Omanghana
Ghanaian gospel musician Rev. Obaapa Christy has questioned the use of arrests to resolve copyright and music royalty disputes, calling for more modern and sustainable revenue structures within the creative industry.
Speaking on Hitz Praise Zone, the veteran singer addressed growing concerns about music ownership, unauthorized performances and royalty enforcement in Ghana.
“Do you always have people arrested for singing your song?” she asked, challenging musicians who resort to severe legal action whenever others perform or use their work.
According to Obaapa Christy, aggressive enforcement could alienate audiences and prevent songs from spreading naturally, particularly within the gospel music community.
She encouraged artists to protect their intellectual property while adopting balanced approaches that do not create unnecessary legal or public conflict.
The gospel musician also urged industry stakeholders to build diversified revenue models instead of depending mainly on legal threats to safeguard earnings.
She recommended combining income from digital streaming services with the sale of physical music formats, including CDs, cassettes and pen drives.
In her view, making music available through multiple channels would allow artists to serve audiences with different listening preferences while expanding their earning opportunities.
Her comments come amid wider debate about inadequate royalty payments, unauthorized use of creative works and the financial challenges confronting musicians in Ghana.
Many artists have increasingly turned to digital platforms to reach international audiences, although concerns remain about low streaming income and weak copyright-enforcement systems.
Reflecting on her 24 years in the music industry, Obaapa Christy also spoke about spirituality within the gospel music sector.
She maintained that possessing musical talent or a powerful singing voice does not automatically make someone a devoted believer.
According to her, genuine spirituality extends beyond public performances and requires a personal commitment to the principles and values of the Christian faith.
Obaapa Christy’s remarks add to ongoing conversations about how veteran and emerging musicians can protect their catalogues, collect fair royalties and maintain healthy relationships with audiences.
She called for an industry structure that respects intellectual property while helping musicians earn sustainable income without turning every copyright disagreement into a criminal matter.
Source: Omanghana
