UER: “There Is Money in Music, You Just Don’t Know How to Get It” — Lyrical ZK Fires Back

By: Hannah Barribilla

Upper East–based musician Lyrical ZK has ignited fresh conversations in Ghana’s entertainment industry especially in the Upper East Region after challenging the long-standing belief that the music business does not pay.
The artiste made these remarks during a mid-morning show, URA Marketplace, on GBC URA Radio, hosted by Hannah Barribilla.
Speaking candidly on the programme, Lyrical ZK insisted that money exists within the music industry, depending on how artistes position and manage themselves.
“Imagine somebody having two houses, three houses, with no rent. It just means something,” he said, suggesting that some players in the industry are quietly benefiting financially.
He questioned the narrative that local artistes earn nothing while those labelled as “international” are also said to be struggling.
“When I’m making money out of the craft, they say you are international and you are not making anything out of the craft. But people are making money. There is money in the industry,” he stressed.
According to the Upper East artiste, financial success in music is not accidental but depends on strategy and understanding the business side of the craft.
“It depends on how you decide to extract your money,” he explained.
Lyrical ZK described his realization as an eye-opener, noting that for years, creatives have been fed the idea that the industry offers no financial reward.
“We’ve always been told that the industry don’t pay, that there is nothing in it. Hearing a positive response for the first time was like, wow—we have to find that money.”
Focused on growing his brand, he revealed that he deliberately took time to study the industry and connect with key stakeholders, a move that reshaped his outlook.
“I decided to study the industry and attach myself to some people. That’s when I realised that the industry is very limited,” he added.
His comments have since sparked conversations among upcoming artistes in the Upper East Region and beyond, with many calling for better education on branding, networking, and sustainable revenue streams in Ghana’s music industry.