How to Make Money in Music – Kofi Kyei on Monetizing Africa’s Creative Industry

Stop Chasing Fame, Start Chasing the Bag

I just finished listening to the latest Konnected Minds episode with Derrick Abaitey, and honestly, my brain is buzzing. If you’ve ever looked at the Ghanaian music scene and wondered where the actual money is (beyond just the flashy music videos), you need to hear what Kofi Kyei has to say.

Kofi isn't just talking as a fan. He’s deep in the industry, and he’s seeing things most of us miss from the outside. The biggest takeaway for me? Fame and wealth are not the same thing. You can have a hit song on every radio station in Accra and still have a zero balance in your bank account if you don't understand monetization.

The Business Behind the Beats

One thing Kofi kept coming back to was the structure—or the lack of it. A lot of our creatives are talented, but they aren't treating their craft like a business. Have you registered your works? Do you understand publishing royalties? Do you even know who your audience is?

Kofi explained that Africa’s creative industry is a goldmine, but we are often exporting the raw materials (the talent) and letting others build the factories. He broke down how splits work and why having a solid team is more important than having a hundred 'yes men' in your entourage.

It’s Not Just About Singing

What I loved most was that this conversation wasn't just for musicians. It was for anyone in the creative space. Whether you're a producer, a manager, or a content creator, the principles are the same. You have to be intentional. You can’t just drop a song and 'hope' it goes viral. Hope isn't a strategy.

Derrick and Kofi also touched on the power of platforms. We talk about Spotify and Apple Music all the time, but are we using them right? Kofi’s insights on how to position African music for a global market without losing our soul were pure gold.

Value Over Hype

If you take one thing away from this episode, let it be this: Value attracts money. If you aren’t providing value that someone is willing to pay for, you’re just a hobbyist. Kofi Kyei is literally handing out the blueprint to move from being a 'struggling artist' to a creative entrepreneur.

Are you ready to stop playing small? Check out the full episode above. This is the kind of talk we need if we’re going to actually own our narratives and our wealth in Africa.

What was your biggest 'aha' moment from Kofi? Let’s talk in the comments!