Creativity and talent do not pay in Upper East Region – Ras Wormz
Ras Wormz says inadequate funding and limited investment are making it difficult for creatives in the Upper East Region to turn their talents into sustainable livelihoods.
Musician and social commentator, Asampana Michael Abembila, popularly known as Ras Wormz, has lamented the difficulty many creatives in the Upper East Region face in turning their talents into sustainable sources of income.
According to him, creativity and talent are often treated as passions or side activities rather than viable livelihoods, making it difficult for many artists and other creatives to build sustainable careers.
Speaking on the Voices of Change on Saturday September 26, Ras Wormz who uses music to address social issues, amplify voices and inspire positive change, said the creative industry in the region remains largely unrewarding.
“In the Upper East Region, music does not pay, meanwhile it is demanding. Many talented creatives have the passion, skills and ideas to thrive, yet turning creativity into a sustainable source of income remains a major challenge” he noted.
He said the situation has resulted in many creatives pursuing their talents as side activities rather than full-time careers.
Ras Wormz, however, emphasized the potential of music as a powerful tool for social transformation, noting that people can easily connect with messages conveyed through music.
He said music goes beyond entertainment, describing it as a form of talent and creativity capable of addressing societal challenges and influencing lives.
He therefore urged musicians and other creatives to use their platforms responsibly by producing content that positively influences society and avoiding insults, vulgarity and lyrics that could incite violence.
“Some people produce songs that they would not even allow their children to listen to because they are not good. You should ask yourself if what you are doing will influence society negatively or positively,” he cautioned.
Ras Wormz identified inadequate funding as one of the major challenges confronting creatives in the Upper East Region.
He said many artists struggle to raise the resources needed to produce quality and competitive audio recordings and music videos, while limited investment in the creative sector continues to constrain the growth of talents.
He also cited the multilingual nature of the region as another challenge, explaining that the use of different languages and dialects across municipalities and districts can make it difficult for some songs to gain wider appreciation.
Despite these challenges, Ras Wormz appealed to individuals, businesses and other stakeholders to invest in the creative industry and support emerging talents in the region.
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