Music promotion is big problem —Kofi Kinaata

WITH his popularity, one would think it is a given for Highlife musician Kofi Kinaata to get his music played on the various radio and TV stations anytime he releases a song but that is not the case. He has to pay a lot of money to get his music on the airwaves.

Thus, music promotion has become a big problem and most musicians are struggling with it.

Speaking in an interview with Graphic Showbiz, he said, “I can say on authority that promoting songs is a big deal now. If you don’t pay, forget about your songs getting any airtime. You can have the nicest song but without money to push it, just forget about it. This has been going on for a while and my colleagues will bear me out that it is not easy at all.

“We virtually have to pay for all the hit songs you hear on radio and TV. In fact, you need to have a big budget for promotion anytime you release a song,” he revealed.

Kofi Kinaata at the moment is getting a lot of buzz with his latest single, Effiakuma Love, a song rendered in Reggae. He explained that he wanted to try Reggae with Fante and he is glad Ghanaians love the song.

“I wanted to try something different from the usual use of Patios when doing Reggae songs. I wanted to use Fante and the comments I am getting is massive. The DJs play it a lot it and I see loads of people doing videos with the song. The reception has been great,” he added.

Kofi Kinaata, winner of the Vodafone Ghana Music Awards (VGMA) Song Writer of the Year for four consecutive times has done major collaborations with artistes such as Sarkodie, Shatta Wale, Samini, Stonebwoy, Kwesi Arthur, Jayso, Castro, Becca among others.

One major collaboration that blew him into mainstream music and the limelight is Odo Pa by Castro. The song also features the then Ghana Black Stars Captain, Asamoah Gyan.

Other songs by Kinaata which have been very well received include Susuka, Adam and Eve, Time No Dey, Last Show, Single and Free and Things Fall Apart.