Gospel Musician Patience Nyarko has kicked against an intention by the Ghana Music Right Organisation (GHAMRO) to take royalties from churches for the use of music for services.
GHAMRO said it is putting in place measures for churches to pay for any musical works used during service.
Apart from churches, the music rights organisation also want to go after commercial transport owners who have entertainment systems in their cars.
The gospel musician kicked against the move on CTV’s entertainment show, The Showbiz, Patience Nyarko said the move on churches is wrong because gospel musicians have no original songs but record songs belonging to the churches.
The Obi Nyanime hitmaker told said on the entertainment show that if the houses of worship request that gospel performers quit recording or singing their tunes or even ask each artist that has financially recorded tunes having a place with the congregation to pay royalties to them, that cash will be enormous to such an extent that the gospel artists wouldn’t be able to pay. “So, please, they should leave the churches alone,” Ms Nyarko stated.
She, nonetheless, concurred with the intention of GHAMRO to charge transport owners royalties for the music they play in their vehicles.
“I agree with the transport bit because there are many cars in Ghana. If each car should pay GHS5 every year just like they pay for roadworthy certificates, GHAMRO can do a lot for musicians to be comfortable but they should leave the church alone,” she stressed.
