A major legal dispute has broken out over the ownership of Burna Boy’s early musical catalogue, with 960 Music Group seeking to nullify the 2024 sale of the Afrobeats star’s back catalogue by Aristokrat Records.
960 Music, which reportedly holds a 40 per cent stake in Aristokrat Records, has filed suits at the Federal High Courts in Lagos and Port Harcourt, alleging that the sale of the catalogue to Burna Boy’s current imprint, Spaceship Music, was carried out without the required shareholder approval. The group is asking the court to declare the transaction null and void and to return the intellectual property (IP) and master recordings if it prevails.
Dispute Over Shareholder Consent
The conflict reportedly began in May or June 2024, when Aristokrat Music — the label that signed Burna Boy in 2011 and helped launch his career — allegedly sold his historical IP and master recordings to Spaceship Music, a label led by Burna Boy and his mother and manager, Bose Ogulu.
However, 960 Music claims the sale was executed without its knowledge or consent, despite being a significant shareholder. The company argues that the transaction involved what it describes as the label’s “crown jewel” assets and required board and shareholder approval.
In a statement attributed to an unnamed executive, 960 Music said it had no option but to involve the courts and law enforcement authorities.
“You cannot sell 100 per cent of an asset when you only have the authority to manage the company, not bypass the owners of 40 per cent of its soul. This was a coordinated effort to move the IP under the radar, and we are asking the court to bring those assets back,” the executive was quoted as saying.
Fraud Allegations and Criminal Charges
The dispute has taken a criminal dimension, with the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) reportedly filing charges against Aristokrat Records founder, Piriye Isokrari, following an investigation into allegations of financial misconduct.
Isokrari is accused of fraudulent conversion and breach of fiduciary duty, with claims that proceeds from the multi-million-dollar sale were diverted for personal use or redirected outside the company’s official accounts. 960 Music alleges that the CEO bypassed corporate governance structures to strike what it describes as a “private deal” with Spaceship Music, thereby undermining the interests of its partners.
The legal action in both Lagos and Rivers State courts could expose the parties to significant liabilities, depending on the outcome.
Burna Boy’s Position
Music journalist Joey Akan has clarified that the dispute is strictly between Aristokrat Records and 960 Music, noting that Burna Boy’s repurchase of his masters was reportedly conducted in good faith. According to Akan, any contention stems from the alleged undisclosed stake and internal disagreements within Aristokrat.
For Burna Boy, who won the Grammy Award for Best Global Music Album in 2021, the 2024 acquisition was widely seen as a strategic move to gain full control over his early recordings, including breakout hits such as Like to Party and Tonight.
However, if the Port Harcourt court rules in favour of 960 Music, Spaceship Music could be compelled to relinquish rights to those masters pending a resolution among the original stakeholders.
As proceedings continue, the case is expected to test corporate governance standards within Nigeria’s music industry and could set a significant precedent regarding catalogue ownership and shareholder consent.