Abimbola Fakeye may not take center stage as an artiste, but his passion and expertise have profoundly shaped the careers of countless Nigerian artistes and the entertainment industry at large. In this insightful interview with ADERONKE ADESANYA, the accomplished entertainment lawyer delves into the significance of entertainment law and highlights how artiste-founded record labels are revolutionizing the Nigerian music scene.
Many Nigerian artistes, especially the up-and-coming ones, do not consider the importance of the legal aspect of the entertainment industry; why?
Entertainment law seems to be strange in the Nigerian music industry, what is responsible for this?
The Nigerian music industry’s entertainment law is complex due to several key issues, such as outdated legal frameworks and weak enforcement that hinder the protection of intellectual property rights. Piracy remains widespread, significantly affecting revenue, while limited royalty collection leaves artists without consistent income. Many musicians lack legal awareness, leading to exploitative contracts and informal agreements that are difficult to enforce. Cultural norms favor verbal deals, thereby reducing formal contracts, and making it quite hard for artistes to pursue legal actions. With the rise of digital distribution, Nigeriaartistses face additional global legal complexities that the current system is not equipped enough to handle.
A lot of musical groups have broken up even at the peak of their career, should we say that the ignorance of entertainment law could be the course?
While a lack of understanding of entertainment law can contribute to group breakups, it’s usually just one of the factors. Many musical groups split due to creative disagreements, unequal revenue sharing, leadership conflicts, and other personal issues. Without due legal knowledge, group members may sign contracts that don’t adequately represent their positions, leading to legal disputes over rights, royalties, and individual responsibilities. Clear legal terms could help set guidelines for ownership, earnings, and decision-making, potentially preventing some conflicts. However, personal dynamics and individual ambitions often play a significant role in these breakups.
Many artistes, even prominent ones at present and in the past, and their labels have clashed as a result of contract infringement; why?
Many artistes sign contracts early in their careers without fully understanding the terms, leading to conflicts as they gain experience. Clashes between artistes and labels often arise from disputes over revenue shares, creative control, and contract terms. Artistes may feel their royalty payments are unfair or lack transparency, leading to mistrust. Labels often impose strict exclusivity and long contract durations, which restrict artistes’ freedom. These issues, compounded by limited legal knowledge, often result in public disputes and legal battles between artistes and their labels.
Is it true that label management takes advantage of their artistes through legal means?
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In general, there is still a gap in legal awareness among many entertainers. While some artistes are well-informed, many still sign contracts without fully understanding the terms or the long-term implications and a lot only retain the services of a lawyer when they run into stormy waters. Part of my role is to educate clients about their rights and encourage them to seek legal advice before making decisions.
