Award-winning Ghanaian songstress Wendy Asiamah Addo, known by the stage name Wendy Shay has added her voice to the prevailing notion that filling large venues and winning Grammy Awards are the sole measures of an artiste’s success.
In a tweet that resonated across the music industry, she questioned why filling iconic venues like the O2 Arena and winning Grammy Awards have become the standard benchmarks for evaluating an artist’s achievements.
Drawing parallels with globally renowned artists like Bob Marley and 2Pac, who achieved legendary status without winning a Grammy, Wendy Shay, 27, called on Ghanaians to redefine their perspectives on success.
“Why is filling 02 and winning Grammy become the standard to measure the success of an Artist? Bob Marley and 2Pac are successful musicians but never won a Grammy. Let Ghanaian musicians breathe! Ghana wake up!” she tweeted.
Why is filling 02 and winning Grammy become the standard to measure the success of an Artist?
— Enigma EP (@wendyshaygh) August 27, 2023
Bob Marley and 2Pac are successful musicians but never won a Grammy.
Let Ghanaian musicians breathe !
Ghana wake up!
The ‘Survivor’ hitmaker’s sentiments echo the recent comments made by fellow musicians like Fameye and Amerado, who criticized Ghanaians for not fully supporting their artistes during smaller international events while demanding massive turnouts at venues like the O2 Arena.
Wendy Shay’s response follows the recent success of Nigerian Afrobeats star Asake, who held a historic concert at the O2 Arena.
This achievement, although significant, challenges the notion that only international artistes can achieve such milestones.
It also raises questions about the varying degrees of support that Ghanaian artistes receive in similar contexts.