Veteran Ghanaian highlife musician Amandzeba Nat Brew has lamented what he describes as the growing commercialization of Ghana’s music industry, warning that music is increasingly being treated like “fast food” rather than a lasting cultural product.
Speaking on The UpSide Down Show on Sunday, May 31, 2026, the Wongbe Dze Ke hitmaker said the rush for quick profits has left little room for the development and promotion of quality music.
“They don’t have enough space. You see, everybody’s quickly wanting to put something together and then get a profit from it,” he said.
“This is what they are reducing music to. It’s like fast food. Popcorn music — it comes, and the fragrance is gone.”
Amandzeba, whose career spans more than three decades, argued that the trend is not entirely the fault of musicians but rather the way music is presented and promoted by broadcasters.
“It is not the doing of the artist, though. It is the presentation that you can have on our TVs and our radios,” he said.
The highlife legend also expressed concern about the widespread use of foreign music in advertising and media productions, warning that Ghana could face serious financial consequences through royalty payments.
“If I come onto your program and you are advertising a product and the soundtrack is from Europe or America, you might think you are cool today. But when your economy starts balancing, they will descend on us because you are using Michael Jackson… they come for their royalties. You think you can pay?” he cautioned.
Amandzeba further criticized the casual attitude toward intellectual property rights in Ghana, stressing that creative works must be respected.
“I have spoken with people who really matter in our space, and you tell them — so you want to tell me that intellectual property can be used like tissue paper? Somebody’s intellectual property,” he said.
With a legacy built on timeless highlife classics and cultural preservation, Amandzeba’s comments add to the growing conversation about the future of Ghana’s music industry and the need to protect its creative value.
