NaijaTimes x-rays the issues surrounding record deals and record labels in Nigeria, especially with regard to how young artistes (upcoming) are treated by their managers.
THE Nigerian music industry is one of the drivers of the economy; hence a massive economic force. As a new gold mine, recording artists, their promoters and by extension the country reap big from the windfall that daily flows in from streaming apps.
According to data from the accounting firm, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), the Nigerian music industry, which is one of the fastest-growing creative industries in the world, is currently estimated at $19 billion in valuation. It generates over $2 billion (N1.5trillion) in revenue per year as of 2021, making it one of the largest music industries in the world.
However, in recent times, players in the industry, especially newcomers (upcoming artistes) are regularly faced with some alleged ills such as mistreatment by record labels that signed them, forced to swear to an oath or join a cult group, and other unclear contractual agreements. This development was recently heightened with the death of street hop artiste, Ilerioluwa Oladimeji Aloba, known professionally as MohBad.
Whenever a new shining star emerges on the scene, it is not unusual to hear side-talks on the streets about how the artiste must have dined with the devil to get to where he or she is. It is alleged that several artistes sell their souls to the devil in the course of trying to find their way to the top. Some visit shrines to pledge allegiance to strange gods with blood oaths.
From serving as ‘studio rats’ to being musical sensations, many of the artistes have become successful this way, while millions of others out there are waiting to get their own breakthrough, but the repercussions are usually very grave, as some of them lose their lives at the peak of fame. Those who don’t die, live with a heavy conscience, and are usually tormented for the rest of their days.
The history of artiste versus their record label/management is generally not new in the music industry due to non-compliance to contract terms. Oftentimes these troubles arise when either party cannot quite come to an understanding of contract terms.
Naturally, money is always the cause of the rifts. This was the case between MohBad, a Nigerian rapper, singer, and songwriter formerly signed to AbdulAzeez Adeshina Fashola popularly known as Naira Marley’s led Marlian Records.
MohBad left the label in 2022, citing unpaid royalties from 2019. He accused the record label of refusing to pay him his royalties from monetised intellectual content and advances as mutually agreed in their contractual agreement.
The announcement of his exit from the record label was contained in a statement released on Tuesday, October 25, 2022 by his management and legal team, asserting that the late Ko Por Ke (KPK) crooner’s exit was as a result of the constant attacks he received, which were orchestrated by Naira Marley following his demand for unpaid royalties and change of his manager, who incidentally is Naira Marley’s brother.
“In contravention of the terms of the arrangement between our client and yourself, you have failed to pay any advances as mutually agreed by both parties since 2019 till date. You have also failed to pay all royalties due our client from all his intellectual property works monetized, released and utilised by you from 2019 till date,” the document read.
Prior to his death on Tuesday, September 12, MohBad had on October 5, 2022 taken to his Twitter handle to reveal bloodied bodies, claiming that it was as a result of being assaulted by the Marlian Records crew, because he requested to have his manager changed.
“Just because I want to change my manager who is their brother, see what they did to me at Marlian House. World pls help me oo, I’m dying inside,” he had tweeted.
Revealing that he was at the hospital for a CT scan for head impact and chest X-ray as a result of the assault, MohBad accused Naira Marley of being present during the assault and doing nothing to stop it. He added, “I’m not high oo cos that is what dey always say just to die down everything.”
Reacting to this development, rapper cum recording artiste and chief executive officer of Etiemelo Empire Entertainment, Fasasi Mobolaji Gaius, better known in the music industry as Da Emperor said, “It’s so sad that the music industry lost a rare gem, a superstar and a shining light. For Mohbad’s incident, we all saw videos of multiple harassment and pronounced hatred on him which went viral after his demise.
“He also talked about his struggle and pains via his music, even though many didn’t pay actual attention to these details. Although we weren’t close, so many artistes have been in a similar state or are currently in such a state till date.
“I remember Pelepele who was also an indigenous rapper and someone who I appreciated and vice versa, he spilled out a lot in his songs but people didn’t pay attention to the details. In fact, he titled his last project Last Stanza, where he talked about his last moment in detail, and how it was going to happen before he later passed on.
“For Pelepele, we never saw each other physically but we do communicate occasionally. I also know that every industry has its own challenges from favouritism, eye service, godfatherism, terms and conditions and so on. Like the popular saying “the dream is free, the hustle is sold separately,” Da Emperor added.
He continued, “Also, the type of people around one matters a lot, be it an artiste or an individual. I am not one to judge a book by its cover; there has been speculation from left to right. So until whoever is proven guilty, the right thing is to let the law take its course.
“I just hope it doesn’t go like the majority of most Nigerian cases/issues, which are mostly propaganda till they fade out. It’s saddening that his light which just began to shine very bright had to be cut, but then God knows best. In summary, the writings are always clearly on the wall, but it takes paying adequate attention to see them.”
Describing MohBad’s death as heartbreaking, Now Muzik Chief Executive Officer, Efe Omorogbe, said “no one should be subjected to assault, harassment and abuse irrespective of what the contractual dispute is about.”
For entertainment lawyer and former Chairman, Lagos State Chapter of Film and Video Producers and Marketers Association of Nigeria (FVPMAN), Nobert Ajeagbu Esq, Mohbad’s death is quite an unfortunate one, and really very painful.
He said, “It’s something that ought not to be. I sympathise with the family and pray that God will grant them the fortitude to bear the pain of the loss. Even though I don’t want to preempt the outcome of the ongoing investigation to ascertain the cause of his death, I think there is a great failure on the part of our security agencies.”
“Ordinarily, where there is a good, functional security system, most of the things that actually transpired before his death shouldn’t have just been. Let’s not preempt the security agencies as people are already pointing accusing fingers, mentioning names and accusing some persons.
“One or two persons have been alleged to be responsible for his death, but I’m actually thinking it’s too early in the day. I will suggest and advice that we maintain our cool until the outcome of the investigation. Like we say in law, it is better for 11 criminals to go unpunished than for an innocent person to be punished for an offence he or she did not commit,” he added.
However, there are strong indications that the controversial circumstances surrounding the death of MohBad may mark a turning point in the Nigerian music industry with respect to artiste-record label relationships, as government through the securities agencies – the Nigerian Police Force and the Department of State Security (DSS) have launched investigations to unravel the true cause of his death, amid protests by his fans. This involved the exhumation of his body and the conduct of an autopsy on Thursday, September 21.
Already, the National Assembly has disclosed that it is working on establishing a Commission that will be saddled with the resolution of disputes between record labels and their signees.
The Chairman, Senate Committee on Creative Economy and senator representing Adamawa North Senatorial District, Ishaku Abbo, who made the disclosure when he paid a condolence visit to the residence of Mrs Adebose Olumuyi, the mother of the late Mohbad, had said the Senate, in collaboration with the Ministry of Art, Culture, and Creative Economy, will see to the creation of the Commission.
“I have received petitions from Nigerians calling for either a creative economy or entertainment economy commission where disputes that arise between record labels and their signees would be settled.
“When we have this Commission, nobody will start taking things into their own hands. But this doesn’t exist now in this country and I am assuring you that the Senate of the 10th assembly, in collaboration with the minister for creative economy, will come up with a commission called creative economy commission,” he said.
Comments are closed.