Trigmatic’s Payola Revelation: Fried Rice for Airpla

Ghanaian musician Trigmatic has made a surprising revelation about the extent to which payola—unofficial payments to radio presenters for airplay—was ingrained in the industry. According to the artist, during the early days of his career, he had to resort to giving fried rice to presenters as a form of payola to get his songs played on the radio.

Trigmatic’s statement sheds light on the longstanding payola culture in Ghana’s music industry, where struggling artists often find it difficult to break through without incentives for DJs and presenters. While some argue that such practices are necessary to survive in the industry, others believe it undermines the integrity of radio programming and denies deserving artists fair opportunities.

His revelation has sparked conversations among industry players and music lovers about the need for a more transparent and merit-based system that prioritizes quality music over informal incentives. Some have called for stricter regulations to curb the practice, ensuring that airplay is based on artistic merit rather than financial or material exchanges.

As the music industry continues to evolve, Trigmatic’s candid admission serves as a reminder of the challenges artists face and the need for systemic reforms to promote fairness and equal opportunities for all musicians in Ghana.