Ghanaian musicians have he had been struggling for some time to receive fair and timely payments for their works, especially when it comes to royalties from radio and television stations, streaming platforms and public venues.
The current system of the collection of rights is outdated, ineffective, and prone to corruption. It relies on manual reporting, estimation and distribution, which often leads to errors, delays and disputes.
However, technology can provide a solution to this problem. By using digital tools such as logging systems, blockchain, and smart contracts, Ghana can create a more transparent, accurate and automated system for collecting and distributing royalties to music creators.
Recording Systems
A recording system is a device or software that records and monitors the songs played on various media platforms. It can provide real-time data on the frequency, duration and location of music plays, which can then be used to calculate royalties owed to rights holders.
A recording system can also help prevent piracy and plagiarism by identifying the original sources of songs.
Blockchain
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Blockchain is a distributed ledger that records transactions in a secure and verifiable manner. It can be used to store and manage the ownership and licensing information of musical works, as well as to facilitate the payment of royalties through cryptocurrencies or digital tokens. Blockchain can also enable smart contracts, which are self-executing agreements that automatically execute the terms and conditions of an agreement without the need for intermediaries or third parties.
Benefits of technology adoption in the music industry
By adopting these technologies, Ghana can improve its music rights system in several ways. First, it can increase the efficiency and speed of the collection and distribution of rights, reducing administrative costs and delays.
Second, it can enhance the transparency and accountability of the system by ensuring that music creators receive their fair share of the revenue generated by their works.
Third, it can promote innovation and creativity in the music industry by encouraging more musicians to produce original and quality work.
Challenges
However, the implementation of these technologies is not without challenges. It requires adequate infrastructure, investment, regulation, training and cooperation between the various stakeholders in the music industry. It also requires a change in mindset and culture among music creators and consumers, who must embrace digitization and respect copyright.
Musicians, policy makers, regulators, broadcasters, distributors and consumers must therefore work together to create an enabling environment for the adoption of technology in the music rights system. They need to learn from the best practices and experiences of other countries that have successfully implemented such systems. They also need to be aware of the potential risks and limitations of technology, such as cyber-attacks, hacking, fraud or technical malfunctions.
Technology can be a powerful tool to improve Ghana’s music rights system if used wisely and responsibly. It can help Ghanaian musicians earn more revenue from their works as well as gain more recognition and exposure in the global market. It can also help Ghana promote its rich and diverse music culture to the world.
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