Record Label vs Artist: 4 Nigerian examples

Over the past few years, a different type of controversy has grown in popularity. As the scene attracts international attention and brings in money, more record labels have been established. These labels seek fresh talent. The talents, lured by near-instant riches, sign papers. Some later claim the terms of agreement were unfair. The pattern is now quite common: sign a contract, release music, become famous, regret, involve the media.

The artist versus record label battle is generally not new in the music industry due to non-compliance to contract terms. This arises when either party cannot quite come to an understanding of contract terms.

Naturally, money is always the cause of these issues. The artist feels shortchanged and starts engaging in financial transactions without the knowledge of the record label. 

A couple of weeks back, the Nigerian media was agog with the news of the artist Runtown fighting his label, EricMany over breach of contract and failure to fulfill contractual obligations. The incident sparked a conversation about the nature of an artist and label relationship in Nigeria. The outcome is almost the same: the record label wins. If only because too much time is spent by the artist focusing on everything but his music.

Below are some of the more popular battles involving a record label and its artist.

1. Vector vs YSG 

Vector was at some point at the peak of his career, featuring Movado on a song and then shooting its video in New York. And then he got into a rift with YSG, his record label at the time. Apparently, he was assured that he was stuck with the label till 2017! The dispute lead to Vector throwing jabs at them in records till they got an injunction refraining him from performing, recording and appearing at public events. In one of those jabs, Vector said “them forget say man na barrack boy”. He was caged alongside his talent and forced to render a public apology. He got off, but the music industry moved on, leaving Vector finding his footsteps where he left them.

2. Brymo vs Chocolate City

What happened between Brymo and Chocolate City had to do with ego. Audu Maikori, founder of the label, is a lawyer first then an entrepreneur who understands the music industry perfectly. Brymo called him out on Twitter – a bad move clearly spurred by negative advice. Chocolate City got an injunction to claim every of Brymo’s recordings. The case dragged and dragged and Brymo couldn’t put out any material until he lost the fan base he had built overtime. Recently after being left the hook, Brymo came out to say the judge didn’t make any judgment but while other Chocolate City artists were making money for the label, Brymo was fighting an injunction.

3. Jaywon vs Kennis Music

Many might not be aware of this case because Jaywon wasn’t quite good with social media and it was an in-house battle. Without the expiration of his contract, Jaywon wanted a renegotiation, forgetting the directors of Kennis Music are industry veterans. They served all broadcasting stations a letter stopping them from playing any of Jaywon’s materials which is akin to putting a stop to his career. Jaywon was asked to go beg the head of the label. He survived. However, Jaywon till date has been unable to promote any of his new material in the manner he got promoted while at Kennis Music.

4. Runtown vs EricMany

EricMany has gotten a court injunction in Nigeria against Runtown and interestingly from another court of law in the US – a place he has been banned from going to. Despite the injunctions, Runtown did perform in the US and it can be argued that he never got served but that could infuriate EricMany further. Which may not be in his best interest. Already the disagreement has allegedly turned violent, with Runtown saying in an interview that Dilly [Owner of EricMany] pulled a gun on him.

In the end, Runtown will have to come to th realisation that he can’t fight this battle without losing. Dilly has already obtained two court injunctions. Runtown would have to put a pause to his career to sort out these issues. He will need to remember that the music industry waits for no one. 

These scenarios go a long way to show that Record Labels are always going to win while the artiste’s career suffers a major setback.

A version of this piece was first published on 13 June by Tush Magazine