“Yes, but No Money!” – King Paluta Slams Boomplay Over Unpaid Royalties

The tension between African music stars and digital streaming giant Boomplay has reached a breaking point.

Ghanaian sensation King Paluta is the latest artiste to voice his frustrations, joining a growing chorus of musicians accusing the platform of exploiting creators by withholding streaming revenues.

The spark for the latest controversy ignited on April 7, 2026, after Boomplay shared its Top 10 Most Streamed Ghanaian Artistes list for the first quarter of the year.

Despite the “Ewor Me” hitmaker appearing on number 6 spot on Boomplay’s list, Paluta was in no mood for celebration.

Taking to X (formerly Twitter), King Paluta directly tagged the streaming service to question the utility of “vanity metrics” that don’t translate into financial stability.

 “Yes, but no money! You people are taking us for granted and it’s sooo wrong! @BoomplayMusic!!!” he posted.

His outburst highlights a recurring grievance in the Ghanaian creative arts space: the disconnect between massive streaming numbers and the actual bank accounts of the performers.

A Pattern of Alleged Neglect

King Paluta’s public call-out is far from an isolated incident. The Chinese-owned streaming app is facing heat on multiple fronts:

On May 19, 2025, the musical duo Lali X Lola took their grievances to the government. They petitioned the Minister of Communications, Digital Technology and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George, claiming they haven’t seen a pesewa from the platform since April 2023.

Even the “Big Bad Wiz” isn’t immune. In 2024, Nigerian icon Wizkid publicly slammed Boomplay, alleging the platform refused to pay royalties for his projects despite them garnering hundreds of millions of streams.

Demands for Government Intervention

In their petition to Minister Sam George, Lali X Lola emphasized that their repeated attempts to get clarity from Boomplay were met with a “wall of silence.” They are now calling for a full-scale investigation into the platform’s operations in Ghana.

The duo’s statement highlights a desperate need for regulatory oversight for all Digital Streaming Providers (DSPs) operating within the country to ensure transparency, accountability, and fair compensation.

“There has been consistent unresponsiveness and non-payment, which raises serious concerns about… fair compensation for Ghanaian music artistes,” part of the petition stated.

As Boomplay continues to dominate the African market as a primary source of music consumption, top charting African artistes on the platform are increasingly being viewed by industry players not as badges of honor, but as evidence of unpaid labor.

With heavyweights like Wizkid, Davido & Tems leading the charge, the pressure is now on Boomplay and African digital regulators to prove that the “Digital Gold Rush” isn’t just a one-way street on the continent.