A musician is someone who sings, record and sell his music to earn a living.
Musicians are creative people who use music to inform, educate or entertain us.
Musicians around the world through their music inform, educate and entertain their followers with various forms of music. In any part of the world, It is not easy to break through in the industry to become a household name. You will have to struggle as an upcoming artist before finally becoming famous. However, there are few musicians who hardly struggle to break through.
In Ghana, few musicians are on the top and the upcoming musicians constitutes about 80% of the musician populace. It is very difficult to break through as a musician in Ghana.
Ghana’s music industry go well for only the ones on top with friends in the media. No media personality will give you a hype until you start getting small hype then they will start calling you for radio and television interviews.
No one knows you in Ghana’s Entertainment Industry until you have started getting fame especially on social media. Hardly Will any media person discover or help an upcoming and unknown artist by his own choice until they have blown up.
I have over the years helped in promoting upcoming artists to break through and as a result, I want to share my experience and give out tips to all upcoming musicians out there.
Firstly, Do Give Not Up. If you have a dream of pursuing music, do not give up regardless the struggles. You will obviously face so many challenges but I tell you, do not give up. One day, you will surely break through and your name will become a household name in Ghana and Beyond. It took Diana Hamilton about 15 years before winning the artist of the year at Vodafone Ghana Music Awards. It took Eno Barony about 10 years before winning the best rapper at Vodafone Ghana Music awards. So it is never too late.
Secondly, Choose A Great Brand Name. I have always maintained that a Brand name is Key to your musical success. Although, becoming successful depend hugely on money, level of promotion, talent among others but You can not take away the effect of your brand name when it comes to you breaking through the music industry. Eight years ago, I once wrote an article based on the names artist choose and how it affects their success and I suggested some upcoming musicians change their name. They criticized the list and did not heed to my advice. Years down the line, 8 out of the ten never broke through, they are nowhere to be seen in the entertainment industry. One of them who was angry at the time added another name to her artist name I criticized. This female artist has now gained grounds in the industry after so many years. One male artist, few years after my article admitted that his brand that he chose affected him. He even tried to change his name but it was too late. Two years ago, he managed to get a hit with the help of featuring a top artist.
So check the brand name that you choose.
Again, maintain a Great Social media presence. Social Media is the new deal now when it comes to social media or digital promotion. For the past few years, so many upcoming artists have broken through the entertainment industry through social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, Tik Tok, LinkedIn,etc. Social Media has done a lot of good for musicians and I suggest every upcoming musician with or without budget for traditional media promotion should utilize the social media influence to their favour.
Also, Be Unique. People have seen almost every style and with time, they have become bored of these things so as a new act coming up, make sure to add something different to the norm by being unique and you will catch the attention of the people. If you doing a specific genre of music, it is not compulsory to do something or dress same as the others and go like ‘ it is part of the genre’. No, it is but you can always choose your own style. Be Unique, Be Different.
Lastly, Make good use of Facebook, Instagram and most especially Tik Tok ads. Tik Tok music promotion is the deal at the moment. It worked for Gyakie, Mr Drew, and Kidi. Most Ghanaian artists are now using Tik Tok to break through by employing the services of popular Ghanaian Tik Tok creator. You need money to do this so make sure to have a budget for that one particular song you feel will make a hit for you.
Other mentions, as an upcoming artist, you have to keep twice as hard. You can not work at the same pace as a top artist with a large fan base. You are now starting so you have to work much harder and when you are finally a big artist, things will become very easy for you, definitely.