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Spilt Sheets in Ghanaian Recording Studios

Dr. Coffie, Mark Millas
Senior Lecturer/Faculty Examinations Officer, SCA
  mmcoffie@uew.edu.gh

Authors
Arhin, B.O., Coffie, M.M., Konu, H.S., Ferguson, E.A.
Publication Year
2023
Article Title
Spilt Sheets in Ghanaian Recording Studios
Journal
International Journal of Music Business Research
Volume
12
Issue Number
1
Page Numbers
1-10
Abstract

The split sheet used in a recording studio is one of the essential means for any creative artist who understands its implementation benefits from the royalties that the creative work generates as it obtains commercial merchandise. However, surprisingly, Ghanaian music producers and practitioners are yet to tap into the full potential of this avenue. This paper investigates the awareness and benefits of the split sheet among Ghanaian music producers and practitioners in the recording industry and the extent to which they have explored it. Using a mixed-methods mode of inquiry for data collection, we sampled music producers and practitioners (n= 218) in Ghana to briefly analyse the moneymaking through split sheets of songs available to music practitioners in Ghana's recording industry. It was noted that 94.9% of respondents were unaware of the split sheet, while 92.7% did not know the benefit of the split sheet. However, only 4.6% of the respondents had used the split sheet. Subsequently, we conclude that the low awareness of the split sheet among Ghanaian music producers and practitioners, the decorum of the business side of creativity in the Ghanaian recording industry is compromised. Therefore, we recommend that more intensive education be undertaken to sensitize Ghanaian music producers and practitioners to the benefit of the split sheet in their daily work to enhance revenue generation.

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