• Engage Lawyers Before Signing Agreements, Musicians Told
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 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.
“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 monetised, released and utilised by you from 2019 till date,” the document read.
Rapper Fasasi Mobolaji Gaius, popularly known as Da Emperor in entertainment quarters, told The Guardian that like Mohbad, many artistes were facing exploitation and humiliation by their record labels but can’t speak up or quit. “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.
He stated that by his experience, most deals always come as a matter of how bad the artiste wants it, adding: “As for me, I have turned down deals that didn’t go with my aura. Overtime, I floated my own record label/company, Etiemelo Empire Entertainment. I haven’t for once signed any artiste but I have supported so many artistes to the little of my capacity.
“For some other artistes, they don’t make much money back for the label until their contract tenure is over. The label wants a renewal while the artiste wants out because the contract is over. This can lead to a long time rivalry or fracas. In some other cases, the artiste didn’t take time to read the contract thoroughly and wants to or even leaves before the end of the contract, this is another scenario that gets brutal.