Record label owners on Friday expressed worry about non-inclusion of
music producers in financial prizes that went with music awards.

A letter addressed to the Executive Director of Charter House, an organiser of music awards, signed by Mr. John Sarpong, President, Ghana Association of Phonographic Industry, said in spite of the heavy investment made by music producers in the production, promotion and the overall success of an album, they had little recognition in terms of awards.

"We believe it will be fair to offer a package to music producers whose investment leads to an award winner's (recognition). Not only will you be enriching the content of the award but this will also be a motivating factor for the industry to thrive," he said. Mr Sarpong commended Charter House for the award for various disciplines in the music industry, especially the just-launched MTN Ghana Music Award 2007.

"The idea of offering 300 Ghana Cedis to the highest award winner is highly commendable and will go a long way to motivate artistes to come out with inspiring and motivating products," he said. "However, as record label owners, we express our reservations about the non-inclusion of music producers in the financial packaging that goes with the awards."

Mr Sarpong said the music producer was very important in the making of an album with the average cost of production and promotion of an album being in excess of 30,000 Ghana Cedis which in most cases is shouldered by the Record Label Owners.

"In spite of this heavy investment there is no guarantee of the album's success. You will agree that that the turnover of albums on the market keeps dwindling with every given year because of the negative returns on investment

by record label owners."

Mr. Sarpong said due to the situation a lot of producers had folded up or diversified into other businesses warning that this trend could collapse the music industry in Ghana.

"We believe it will be fair to offer a package to the music producer whose investment leads to the award winner (being recognised). "I will advice event organizers in the showbiz business to always remember those who are behind the musicians as far as promotion, management and other things are concerned. Sometimes it is sad to look at the musician's success and conclude that all is done only by his or her efforts without help from any producer," he said.

Mr Sarpong said some 70 per cent of the most popular musicians in the country made it through executive producers and they must be encouraged to remain in business since production of music was becoming unattractive.