Top 10 Most Powerful Record Labels in Ghana; The debate as to whether artistes make record labels or record labels makes artistes is not something that’s going away anytime soon. Most people are of the view that the success and how powerful a record label becomes is highly dependent on the kind of artistes they sign and the individual successes of the artiste on the label.
Others also subscribe to the view that there are record labels that have proven over the past years by selling any product, in this case, artistes that sign onto their label. In effect, the success of an artiste is highly influenced by the record label he or she is signed onto.
Well, we are not here to settle that debate today. However, we will love to draw your attention to the top 10 most powerful record labels currently in Ghana.
This list has been compiled based on the successes chopped by the record label over the past years, the general contribution of the label towards the discovering of new talents, how quickly artistes are able to progress up the ranks and many other development related factors.
List Of Top 10 Most Powerful Record Labels in Ghana:
1. Lynx Entertainment:
They are undoubtedly the most powerful and relevant label currently in Ghana. They have some of the top A-List artistes in Ghana signed onto their label. Lynx entertainment has artistes like Kuami Eugene, Kidi and Mzvee who are fronting for the label. One thing that is very Unique about Lynx entertainment is that every single artiste signed onto the record label has won one or two awards and feeding music fans with hits upon hits all the time. Albert Mensah is the fine brain behind the success of Lynx entertainment.
2. Rufftown Records:
Bullet and his record label lie comfortably at the second position on the top 10 most powerful record labels chart in Ghana as ranked by us. Rufftown records is a label that many will say thrives on controversies. The signees on this label are always in the news for one scandal or the other.
The biggest success of the record label was making Ebony the artiste she was before her demise. She was nurtured into a powerhouse of music who competed squarely with others in a male dominated profession. Ebony happens to be the only female in the books of Ghana to have won the VGMA Artiste of the Year.
The label has produced hits like Coupe, Maame Hw3, Uber Driver, Bedroom Commando, and many more. Wendy Shay is now the lead act on the label and their latest discovery Fantana is an instant A-List artiste.
3. Zylofon Music:
Zylofon cannot be ignored when it comes to the most powerful record labels in Ghana. They can boast of having some of the top artistes in the industry whiles the financial powers of the founder and manager of the record label Nana Appiah Mensah made the label an instant hit.
Zylofon Music has artistes like Shatta Wale, Joyce Blessing, Obibini, Kumi Guitar and many others making them one of the labels with the greatest collection of talents. They also had a deal with Stonebwoy who is a five time winner of the reggae dancehall artiste of the year.
4. GroundUp Chale:
GroundUp claim they are not a record label but they operate and run as one. According to them, they are just a platform where young artiste grow their talents. Kwesi Arthur is the lead act on the label and can boast of so many hit songs and awards coupled with a BET nomination as the Viewer’s Choice Best New International Act.
They have other talents like Don’t be late hitmaker Kofi Mole, Twitch, Quamina MP and many others.
5. AMG Business:
A group known to be a solid vibrant cash gang headed by the boss himself – Chris Waddle. The most active artiste on the label currently is the 2019 VGMA Rapper of the year award winner – Medikal. Medikal can boast of a good number of hit songs to his name and undoubtedly the best rapper currently in Ghana.
AmG Mawuli Younggod is also one of the arts signed onto the AMG Music label even though he is yet to release any meaningful or hit song. The AMG Music group is noted for flaunting the internet space with cash, cars, and expensive jewelries. Their founder and leader Chris Waddle reportedly used his own money to construct a road in his village, an act which some may term as a cooperate social responsibility as a business person.
6. Burniton Music Group:
This is the record label of Stonebwoy. Stonebwoy has been all over the international music space lately, Getting high profile collabos, performing on international stages and releasing hits upon hits. He is currently the Reggae Dancehall artiste of the year, an award he has held for 5 consecutive years.
Kelvyn Boy has also been signed onto the Burniton Music label. He was nominated for the VGMA New Artiste of the year but lost to Rufftown’s Wendy Shay. His latest EP released a few weeks ago is performing really well. OV is also known with the Burniton Record Label but she is yet to have a single Hit song to her name since she was signed.
7. Sarkcess Music:
The king of rap Sarkodie, is the founder and leader of the Sarkcess music label. The achievements and influence of Sarkodie on the Ghana music scene can never be underestimated. He was awarded the best artiste over the last decade at the recently held VGMAs.
Akwaboah is also on the Sarkcess Music label but the next big name in Ghana rap Strongman recently parted ways with the label after a two-year contract with them was due.
8. Black Avenue Music:
This music label is owned and run by D-Black. They are responsible for giving Wisa a second chance in his life as a musician after his career almost died, also made Freda Rymez famous, and currently managing S3fa. Black Avenue Record label is noted for finding and grooming new talents. The only artistes left on the label as at now are D-Black and S3fa.
9. Spyderlee Entertainment:
Although this label not in the face of the public all the time, their artistes are well known and projected than the label. Spyderlee Entertainment is known for making Keche stars and are behind hit songs, Aluguntugui, Sokode amongst others.
Aside Keche, Spyderlee is noted for the tremendous work done for rapper TeePhlow who won his first plaques under the label, to mention a few, 2018 VGMA Record of the Year Award and others at the 2017 Central Music Awards.
10. Shatta Movement (SM):
This is the music label owned by the king of dancehall Shatta Wale. The SM boss who people know to be very controversial has been in the news lately but for the right reasons. His collabo with the queen of music Beyonce is undoubtedly the biggest collabo in the history of Ghana Music.
The song ‘Already’ was voted as the best song on the Lion King Album. Aside Shatta Wale, little to nothing is heard of the other artistes in the Shatta Movement Crew. Their biggest success is their ‘Thunder Fire’ collabo with their master.
We acknowledge the fact that there are other equally good music labels currently operating in Ghana, but taking our perceived factors into consideration, these music labels are the most successful and powerful labels in Ghana currently.
