Wizkid and EME
Breakup 300×214
EXCLUSIVE: Why
EME’s Wizkid is
Stuck with his
Alleged BAD 7
Album Record Deal,
Plus Rapper Chief
Keef’s $6Million
Interscope Deal
(ANALYSIS)As Nigerian artists on the continent continue
to dream and push aggressively to enter the Western music
markets, especially America’s, there has never been a time
so crucial to discuss the legal pitfalls of such moves for the
unwary artist.
Indeed I have discussed some of these pitfalls in many of
my prior articles on www.africamusiclaw.com, with an
emphasis on the D’banj/Kanye West G.O.O.D music deal.
Nevertheless, we have another good case to underscore my
message of being cautious and reading the dotted line before
you sign any legal agreement with a record label. It is the
recent case/debacle currently unfolding between one of
Nigeria’s respected record labels Empire Mates
Entertainment and its artist Wizkid. Before we get into the
Wizkid facts, be advised that there is a blue print that we
can follow to compare and contrast what a fair record
contract looks or should look like.
Our example comes from the recent $6million Interscope
record contract deal signed by seventeen (17) year old artist
Chief Keef. Interscope is a California based company. The
deal terms have been made available to the public in a Cook
County Chancery Court filing in Chicago thanks to the fact
that Keef is a minor.
In California, when an employer hires a minor (persons
under 18) in the entertainment industry, a court approval is
required. The statute (law) is called the Coogan Act. The
act also requires that an employer set aside 15% of the gross
earnings earned by the minor, into a trust fund, which is
managed/controlled by the minor’s trustee until he/she
becomes of age.
Chief Keef’s Interscope Record Deal
1. Chief Keef signed a 3 album-record contract deal
2. Chief Keef also has a separate three year contract to
establish and control his own record label, ‘Glory Boyz
Entertainment’ (GBE), which would be a subsidiary of
Interscope Records. This second deal could, according to
court records, fetch him $6million.
3. For his GBE Deal, Interscope paid Keef a $440,000
advance. His manager also receives a $180,000 advance
payment. Chief Keef and his manager each own 40% of the
GBE and the other 20% is split between Keef’s GBE artist,
his uncle and another individual.
4. The GBE contract requires that interscope pay $200,000
in overhead expenses i.e. the costs associated with running
the label GBE.
5. For the GBE label, GBE and Interscope would split
profits equally. Interscope, however, can terminate the GBE
deal if losses exceed $4.5million.
6. Independent of the above, Interscope has agreed to pay
Chief Keef an advance fee of $440,000. 15% of the
aforementioned advance, because he is a minor, must be
deposited into a trust fund aka ”blocked trust” where it will
be controlled by his grand mother until he turns 18.
7. Interscope also provided $300,000 advance (recording
costs) for Chief Keef’s recording of his album “Finally
Rich.”
8. Chief Keef’s direct record deal with Interscope is
conditioned on the success of his album. If Chief Keef does
not sell 250,000 units of his album by the end of December
2013, then Interscope can decide not to release his
subsequent albums and compilation.
Chief Keef has other legal problems namely criminal action
against him. He is currently locked up in a Juvenile
detention center (jail for young people) and he has been
sued by a woman in family court for child support. His
extra legal shenanigans, however, exceed the scope of this
article. We are focused, for all intended purposes, on
actions that put monies in our pockets, not the ones that
steal our freedom and have us involved in baby mama
drama. So, let’s get on with it and look at Nigeria’s Wizkid
and his deal with the Nigerian based record label EME.
Wizkid’s EME Record Deal
NOTE: Unlike Keef’s, the terms of the Wizkid EME deal
are alleged. It is based on insider talks and news stories that
have flooded the internet within the past year alone. It may
or may not be true. For our informative and educational
purpose, however, it is irrelevant whether the facts are true.
In fact, I am treating these facts as hypothetical facts, except
where noted as true, to drive home the underlying point on
the need to read your contract before you sign it, to avoid
legal pitfalls like those that may find themselves under the
same alleged factual situation like Wizkid. Keep this in
mind as you read my analysis.
1. Wizkid is a Nigerian citizen (true fact)
2. Wizkid is a self proclaimed “studio rat.” As early as 11
years old, he was already singing.
3. By 2006, he got his break with Nigeria’s famed artist
OJB (true fact)
4. In 2009, at 19years old, Wizkid got an even bigger break
when he began working with Nigerian-American R &B
super star Banky W’s Empire Mates Entertainment Record
label. (True fact)
5. Wizkid already put a lot of the hard work on the talent
side before he met EME. From 2009 onwards, EME
focused on the branding, artist development, marketing and
promotions of Wizkid. (True fact)
6. Within and outside of Nigeria, there was NO LEGAL
CONTRACT signed between EME and Wizkid. (Alleged)
7. About March 2012, when fans and the public screamed in
excitement about the EME Wizkid UK Tour, Wizkid still
did not have a legal contract. However, as a condition to
perform in the UK and to get visas granted, the hosting
country (UK) required a record contract evidencing Wizkid
was signed to EME. EME, in a rush, put a contract together
for Wizkid. (Alleged)
8. The EME-Wizkid contract (the first signing of a record
deal) had a term requiring a
7 album deal. They promised this contract will be amended
to the “real contract” later. (Alleged)
9. Wizkid signed the 7 Album contract, without reading the
terms. (Alleged)
10. Prior to the signing, monies were split between the two
in a 50/50 way i.e. monies made from concerts/ tours were
split evenly. (Alleged)
11. In April of 2012, EME announced a joint deal, in a
press statement, with Akon’s Konvict. EME claimed Akon
would “produce and release Wizkid worldwide” while EME
managed Wizkid in Nigeria. (True Fact)
12. Before we could blink, all of a sudden, Wizkid signed a
management deal with Tinie Tempah in the UK. Really?
(True Fact)
13. Banky W & EME allegedly never negotiated or agreed
to such a deal. Wizkid directly negotiated and signed with
Tinie Tempah. (Alleged)
14. Wizkid fronts his own label “Star Boy” under the
blessings and umbrella of the EME label. (Alleged)
15. As it stands, the relationship between the EME crew and
Wizkid has deteriorated to the point where Wizkid no
longer speaks to members of the EME team, including
Banky W. All correspondences are filtered through his new
manager Godwin Tom (Alleged).
16. Wizkid wants more money and he wants out i.e. reduce
the 7 Album deal. He feels slighted because EME promised
they would sign a new contract with him and now they want
to hold his feet to the fire on their 7 album contract.
(Alleged)
AML artists, now what? If you find yourself stuck in such
position based on the alleged facts like Wizkid, what do you
do?

Will this little boy stfu and go sit in a corner?


No one caresssssssssssssssssssssssss.

Mtchew!