The widespread belief that there is “no money” in the music business has been refuted by accomplished Ghanaian musician Guru.
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Maradona Yeboah Adjei, better known as Guru, discussed the value of utilising the business side of the music industry in an interview that aired on July 7, 2024, on “The Day Show.”
He claims that while recognition in the field is a given, knowing the business end of things is essential.
He made the point that artists need to surround themselves with business-minded people who understand the intricacies of the industry because the hype surrounding shows is expensive.
“Fame is something you can always count on, guaranteed. However, the commercial aspect is the reason for both the show and the business. The show has grown more costly if you comprehend it.”
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You therefore need to surround yourself with people who are business-minded and cognizant of the business side of things. It is critical because performing on stage is not the only aspect of it. One aspect of business is the ability to target corporate entities. They are highly compensated, so if you can draw them in, they will come after you. What kind of music you are playing is irrelevant.
Talking about the problem of artists losing money because of the people they associate with, Guru emphasised the need to give others around him a sense of empowerment, citing his own experience of transforming close childhood friends into invaluable team members who serve as managers and personal assistants.
“Your space needs to be empowered. They need to be taught by you. I offered those around me an opportunity. You know nothing as a young boy coming from Zongo; no one gives a damn about you.
“I had to make sure that my friends were assigned to positions that empowered my space.” A few even turned into my personal assistants; one even became my personal driver and then my personal assistant, having previously driven me to the studio.
“I even became my own manager by bringing in a friend who used to assist me in getting to the studio. “Therefore, the main objective is to enable individuals,” he clarified.
