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.
And the pattern keeps repeating itself. For instance, look at Dapper Music and its artistes; Jude Okoye’s setup with P-Square; and Cynthia Morgan three different stories, same old wahala.
Dapper Music and Its Artistes: Shallipopi, Muyeez and the Rest
In December 2024, Shallipopi (Crown Uzama) publicly cut ties with Dapper Music and its sister company, Dvpper Digital. He said there was breach of trust, poor handling of his money and a conflict of interest. He was pushed aside in a publishing deal with another company owned by the same people. He also pointed to a clause that would have given the label 30% of his earnings forever, even after he left. He called it exploitation, plain and simple.
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