For some time now, musician Atom has been in the news for his Range Rover ride acquisition but more critically his claim that tech giant, Apple Inc. paid him something in the region of $30,000 as compensation for using his tune without prior notice.
The revelation on Samuel Baah Flex’s hosted AM Pluzz stunned many but Atom’s assertion that he had his lawyer contact Apple for the deal to be inked in 45 days after the video of Ghanaian Apple executive Bozoma Saint John playing the tune went viral was backed by documents in his possession quietened down the doubters till Mel Kwesi Davis stepped in.
Davis, who is the CEO of Events Republic according to entertainment observer Kelly Nii Lartey Mensa has debunked the onetime hitmaker’s claim explaining Mel Kwesi Davis and other known industry players worked for the song to be used at Apple's event resulting in the payment Atom was crowing about.
Kelly continues on his Facebook page that Atom’s unfounded claim of using his power and lawyer to extract the payment has disappointed some folks at Apple; even fearing Atom’s ‘lies’ could prove to be a party pooper as his payment was initiated as a great step for Apple to start dealing with Ghanaian artistes and the West African industry at large.
The Ghanaian Apple executive playing 'Ye Wo Krom' shot it to No.1 on itunes W/Africa after it was used at Apple’s WWDC leading to the $30k payment per the initial agreement and contract.
“The idea was to start putting Gh artistes on Apple Music events and platforms. But now its over. Sorry Gh...your chance is blown out!†Kelly laments further about Atom’s needlessly lie which has cost a whole crop of artistes who could have benefited from the exposure and money.
He adds that discussions were far advanced for Apple Music to hold a music conference in Ghana, November 2016...on digital monetization. “Now its someways†he wrote even starting the hashtag #AtomMustApologiseToApple.
After the rebuttal by Davis as rendered by Kelly, Atom still stands by his account daring anyone to provide evidence that he was paid prior to the Apple conference.
What is not in doubt is that Atom who enjoyed national fame thanks to his ‘Y3 Wo Krom’ tune, a sampling of Gasmilla’s ‘Telemo’ song must prove his hit wasn’t a fluke. He must offer tunes which even when not in the stellar league of ‘Y3 Wo Krom’ can still enjoy appreciable support.
No musician worth his name ought to still be mounting stages post mid-2016 with a song which enjoyed clamour in December 2015.
Some enjoy luck and good fortune than others and it is that Atom continues to make money from his popular tune, even surpassing in revenue Gasmilla, whose creative work he rode on.
If he has any music in him, Atom ought to ride on his recent trend on social media and prepare a song immediately (at this rate fans just want a new song hit or not) and if it will take another collaboration with Jhunea whom he featured on ‘Y3 Wo Krom’ so be it.
What I find unsettling however is Kelly’s obsession with the fear that Atom’s supposed misrepresentation or lie about how he made his 30k will block the path of other Ghanaian and indeed West African artistes since all their conferences and digital monetization workshops and what not will be thrown to the dogs.
Why one artiste’s lie should kill the career progression of others beats me, after all Apple I would like to think cannot make another man pay for the ‘sins’ of another.
I should think Apple bases its decisions on sound fact and evidence rather than the emotional, which could bother on feelings or morality.
After all when Nana Borro tactlessly cheated SK Originale in his ‘Aha Ye De’ fame and revenue, karma  paid him nicely and he’s been on the fringes despite his efforts to reclaim old glory.
If Atom indeed misrepresented the facts, I am afraid it is his own progression he has hampered, no one else’s’, certainly not Ghanaian artistes and most certainly not West African artistes.
After all our Saminis, Sarkodies, Stonebwoys, Shatta Wales, Efyas and Beccas have been credible ambassadors who keep flying high the flag of the motherland and no Atom (a small particle) cannot scupper their onward march.
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