Follow Us on Google
By Goli Innocent
A legal dispute has broken out over the ownership of Burna Boy’s early music catalogue, with 960 Music Group asking a court to void a multi-million dollar deal involving the Grammy-winning artiste’s former label.
The case centres on a transaction allegedly concluded in mid-2024, in which Aristokrat Music the label that signed Burna Boy at the start of his career sold his early master recordings and intellectual property to Spaceship Music, his current imprint led by the singer and his mother, Bose Ogulu.
However, 960 Music Group, which owns 40 per cent of Aristokrat Music, says the sale was carried out without its knowledge, consent or board approval. The company has filed a suit in Port Harcourt, arguing that the catalogue is a “crown jewel” asset that could not be legally sold without the approval of all major shareholders.
Other News
The dispute has also taken on a criminal dimension. The Force Criminal Investigation Department has filed charges against Aristokrat Records founder, Piriye Isokrari, following investigations into allegations of fraud and breach of fiduciary duty. He is accused of diverting proceeds from the sale and bypassing corporate governance structures to strike a private deal with Spaceship Music.
An executive at 960 Music said the company was left with no choice but to seek legal intervention. “You cannot sell an asset of this magnitude without the consent of all owners. We are asking the court to bring those assets back,” the executive said.
For Burna Boy, the case places his early catalogue in legal uncertainty. While the deal was expected to give him full control of his early masters, a ruling in favour of 960 Music could force his label to surrender rights to some of his breakthrough recordings.
The outcome of the case is likely to have wider implications for music rights, shareholder authority and record label governance in Nigeria’s entertainment industry.
