities to showcase their talent, build audiences and contribute to the growth of Ghana’s music scene.
