Shatta Wale Explains Why He Rejected Record Labels and Chose an Independent Music Career

Ghanaian dancehall superstar Shatta Wale has opened up about why he has remained an independent artiste throughout his career, revealing that learning every aspect of the music business made him less dependent on traditional record labels.

The award-winning musician said his decision to stay independent was driven by his ability to manage key areas of his career, including music production, mixing, mastering, promotion and digital distribution, without relying on a record company.

According to Shatta Wale, taking full control of his music business has enabled him to generate income, save money and invest in other profitable ventures over the years.

Speaking about his journey, the On God hitmaker explained that he realised he was already performing many of the responsibilities typically handled by record labels.

“I found out I was doing everything a record label needed. Producing my own beats, mixing them, mastering them, doing my own flyers, uploading them on YouTube myself and on other stores myself because I’m a tech person, so I learnt all those things,” he said.

Shatta Wale noted that acquiring these skills gave him the confidence to run his career independently while building financial stability.

“I saw it from like 10 years ago that I could run myself properly and make money. I’ve been able to build that, save that money, even venture into playing games on my phone and winning bigger money with the same money. So I’ve flipped the money,” he stated.

Despite his preference for independence, the dancehall star acknowledged that record labels can play a significant role in helping musicians achieve international success through funding, marketing and industry connections.

However, he cautioned artistes to carefully understand the financial obligations and ownership arrangements that often accompany record deals.

“The advantage is that they can push you to become a superstar, but it’s up to you to maintain it. The money they put into you, you have to put it at the back of your mind that they are going to get a lot from you,” he explained.

Shatta Wale added that his years of experience in the music industry, coupled with ownership of his music catalogue and master recordings, have strengthened his position should he decide to partner with a record label in the future.

He stressed that retaining control over his music rights remains a top priority in any potential business agreement.

Shatta Wale’s remarks highlight his long-standing advocacy for artiste independence and underscore the importance of understanding the business side of the music industry before signing any record deal.

Source:Pulse