By now both Africa’s music industry insiders, fans and the public are aware of the confirmation by Don Jazzy, Founder and President of Mo’Hits Records, of the termination of his relationship with D’Banj, his business partner and artist turned Vice President of the company. This announcement came less than twenty four hours ago via Twitter. For insiders in the know, this news is not necessarily a surprise. Reports have indeed circulated that the two have not spoken for over four months so the split seemed inevitable. Nevertheless, Don Jazzy made the announcement less than 24hours ago and added he will donate proceeds from his music production catalogue from day one to charity but says NOTHING about the obligations of Mo’Hits to signed artists under the label. As an executive working for Mo’Hits, can he just arbitrarily make his own personal decision to donate (proceeds from ) his production works in behalf of the company to charity??? What about the artists signed to the label: Wande Coal, Dr. Sid and D’Prince?
Further, as if that is not enough, his business partner D’banj ignoring Don Jazzy’s announcement that has cluttered the internet, gone viral across Africa and trended on twitter, pulls a PR stunt that in essence says ”let me show you how irrelevant you are Don Jazzy. I will drown your news with my new music video Oliver Twist.”
Like who really cares about Oliver Twist? We haven’t even touched ownership/ the intellectual property rights that affects the performance of Oliver Twist given the termination of their relationship. Neither have we touched the issue of the Oliver Twist winner who was supposed to be featured in the video. Is the winner in the video? For all intended purposes, Oliver Twist is irrelevant when the President of a global African owned music brand of which D’Banj co-owns, in less than 24hours BEFORE release of D’Banj’s new video online, tells the world your relationship is over. You don’t ignore it. You speak on it. You don’t drop a video, you speak on what your President just said.
Folks these are executives of one of the major labels in Africa whose affiliation with Kanye West’s GOOD music made headlines the world over. They are not random individuals running a company. They are executives and have a responsibility to their shareholders, if they have one, and definitely their signed artists on their labels and the members of the public to inform of the implications of the termination of Mo’Hits; specific to these signed artists while the two sort out their mess outside of or in a courtroom. Why exactly is D’Banj not acknowledging a major statement from the President of his company; and is instead focused on promoting that Oliver Twist video again?
When the OccupyNigeria strikes hit Nigeria, D’Banj, Nigeria’s UN Youth Ambassador, ignored youths and instead went promoting his Oliver Twist video. Now, he continues the same pattern and practice. Clearly, he could care less. Hence my focus on the people who do care and should care, Kanye West’s GOOD Music, Island Def Jam, their Publicists and Entertainment Lawyers.
Folks, what I want to know is this, Kanye West , GOOD Music representatives, Island Def Jam, why is D’banj not a walking liability for GOOD Music? I’d love to hear why. Can anyone within your departments have a talk with Kanye to pull this young man in and make sure he is clear on his intentions given your affiliations with his personal brand?
The bad publicity he continues to generate for GOOD Music is one thing. But, opening GOOD music to potential legal liability in the handling of his affairs both with his fellow GOOD Music signee Don Jazzy and the artists signed to his label ‘Mo’ Hits’ is another story.
D’Banj is not the first African to do business with an American record label and he won’t be the last. What’s really GOOD, GOOD MUSIC?
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