Musiga lacks musicians support; I want to close that gap – Richie Mensah
The Chief Executive Officer of Lynx Entertainment, Richie Mensah has revealed that, even though MUSIGA over the years is doing well, its major challenge is the lack of support from musicians and that, he earnestly wants to close that gap.
MUSIGA over the years has come under massive criticism especially with regards to musician’s royalties.
Speaking to host DJ Nyaami on ‘We Dey Vibe’ on SVTV Africa, Richie noted that, MUSIGA has done well especially with the current administration, they’ve put the right structures in place to be able to work with the corporate world and also earning government’s respect, however one thing the union lack is the musicians support.
“MUSIGA over the years has done well especially with the current administration, on paper MUSIGA is very good like they’ve put the structures in properly so the corporate world is able to work with MUSIGA, government also acknowledging MUSIGA and all that, however one thing I think MUSIGA lacks now, is the support of Musicians. That’s one thing they’ve not been able to do over the years and I’m really trying to bring the Musicians together and let’s fix this’’
Richie added that, MUSIGA is a union so if the musicians are not together then the union is not powerful and the union can only be powerful when all musicians come together with a common goal.
Richie Mensah who is contesting for the position of the Vice President of the Union, said when he is voted into power, he will work assiduously to make sure the voice of musicians is heard audibly and make sure the royalty systems in Ghana are working again.
“If there is anybody out there who thinks the legislature doesn’t exist for us to collect royalties it’s not true. It’s actually there and monies are being collected but not enough monies are being collected because there is not enough push on people who are playing the songs to log to prove what’s being played. So my approach is bringing the musicians together, so we push and campaign for this system to be regulated” He added.
He furthered that, just as he has come far with his record label, he will do everything in his power to make sure the industry goes well.
Richie urged musicians who are looking for handout to be rich just for a day to stop and finds ways of making money that will take care of them even after music.
Richie has been the Director of Music Standards at MUSIGA for the past 3 years but believes he can do better if he accedes the Vice President seat.
Richie, together with his Lynx Entertainment group has produced some of the best artistes in Ghana including Eazzy, OJ Blaq, Asem, Ziggy, KiDi, Kuami Eugene, MzVee, among others.
He also owns the Cockpit Lounge and Bar at the Achimota Retail Centre and also runs an ushering agency.
Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA), has set June 28, 2019 as the date for its national elections. This year, members who are eligible to vote can do some at their regional centres.
The national elections will elect a new president and national executives for the union after the term of the current executives under the leadership of Bice Osei Kuffour (Obour), which ends in May 2019.
source svtafrica.com
