Veteran Ghanaian highlife musician Amandzeba Nat Brew has expressed concern over what he describes as the increasing commercialisation of Ghana’s music industry, warning that music is being reduced to a product designed for quick profit rather than lasting cultural impact.
Speaking on The UpSide Down Show on Sunday, May 31, 2026, the celebrated musician said the pursuit of instant financial gains has created little room for the development, promotion and longevity of quality music.
“They don’t have enough space. You see, everybody’s quickly wanting to put something together and then get a profit from it,” he said.
According to Amandzeba, the current trend has turned music into what he described as “fast food,” with many songs enjoying only brief popularity before fading away.
“This is what they are reducing music to. It’s like fast food. Popcorn music, I mean, it comes, and fragrance is gone,” he added.
The “Wongbe Dze Ke” hitmaker, whose career spans more than three decades, argued that the situation cannot be blamed solely on musicians. Instead, he pointed to the way music is presented and promoted by radio and television stations.
“It is not the doing of the artist, though. It is the presentation that you can have on our TVs and our radios,” he stated.
Amandzeba also raised concerns about the widespread use of foreign music in advertisements and media productions, warning that such practices could have financial consequences for Ghana through royalty obligations.
“If I come onto your programme and you are advertising a product and the soundtrack is from Europe or America, you might think you are cool today, but when the economy starts balancing, they will come for their royalties,” he said.
He questioned whether local media organisations and businesses would be able to meet those financial obligations when copyright holders seek compensation for the use of their music.
The veteran musician further stressed the need for greater respect for intellectual property rights, arguing that creative works should not be treated casually or used without proper consideration.
“I have spoken with people who really matter in our space, and you tell them, so you want to tell me that intellectual property can be used like tissue paper? Somebody’s intellectual property,” he said.
Amandzeba called for a renewed commitment to protecting creative works and promoting quality music that can stand the test of time.
