Ghanaian gospel artist Brother Sammy recently shared his perspective on the debate surrounding whether gospel musicians should charge for their performances.
In an interview with Neat FM on March 29, 2024, he argued that there’s no reason gospel musicians should be financially struggling.
Brother Sammy emphasized that many critics overlook that gospel music is a legitimate source of income for the artists involved.
He firmly stated, “I refuse to be broke! Why should gospel musicians and pastors always be poor?”
He highlighted that while the work is for God, it also involves real labor deserving of compensation.
In response to a fellow gospel artist who only accepts donations rather than charging for shows, Brother Sammy noted that it’s a personal choice but stressed that gospel musicians should be paid for their work.
He recounted a past experience where, after performing at a church in Mankessim, he received no payment.
Instead, he ended up spending the night on a security guard’s chair and had to use his own money to return home, despite the pastor having raised funds using his name.
Brother Sammy underscored that gospel artists should ideally be paid upfront to prevent such issues.