LALI X LOLA APPEALS TO COMMUNICATION MINISTER OVER UNPAID BOOMPLAY ROYALTIES
Music duo pulls catalogue from platform, urges government to regulate digital music platforms over transparency and payment delays.
Ghanaian music duo Lali X Lola has formally appealed to the Minister for Communication, Digital Technology, and Innovation, Hon. Samuel Nartey George, to intervene in what they describe as persistent non-payment of streaming royalties by music platform Boomplay.
In a public statement and subsequent interview on Daybreak Hitz with DJ Slim, the artistes revealed that their music distributor has not received any reliable accounting or streaming revenue from Boomplay since April 2023, despite numerous follow-up attempts.
“When such platforms fail to meet basic obligations to rights holders, especially by withholding payments, it borders on exploitation of Ghanaian creative talent,” the duo stated.
Lali X Lola emphasized the financial and emotional toll of music production and called for greater transparency and accountability from digital streaming platforms operating within Ghana’s borders.
Music Pulled from Boomplay
Due to the unresolved payment issues, the duo has instructed their distributor to remove all songs scheduled for release in 2025 from Boomplay. Manager Kimathi disclosed that the decision was also influenced by inconsistent backend analytics and Boomplay’s failure to provide clear revenue reports.
“We have almost a million streams on Boomplay, but there’s no clear data or compensation,” he stated. “Our distributor also confirmed they’re not receiving reliable information or payments.”
They have since shifted focus to Audiomack, where engagement and payments have reportedly been more consistent.
Call for Government Action
In their formal appeal, the duo urged Hon. Sam George to champion regulatory oversight for digital service providers, ensuring Ghanaian artistes are not short-changed in the rapidly evolving digital economy.
“With your leadership and commitment to digital fairness and innovation, measures can be introduced to ensure Ghanaian creatives are protected and justly compensated,” Lali x Lola’s letter read.
According to their management, a soft copy of the appeal was sent via email and social media on Friday, and a hard copy is being delivered this week to the Minister’s office.
The development underscores the broader challenge facing Ghanaian creatives: lack of enforcement mechanisms in the digital music space, which has allowed platforms to operate with little to no transparency or accountability.
Source:NKONKONSA.com
