He is one of the most outspoken acts in Ghana, and while a lot is made of his controversial comments, his songs don’t get the same level of attention, and Wanlov the Kubolor, says sabotage in the music industry can be blamed for that.
According to Wanlov, sometimes an artiste can pay media houses to play their songs or show their videos but other artistes who feel threatened would go and pay for that artiste’s works not to receive airplay.
“When you pay for your works to be publicised, you will face a group of people who feel threatened by you and will pay to counter your market. They will give money to media houses not to play your song, and this I understand is everywhere not only in the music industry but in fashion, churches, everywhere,” he told Graphic Showbiz last Friday.
Wanlov, whose real name is Emmanuel Owusu-Bonsu, also called out media houses, saying some of them do not deliver on their promises even if you pay for your works to be played or shown.
“If you pay the media houses to play your songs or show your videos, you sometimes do not get what you are promised. You have to monitor as well and it will be too much work monitoring lots of media houses.
“I tried promoting an artiste and these were the challenges I faced, again, I have spoken to some artistes as well and they share the same concerns too, it’s not easy here,” he said.
Asked if perhaps his songs were not being played because of their risque nature, Wanlov denied that.
“Between Mensah and I, we have released over 100 songs and not more than three per cent is profane. But the ones that have become popular here are the ones with the foul language which shows that, that is what Ghanaians want but are pretending. So the question is who should the fingers be pointed at?”
When asked how he feels knowing that he puts in a lot of work to get his materials out there but it is not happening like expected, Wanlov said, “it hurts that we are not as successful as the others but at the moment we can only make do with what we have.”
The Sexy Islamic Girls singer also said it was not easy to make it big in Ghana. “Here it is very expensive to get your music across. Unlike other places where people play music because they like them or because they are good, here you have to be likeable, be giving tips etc.
“Currently, I do not have the resources to blow, I don’t have a management team in Ghana like the others due to limited finances so I’m not able to push my music commercially. What I am doing now is concentrating on FOKN Band for which I have a public relations team outside the shores of Ghana that puts things together.
“With that I am sure things will work, you are assured of getting value for what you pump into the system but here the risk is bigger so that is why I am not heard of in terms of my songs being played on air or playing shows as compared to my peers,” he said.
Source: graphic.com.gh
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