Burna Boy, Former Label Locked in Multi-Million Dollar Catalogue Dispute

A major legal battle has erupted over the ownership of Grammy-winning artiste Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu, popularly known as Burna Boy’s early music catalogue, setting his former record label against his current management in a dispute involving alleged backdoor transactions.

At the heart of the controversy is a mid-2024 deal that was initially seen as a landmark move to reclaim his masters but has since sparked both civil lawsuits and a criminal investigation. The matter is currently before the Federal High Courts in Lagos and Port Harcourt.

The dispute centres on a transaction in May/June 2024, during which Aristokrat Records, the label that launched Burna Boy’s career in 2011, allegedly sold his early intellectual property and master recordings, including hit tracks such as Like to Party and Tonight, to his current imprint, Spaceship Music. Spaceship Music is owned by Burna Boy and managed by his mother, Bose Ogulu.

However, 960 Music Group, a venture capital firm that holds a 40 per cent equity stake in Aristokrat Records, has challenged the sale, describing it as unlawful. The company claims the transaction was carried out without its consent or board approval.

According to 960 Music Group, Aristokrat Records, which owns only 60 per cent of the company, could not legally dispose of 100 per cent of its key assets without involving other shareholders. An executive of the firm alleged that the intellectual property was transferred without proper transparency and has asked the court to nullify the sale and restore the assets.

In a significant move, 960 Music filed a suit at the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt seeking to have the transaction declared null and void. The firm maintains that, as a major shareholder, it was neither informed nor consulted before what it describes as the sale of the label’s most valuable assets.

The dispute has also taken a criminal dimension. The Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) has filed charges against Piriye Isokrari, founder of Aristokrat Records, following an investigation into allegations of financial misconduct and fraud brought by 960 Music Group.

The outcome of the case is expected to have far-reaching implications for music ownership rights, investor relations, and catalogue acquisitions within Nigeria’s entertainment industry.