Kenyan gospel artiste Guardian Angel performs during the Gospel Experience Live Recording at the Kenya National Theater, Nairobi on February 1, 2019. FILE | NATION MEDIA GROUP
Gospel singer Guardian Angel says he would only accept bids from Sh200 million if he were to sell his entire music catalogue today.
The man who came into the limelight with hits “Amazing Grace” and “Nadeka” says after being in the music scene for 15 years, his catalogue wouldn’t come cheap should he want to dispose of his entire copyrights to his artistry masterpieces.
“I think if I am to sell the rights to all my music right now, that I would never need them again, the catalogue wouldn’t be anything less than Sh200 million,” Guardian states.
Guardian arrived at this figure by noting that transferring his music catalogue copyrights to another individual or entity justifies the amount.
He maintains that his entire catalogue is substantial enough to yield over Sh200 million if acquired by someone else or another entity.
The gospel star maintains that to get to this summation, it has taken him a lot of years and so people shouldn’t be confused to think, music generates quick money.
“If you want to get rich quickly then do something else but not music. You can never get rich quickly with proceeds from music. In the course of my career, the challenges outweigh the successes and if you are to ask many other artistes they will tell you it’s never easy in the music business. There were periods when I wanted to quit. In fact, right now is when I can comfortably say that I am enjoying the fortunes from my music,” he adds.
While the sale of a music catalogue is rarely heard of in this part of the world, it’s not an uncommon occurrence in the music business worldwide.
A host of notable celebrities have sold the entire or part of their music catalogues, generating some considerable amount for their creations.
For instance, in 2023, legendary American rapper and producer Dr Dre sold his music catalogue for $200 million to Universal Music Group and Shamrock Holding.
In 2021, French DJ and record producer David Guetta sold his music catalog for $100 million to Warner Music which saw the company acquire the 56-year-old record-music catalogue from the last two decades.
