A legal dispute has emerged over the ownership of Burna Boy’s early music catalogue, with 960 Music Group seeking to nullify a multi-million-dollar deal involving the Grammy-winning artist’s former label.
The controversy stems from a 2024 transaction in which Aristokrat Music, the label that launched Burna Boy’s career, reportedly sold his early master recordings and related intellectual property to Spaceship Music, the singer’s current imprint co-run with his mother, Bose Ogulu.
960 Music Group, which holds a 40% stake in Aristokrat Music, claims the sale was executed without its knowledge or board approval. The company has filed a suit in Port Harcourt, arguing that the catalogue is a “crown jewel” asset that cannot be sold without consent from all major shareholders.
The case has also attracted criminal scrutiny. Nigeria’s Force Criminal Investigation Department has filed charges against Aristokrat Records founder Piriye Isokrari over alleged fraud and breach of fiduciary duty. Isokrari is accused of diverting proceeds from the sale and bypassing corporate governance protocols to finalize a private deal with Spaceship Music.
A 960 Music executive explained, “You cannot sell an asset of this magnitude without the consent of all owners. We are asking the court to bring those assets back.”
For Burna Boy, the legal dispute places his early catalogue in uncertainty. While the deal was meant to grant him full control over his breakthrough recordings, a ruling in favor of 960 Music could compel Spaceship Music to relinquish some of those rights.
Industry experts say the outcome could have far-reaching consequences for music rights, shareholder authority, and record label governance in Nigeria’s entertainment sector.
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