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The Vice-President of the Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA), Rev. Dr. Thomas Yawson, has urged the Attorney General\u2019s Department to take legal action against entities exploiting musicians\u2019 works without fair compensation.<\/strong><\/p>\n Speaking at a stakeholders\u2019 engagement organized by the National Commission on Culture (NCC), Rev. Yawson pointed out the rise of copyright and piracy issues in the country and the impact such acts had on musicians.<\/p>\n He cited cases where some media houses use the intellectual properties of artistes without any payment given and called for stronger protections of intellectual property.<\/p>\n \u201cCopyright and piracy issues are very prevalent in our country. Outfits such as media houses are using the intellectual properties of musicians for their operations; yet, they are not paying. There is the need for the AG department to ensure media houses pay for the songs they use,\u201d Rev. Yawson stated.<\/p>\n Expressing concern for both established and emerging talents, he revealed MUSIGA\u2019s plans to bring together sellers of music on pen drives, registering them on a platform for better monitoring. According to him, the aim is to establish a system where proceeds contribute to deserving musicians.<\/p>\n \u201cWhile we can\u2019t stop them, I suggest we get them to come together and register on a common platform. We give them cards so that at the end of the day, they can contribute something from what they have sold to the musicians, and that is what we are going to do now,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n Rev. Yawson also stressed the importance of musicians staying informed about industry trends, advocating for training to equip them with the skills needed in the dynamic landscape.<\/p>\n \u201cWe need lots of training. Most of our musicians are not abreast of these dynamics, and so when they go to the studio, they have no choice but to go with whatever the producer gives them,\u201d he noted.<\/p>\n Encouraging diversification, he advised musicians to explore other ventures and invest in them to secure additional income streams beyond the music industry.<\/p>\n \u201cDo something else in addition to music. The big musicians out there have other investments, they do not only focus on music,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n