Ace broadcaster and Ghana’s “King of Country Music,” Tommy Annan-Forson (TAF), has expressed concern over the current state of Ghanaian music, lamenting its lack of meaningful content. Speaking on CTV’s Master of the Game hosted by His Royal Blackness Kwesi Kyei Darkwah (KKD) on Monday, December 2, 2024, the media veteran shared his dismay over the direction modern music has taken.
“I virtually don’t listen to our [modern] music because there’s nothing to understand. There’s really nothing to understand [about life from it]. It’s just blabber music. There’s no storyline,” he said.
TAF observed that much of today’s music appears to thrive on provocative language, a trend he finds troubling. “They say: ‘Bad news sells, bad music sells,'” he noted, adding that some radio stations freely play songs with cuss words and suggestive lyrics.
“And it’s like, ‘Who cares?’ Free to go. To which I say, ‘You dare not in our age in broadcasting do such a thing’. What is being done about it?”
While he acknowledged broadcasters’ role in airing such content, TAF placed greater responsibility on music makers. “If I tell a musician today to remove these words, he’ll tell me, ‘This is what sells.’ It’s like they say in the entertainment industry, it is sex that sells,” he said.
He cautioned creatives against blindly following trends for commercial gain, warning, “By the time you realise, you’ve ruined your reputation.”
Commending those who approach their work wisely, he urged musicians to prioritize content with “a clean and educative mind” that enlightens listeners rather than merely aiming to excite. “Music tells a story,” TAF emphasized.
Reflecting on his love for Country music, he explained:
“When I play Country music, I’m telling a story about myself and the listener. When I play a particular Country song that makes my heart beat, or skip a beat, I know that the listener will like this. It has a good storyline—it affects you and I.”
Tommy Annan-Forson, who began his illustrious career at GBC in the 1970s, has spent over 47 years as a broadcaster, educator, and entertainer. From presenting and managing to teaching and mentoring, his contributions have shaped the careers of notable figures like the late Komla Dumor and rapper Edem.
As one of Ghana’s most celebrated media icons, TAF remains committed to promoting quality content and inspiring future generations of broadcasters and musicians.
