music 4 September 2026 Howwe Entertainment
Diamond Oscar: Money Overshadows Talent in Uganda's Music Scene
Veteran musician Diamond Oscar has expressed concern that financial backing now holds more sway than raw talent in Uganda's music industry, giving well-funded artists a significant edge. Source: https://www.howwe.ug/news/entertainment/43620/money-now-matters-more-than-talent-in-ugandas-music-industry-diamond-oscar
Uganda’s music landscape is increasingly being shaped by financial muscle rather than pure artistic ability, according to veteran musician Diamond Oscar.
He observes a stark shift from the past, where talent, creativity, and genuine audience connection were the primary drivers of success. Oscar argues that today, artists with substantial financial backing and effective management can rapidly gain visibility and airplay.
“This wasn’t the case in our time. We used to create music straight from our souls and on our own. It was about talent, and not money as it is today,” Oscar stated, highlighting the bygone era of organic artistic expression.
He explained that significant financial investment allows artists to afford high-quality production and secure prime slots on media platforms, creating an uneven playing field. While acknowledging that talent is still a crucial component, Oscar believes money has become a dominant factor in an artist’s ascent and popularity.
Adding a touch of humor and critique, Oscar playfully proposed a concert pitting older generation musicians against their younger counterparts. He humorously predicted the seasoned artists would likely outperform the new generation, further underscoring his point about the evolving, and in his view, potentially diluted, state of the contemporary music industry.