By Florence Amagiya, Opeoluwani Ogunjimi, Anozie Egole

In recent times, Nigerian music industry has witnessed a global explosion that makes  the international artistes want to do collaborations with their Nigerian counterparts. This is as a result of  their ability to infuse traditional flair into the Afro hip hop genre of music.

Given this development, more record labels are being established to provide more platforms for artistes, nurture their talent and expose them to the global music world. But  despite this milestone,  the  issue of artistes dumping their record labels  in search of better and more profitable labels to expose their talents to the world has become a recurring decimal in the Nigerian music sector. Our team went to town  and sought the opinions of the entertainers on the issue.

*Djinee

It happens in every partnership  but…Djinne (artiste)

Artiste and record label disputes aren’t out of the ordinary. They are bound to happen because those involved are human and there will be different ideas and directions. But I believe that as long as both sides are sincere, disputes won’t be so heated”. And if disputes are resolved l don’t see a reason to get signed in another record label because the new record label is also.

Some record labels cheat their artistes – GT The GuiterMan

One of the reasons is that  most record labels prefer to deal between the artistes and their managers. Again, this is due to the fact that some  record labels don’t really sell much in terms of teh artistes’ works. So, they find it hard to meet their terms of agreement with the artistes. Sometimes, the labels don’t really have the capacity to  nuture and expose their artistes to the world. Given that situation, most of us prefer to deal with a management that will get us sold. Even  at  that, some labels still cheat the artistes by offering them 70/30% deals in favour of the label.

Unfulfilled promises! — ADOKIYE (Artiste)

I think it is as a result of unfulfilled promises on the part of the record labels. Artistes leave their labels because of unfulfilled promises, and sometimes soured friendship. When label owners and artistes are no longer on the same page.  Another thing that could cause teh separation

is when there is a shift in priority on the part of the   artistes or the record labels.

Misunderstanding is the cause — Ruggedman

Rugged Man

It’s not for me to judge but the artistes are in the best position to do so. I’m not really involved in it because my artiste is still with me.

But I think it’s as a result of misunderstanding between the record labels and their artistes. However, such misunderstanding should not lead to separation because they could be resolved amicably. Just like what happened between EME and Wizkid- they eventually settled.

Depends on the terms of  contract — Nelson Brown (Producer)

It all depends on the contract signed between the artistes and their labels. The kind of relationship that exists between them also matters a lot. Some labels sign on  artistes without getting to know them deepily or where they are coming from. Sometimes too, some record labels don’t take care of their artistes. But it’s really a sad thing after spending so much money on an artiste and at the end of the day, he walks out of  the label.