The music dey sweet, the fame dey sweet, but many artistes are learning the hard way that a contract they never read properly, can turn a dream career into a courtroom drama.
Truth be told, plenty Nigerian artistes don’t fully read, understand, or even get a lawyer to check their contracts before they sign. That one mistake, is behind almost every big record label wahala that has rocked the industry.
Young or hungry talents sign in excitement. In some cases, minors sign with the help of a guardian. Some other times, with a manager who draws up terms that look sweet on paper, but hit different once the money starts rolling in. The real gist is who owns the masters? How revenue is split after the label “recoups” its money. What happens after the contract ends? Who controls your name? How exclusive you’re locked in; and if you even get to see the books, only becomes a big deal once the music starts making serious cash.
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