Entertainment
Nigerian Artistes Who Dumped Their Record Labels In 2016
Recent report has shown
a list of top Nigerian artistes who have had issues with their record labels and have in one way or another taken steps to exit the label. The year 2016 has been a very busy one for Nigerian music, the industry has been plagued with a high occurrence of beefs, drama and many more. Top amongst these are the good old label struggles between record labels and their signed artistes. This clash which usually pits art against business had an unusually high occurrence of label splits, wrangles and lawsuits.
For many, everything goes smoothly and amicably. But for many others, it gets messy, involves the police and a huge number of collared executives working their way through legal papers, accusations, public posturing, sobtales, legal suits and court injunctions. Among these according to pulse are:
Skales (Baseline music)
The singer was signed in 2014 to Baseline Music, Record Label that was managed by Veterans Howie T and Dipo Abdul. According to sources, after a year of no investment, he moved on with his career. He is currently being detained by the police and together with his manager, Osagie Osarenkhoe, they are being investigated for fraud by the label.
Runtown (Ericmany Entertainment)
The singer has terminated his deal with Ecrimany Entertainment, in May, citing money problems, threat to life and gross disrespect from his label CEO, Prince Okwudili Umenyiora (a.k.a Dilly), the CEO of Dilly motors.
Lil Kesh
The rapper was freed from YBNL records, after his two year contract with the Olamide-led label ran out. There was no renewal nor extension with Lil-Kesh who is amicably moving out and setting up his imprint, YAGI, with the help of his ex-boss. He is still managed by YBNL.
Ice Prince
Although the rapper’s deal expired with chocolate city two years ago, he stayed affiliated to the label, and this year made it public that he had left. He has currently set up his personal imprint under the label, Super Cool Cats.
Saeon
The singer was freed from her baseline music contract, due to creative difference. She has with the label and their alleged lack of support for her artistic direction and progression. She is currently working on creating a new imprint and identity.
Debbie Rise
The former Nigeria Idol contestant acrimoniously split ways with her record label, 800 Records after they repudiated her deal with them, due to her request to see a record of the financial investment carried out in her career.
Milli
The rapper departed chocolate city due to his unhappiness at being prevented from releasing music, and dropping his projects. He is currently on the verge of announcing a new record label and movement named up next universe.
BACI
Although verbal agreements formed the basis of the singer’s deal with the Ubi Franklin and Iyanya-led made men music group, the label failed to officially hand Baci a contract after he spent 6 years with them.
Chidinma
The singer’s deal with capital hill records was not extended after it expired this year. Both parties chose to keep mute about the affair, but amicably parted ways. There are rumours of her setting up camp with singer Flavor, under his 2 nite entertainment.
Tonto Dikeh
Actress and singer Tonto Dikeh announced her departure from D’banj record label DB records, citing ‘business reasons’ as the cause, she has made no return to music since then.
Zeez (DJ Zeez)
The singer was sued by his ex-label, HF music for breach of contract, owing to his alleged refusal to record new music. He lost the case, and was ordered by the court to pay damages to the label to the tune of N22 million.
Spotify yesterday revealed a significant surge in heartbreak song streams in Nigeria during the Valentine’s Day season, with a 626 percent increase between 2022 and 2024.
This was disclosed in a statement issued in Lagos, Nigeria by Spotify’s Head of Music, Sub-Saharan Africa Phiona Okumu.
Okumu said, “Spotify data reveals a surprising trend, a massive surge in heartbreak song streams.
“Nigerians are turning to their playlists to express their emotions, with a staggering 626 per cent overall growth in heartbreak streams from 2022 to 2024.
“This Valentine, the sound of love is accompanied by the sound of heartbreak, and the data shows it’s louder than ever before.”
She said on Valentine’s Day, most surprisingly, male listeners streamed heartbreak songs at a significantly higher rate than female listeners, with a 362 per cent increase compared to 169 per cent among women.
“This could suggest that men resonate with the feeling of heartbreak more and turn to music as a private outlet for processing emotions.
“Whatever the reason, one thing is clear, when love is in the air, so is heartbreak and Nigerian men are pressing play on their pain more than expected.
“While Valentine’s Day is often celebrated with grand gestures, heartbreak is a common theme on Valentine’s Day -more than what’s publicly shown,” she said.
Nigerians will join their counterparts across the world to mark the 2025 Valentine’s today.
Grammy-winning Nigerian singer Temilade Openiyi, popularly known as Tems, has joined MLS side San Diego FC’s ownership group as a club partner.
SDFC announced today that Tems joined the ownership group through her company, The Leading Vibe.
In the process, Tems became the first African woman to be involved in MLS ownership.
“We are delighted that Tems has joined San Diego FC as a club partner,” SDFC chairman Sir Mohamed Mansour said in a statement.
“Tems is a globally significant artist who will help us reach new audiences and spread the word about our unique project, which, of course, has its foundations in sub-Saharan Africa through the unique Right to Dream organisation.”
Reacting to her addition as the latest partner in SDFC’s ownership group, the singer said: “I am thrilled to join San Diego FC’s ownership group and to be part of a club that celebrates creativity, culture, and the power of community.
“Football has a unique way of bringing people together, and I am excited to help build something special in San Diego, a city that thrives on diversity and innovation.”
Fashion and beauty entrepreneur, Toyin Lawani, has claimed she is enduring back pain and that her spine is degenerating.
Lawani revealed this in a video posted on social media last Tuesday.
In the clip, she opened up about her experience with epidural anesthesia, an injection administered to pregnant women in the spine to reduce pain during childbirth.
The mother of three claimed that since receiving the injection, she has not felt like herself.
She accused doctors of not fully informing women about the long-term side effects of epidurals.
According to Lawani, she received the anesthetic injection during the birth of her last two children.
She said, “When you hear ‘epidural,’ run. Doctors tell you about the side effects but do not tell you about the long-term effects on your body. I have about three friends having the same issues that I am having.
“Like, I am just 42, how did I end up with spine issues? I have a degenerating spine. I have implants in my spine. I go paralyzed. I can’t stand for a long time. I can’t even breathe properly sometimes because it affected so many things in my body when I had the surgery.
“They will not tell you because you just want the pain to go away. I have had two epidurals. I had my first as natural birth. The last two were epidural. The last one I had epidural because I had to undergo a surgery and I had no choice.
“See, the pain does not stop. My back is killing me and my spine is degenerating.”