- Allegations include removing producer credits when selling music catalogues to third parties
- Osae explains producers are entitled to master rights
- Urges producers to monitor song credits on Digital Streaming Platforms
UK-based Ghanaian music publisher and talent manager Mark Darlington Osae has raised concerns over the alleged mistreatment of music producers by some prominent Ghanaian artistes, particularly regarding credit attribution and royalty rights.
In a Facebook post, the manager of Skrewfaze and Reggie & Bollie accused certain artistes of selling their music catalogues while deliberately omitting producer credits.
“The way some of our big GH artistes are treating producers is bad! Producers, please monitor the credits of your songs on DSPs. There’s a growing trend where your credits and/or royalty splits are being stripped and songs are being sold or re-registered as 100% owned by third parties,” he wrote.
Speaking further on Daybreak Hitz with Kwame Dadzie on Hitz FM, Osae explained that producers are entitled to more than just mechanical and publishing royalties.
“When a producer contributes to a song, they’re also entitled to a share in the master rights—unless they’ve officially signed those rights away to the label or artiste. If not, they hold what’s called producer points on the master recording,” he said.
He pointed to an industry culture where producers often gave beats to artistes for free in hopes of gaining recognition. Many of these producers, he said, were never financially compensated.
“To then remove their rights entirely is deeply unfair and something we, as an industry, need to address,” Osae added.
He encouraged producers to seek professional legal advice on copyright and publishing matters to protect their work and claim what is rightfully theirs.
