Renowned Ghanaian gospel musician ACP Kofi Sarpong recently delved into the financial hurdles confronting many gospel artists within the music industry.
During an appearance on Prime Morning on Joy Prime on April 22, Sarpong candidly shared his personal challenges with the business aspect of gospel music.
He recounted instances where he performed at events without proper arrangements, driven solely by his passion for ministry.
“I even had a problem with my manager over this. Because under normal circumstances, if I’m invited to a programme, it should go through him. And then he tells me we go in here and all that. But before he realises it, I’m somewhere ministering. And after all these ministrations, what I gain out of it is malt and meat pie.
“And then these musicians we work with (the instrumentalists and backup singers) some of them, this is what they do to cater for themselves. So if they follow you, you cannot go take meat pies and tell them that this is what you were given. No, it’s not right. So sometimes I had to go into my own account and pay them,”ACP Kofi Sarpong stated.
However, he highlighted that such impromptu performances often resulted in inadequate compensation, not just for himself but also for the instrumentalists and backup singers who rely on these gigs for their livelihood.
“I have the passion, but now it’s gotten to a situation that is more involving. We spend a lot on projects nowadays so churches should help,” he said.
Sarpong emphasised the importance of fair remuneration, expressing concerns over instances where musicians receive minimal compensation, such as “malt and meat pie,” after dedicating their time and talent to performances.
He called for a balanced approach, where the costs incurred in pursuing music projects align with the earnings from performances.
Additionally, Sarpong urged churches and event organizers to recognize and value the contributions of artists, stressing the need for fair compensation to sustain a thriving gospel music industry.