In an era where African artists are achieving sold-out shows in auditoriums and arenas, the discourse about the globalization of our music is gaining momentum. In Ghana, however, this conversation is more of a challenge than a mere discussion. This challenge arises from our artists' difficulty in consistently producing global hits. I want to emphasize that this issue is not a reflection of their artistic competence but rather a reflection of the fact that our artists struggle to create continuous global hits.

In this article, I aim to shift the focus of this conversation towards music producers and sound engineers, shedding light on the pivotal role they play in the music creation process. According to various accounts from artists, producers provide them with beats that serve as inspiration for their lyrics or melodies. This implies that producers are the driving force behind the music, igniting the creativity of the artists and shaping the final product. It is my hope that, with time, producers will receive the recognition and credit they rightfully deserve from the masses.

My inspiration for writing this piece came after watching Kwadwo Sheldon's "Convo with the Head" featuring singer/songwriter Kuami Eugene. During the interview, Kuami Eugene was asked about the pressure on Ghanaian artists to fill auditoriums and sell out shows abroad, especially in comparison to their Nigerian counterparts. He cited various reasons for this discrepancy, including public ignorance, differences in population between Ghana and Nigeria. What particularly caught my attention was when said “Some gadgets and some things, the elements that make top notch music, we really no get some that be why you go find some of the big mainstream artists in this country some of we dey send wanna mix to Atlanta to go master”

For days, I pondered whether this was a genuine issue because, truth be told, the masses often cannot discern the intricacies of well-mixed music unless it's glaringly bad. Most listeners in Ghana simply want music that's fast-paced and danceable, without delving into technicalities. However, I empathize with Kuami Eugene, who is not only an artist but also a producer with a deep understanding of music's technical aspects. Nevertheless, I believe that this factor is not the primary hindrance to our artists achieving global hits, as we have witnessed freestyles becoming massive hits on the continent.

Regarding Kuami Eugene's response, it is crucial for our producers to invest in upgrading their equipment. I spoke to Radio Presenter and Music enthusiast, Caleb Nii Boye of 3FM, who echoed this sentiment “I won’t dispute the production bit because I spoke to JMJ and he told me the same thing. Infacthe said most of the hits we hear him play was done on Pentium 2-3 computers. So he is right.”

While acknowledging the challenge, he stressed the importance of producers taking responsibility for obtaining the necessary equipment and sound cards, rather than waiting for government or other stakeholders to assist.

“But whose responsibility is it to get these equipment and sound cards? The producer or who? Maybe they want government to do so. But the best government can do is to set a studio with all these so musicians go and record at a reasonable fee. But once government hasn’t been able to do so— I feel the producer must take up that responsibility and get these because at the end of the day they charge for their works after they have stakes in terms of royalties inthe work they do.”

In conclusion, I would like to express my gratitude towards the talented producers and engineers within the Ghanaian music scene. Special mention goes out to Mog Beatz, Posigee, A-Town, Killbeatz, Unkle Beatz, Vacsonit, Samsney, Kaywa, Mix Master Gazy, Paq, and the numerous other individuals who are making significant contributions to our industry.

I want to emphasize the importance of music producers and sound engineers making substantial investments in their equipment. Additionally, I encourage them to come together and advocate collectively for their rightful interests from pertinent industry bodies and organizations. It is through such efforts that we can ensure the continued growth and prosperity of our music industry in Ghana.