George Britton leads 80% GH Music Play campaign
Artiste manager and Entertainment critic, George Mensah Britton has initiated a campaign dubbed, “I support 80% GH Music on Our Airwaves” to advocate for massive Ghanaian music on our airwaves.
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The Content Development Manager at GeorgeBritton.com said the many efforts by artistes to make meaningful careers out of the challenges they face have been stalled by the absence of government policies to help the cause of the Ghanaian musician.
Speaking with Showbiz about the campaign on Monday, George said the arts and entertainment industry has been neglected by so called ‘Gate Keepers’ of our industry and policy makers who have “failed to put systems in place to support budding artistes in Ghana”.
Globally, musicians are members of various organisations and councils which promote their interest but that, he said, is the reverse in Ghana where the artistes are left to struggle on their own.
“This isn’t a campaign to brew rivalry between Ghana and the other countries but to create the opportunity for Ghanaian musicians to enjoy their own labour in their country.
“What’s the essence when an artiste has to personally work hard to start a career and can’t get support from home by getting his/her music played on air?” he asked.
The aim of the “I Support 80% GH Music On Our Airwaves” seems to have caught on quickly with some artistes who have endorsed the campaign by posting on the various social media platforms.
One such artiste who has been very vocal since the campaign started is Choirmaster. In a chat with Showbiz, he described as “unfair” how Ghanaians musicians compete with foreigners for airplay.
“I think it’s time for us to take a look at this system to save us and the industry,” he stated.
Ghana is not the only country leading such a campaign. In August last year, embittered Kenyan artistes held a demonstration to register their displeasure about foreign music ruling their airwaves.
According to a BBC report, the musicians called on radio and TV stations to give local artistes more airplay. They wanted 70 percent of airtime to be devoted to Kenyan music.