The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and artist manager of Media Excel Productions Kwesi Ernest has urged Ghanaian gospel artists to showcase everything they have when comes to performing on stage at events.
According to Kwesi Ernest, if gospel artists showcase their potentials, they will attract big sponsorship deals from corporate enterprises.
Defending his statement, he explained that only few gospel artists who are able to grab sponsorship deals due to the large fanbase they have and how their show professionalism while performing on stage.
In an interview with Graphic Showbiz he said;
“Now that it is not very easy to get corporate bodies to support gospel shows, the work lies on gospel musicians to do the needful by putting their acts together and making sure that they are attractive enough to catch the eye of sponsors.”
“Artistes such as MOG Music, Diana Hamilton, Ohemaa Mercy, Joe Mettle, Piesie Esther and a few others are doing great out there. However, more needs to be done if we want good sponsorship for gospel events.”
“I don’t want to mention names but I have been to some of these companies and it is boldly written at their front desk that they don’t sponsor gospel events. I would want to use this opportunity to encourage them to be welcoming. Sponsorship helps a lot, especially in these hard times.”
Talking about the journey so far on the gospel industry he said;
“The sector is doing great. I say this because it didn’t use to happen. To have three gospel artistes in the Vodafone Ghana Music Awards (VGMA) Artiste of the Year category is a huge deal. Now, most of the categories have a gospel artiste in there --Best Collaboration, Best Female Vocalist, Best Video, Most Popular Song, and others.”
Kwesi Ernest who has paid his dues as an artist manager after and is still serving as a manger for some big artists in the creative arts industry says he is confident Piesie Esther will be announced the ‘Artist Of The Year’ at upcoming VGMA event because her works under a year’s review cannot be matched to any other artist even though she was listed among top artists in the ‘Artist Of The Year’ category.
The VGMA event will be held this Saturday, May 6, 2023 at the Accra Conference Centre (AICC).
Kwesi has managed the likes of Stella Seal, Becca, Francis Adjei, Praye and others. He is currently managing Abena Ruthy and ACP Kofi Sarpong.
