MUSIGA Okays Tigo Music

Obour(left), Roshi Motman, CEO of Tigo(right) and another Tigo executive.

Bice Obour Osei Kuffour, President of the Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA), has commended telecommunications company Tigo for their efforts to help digitize Ghanaian music.

Last Friday, Tigo Ghana announced the launch of 'Tigo Music' and a partnership with Deezer, an international music streaming service, that will provide Ghanaians with unlimited music experience.

The partnership allows Tigo customers to enjoy Ghanaian and foreign tracks on their phones and tablets through pre-paid data bundles and the Deezer application.

According to the MUSIGA President, the partnership was in order since it would create more wealth for the industry.

'As a Union we are very interested in this and for us, one of our key aims is making more wealth for the industry and that is one of my personal passions. Since 2011 we have been trying to create a digital portal that gives access to digital music for musicians to earn money in their pockets. We have had several discussions with different bodies and what Tigo and Deezer have presented is a very solid platform and we feel it was worth the try,' Obour told NEWS-ONE .

As part of the deal, artistes who sign on to Deezer would earn some amount of money anytime someone streams and listens to their works.

He disclosed that any member of the Union could submit their works at any of the MUSIGA offices and sign the contract to enable them get their songs on the platform and enjoy its benefits.

Tigo would also be sourcing exciting new and local content through a new venture with the digital music company, Africa Music Rights, which funds, acquires and manages music rights across the African continent.

'MUSIGA endorsed the Deezer platform and we play a key role to ensure that all musicians spread around all the 10 regions of Ghana and wherever MUSIGA has offices are able to bring their songs and sign the contract. We play that intermediary role to ensure that are members are on the platform so that they can also benefit from this income generating activity that is more or less going to be a boost and an add up to the revenues that the music industry already has. And then, of course, once Tigo is speaking with music in their DNA now, we are also interested in this partnership because it is going to lead  to a lot more talent discovery activities,' he stated.

Music streaming is the fastest growing area for the global music industry and music content is already the second most popular mobile phone feature in sub-Saharan Africa.

As part of the launch, Tigo will have a party for its customers at the Accra sports stadium on October 31, with some artistes like Miss Vee, 4X4 and Guru, with Davido being the guest artiste, scheduled to be present that night.

 
By Nii Ogbamey Tetteh
(email: [email protected]   twitter: @ogbameytetteh)