EDITOR’S LENS: Stream local, amplify Ghana

Ghana's music scene has witnessed the launch of Ghana Music Xperience (GMX), a platform poised to update how locals and internationals access Ghanaian music.

Unveiled on October 30, 2024, at a high-profile event in Accra, GMX has garnered praise from top dignitaries, including Vice- President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, and Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Andrew Egyapa Mercer.

Vice-President Bawumia hailed GMX as a vital tool for preserving Ghana's cultural legacy and providing local artistes with the recognition and compensation they deserve. 

GMX boasts an impressive array of features, including artistes' interviews and exclusive content that explores Ghanaian music from the Gold Coast era to contemporary pioneers.

As Ghana's music scene welcomes the GMX streaming platform, the conversation has rather shifted from who came first to what comes next.

While some have argued that GMX is not the first Ghanaian music streaming platform, Antoine Mensah, co-founder of Aftown, has highlighted the existence of his streaming app, which was launched in October 2016. 

Though Mensah supports the plurality of local businesses, he emphasises the need for accurate tagging, suggesting GMX rephrase its "first" claim.

Similarly, music producer and tech expert, Kobby Spiky Nkrumah, has expressed doubts about the effective functionality of the Ghana Music Xperience (GMX) app.

He pointed out a significant hurdle of the limited familiarity of industry stakeholders, particularly musicians and managers in rural areas, with existing streaming platforms. 

He explained that these individuals lacked proper education and training on using the apps.

While these suggestions or opinions may not be out of the way, Graphic Showbiz believes that these debates seem needless. 

At the moment, what matters is the collective progress of Ghana's music industry, and GMX's arrival signals a significant step forward, expanding access to Ghanaian music globally.

In conclusion, GMX represents more than a "first" or "not first" tagline. It marks a new beginning for Ghanaian music and making Ghanaian music more accessible to the world, preserving the country's rich cultural heritage and empowering local artistes.

It’s time to amplify Ghanaian music!