Media personality and blogger, Kobby Kyei, has urged Ghanaian universities to restructure their music programs by incorporating music business and entrepreneurship into their curriculum.
Speaking in an interview on Starr ShowBiz on Starr 103.5 FM on Saturday, August 30, 2025, Kobby Kyei emphasized that the music industry is not only about talent, but also about the knowledge and structures that sustain it. He argued that Ghana has many gifted musicians, but most are unable to build sustainable careers because they lack business knowledge.
“In our universities, when you go to the University of Education, Winneba, that’s where I completed. And when you go to Legon, they also study music. Now, these universities that have programs which accept students every year must also add music business to their curriculum,” he said.
He pointed out that schools such as the University of Education, Winneba, and the University of Ghana, Legon, have long offered music programs, but the focus has mainly been on technical training learning how to play instruments, read music, or perform. While such training is important, he believes it is not enough to equip graduates to succeed in today’s fast-changing music industry.
Kobby Kyei explained that modern music education should go beyond performance and theory to prepare students for the business realities of the creative sector. “It shouldn’t just be about going to learn how to play music or read music. We should be able to produce, especially from Winneba and Legon, people who are music business-oriented so they can have the space to thrive,” he noted.
He added that if courses in music entrepreneurship and business management are introduced, Ghana will be able to produce a new generation of graduates who not only create music but also understand contracts, publishing rights, marketing, branding, and revenue streams. This, he said, would strengthen the creative economy and provide employment opportunities beyond performing.
READ: Make MUSIGA attractive to young people – Kobby Kyei
The blogger further argued that graduates trained in music business could help bridge the gap between talent and industry structures. By creating managers, promoters, producers, and business executives from academic settings, the industry would no longer rely solely on informal learning or foreign influence.
“Every year, these universities graduate students. But the question is: how many of them are positioned to create jobs or to understand the music economy? If we restructure our curriculum to include music business, then we are giving them the tools to succeed beyond the stage,” he stressed.
He concluded by saying that if universities in Ghana embrace this shift, it will not only help musicians, but also create new professional pathways for young people who may not want to perform but still wish to contribute meaningfully to the music and entertainment ecosystem.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh
