Ghanaian musician Mr Drew has called on stakeholders in the music industry to create more opportunities for emerging and lesser-known artistes, arguing that the industry has become too heavily focused on a small group of established names.
The “Case” hitmaker believes Ghana’s music industry has enough room to accommodate a much wider pool of talent if more musicians are given meaningful opportunities to perform, promote their music and connect with audiences.
Speaking in an interview on Onua FM, Mr Drew said the country’s music industry has enormous potential, but that potential is being limited by the repeated focus on the same group of artistes.
According to him, the industry has gradually been made to appear as though it revolves around only a few individuals, a situation he believes is affecting its growth.
“The industry is so big for all of us, but sometimes, we’ve made it so small. We’ve made it look like it revolves around a few people, and this is not helping the industry to go far,” he said.
Mr Drew noted that there are several talented musicians who remain largely unknown to the wider public because they do not receive enough exposure or access to major industry platforms.
He argued that giving emerging artistes more opportunities could help expose audiences to different sounds, styles and creative talents.
“There are so many good 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 stated.
The musician also raised concerns about the frequent appearance of familiar names on event bills and performance line-ups.
According to Mr Drew, repeatedly booking the same established artistes limits the chances of other musicians proving their abilities before larger audiences.
He believes event organisers and other industry stakeholders can play a significant role in changing the situation by deliberately creating space for upcoming acts.
Mr Drew’s comments have reignited the conversation about opportunities, exposure and inclusivity within Ghana’s music industry, particularly the need to create platforms where emerging artistes can build their careers alongside established stars.
For him, expanding opportunities beyond a handful of recognised names could allow more talents to contribute to the growth and international development of Ghanaian music.
