The crisis that hit Mavin Records took a downward turn on Thursday, when the music company disowned one of its top members and superstar, Wande Ojosipe, better known as Wande Coal, for allegedly stealing a song belonging to the head of the team, Don Jazzy.
Don Jazzy claims he owns the single, ‘Baby Face’, which Wande Coal recently released. However, Wande has denied that the song belongs originally to his boss, who some months ago, also had a major crisis with popular hip hop artist, D’banj causing the rebranding of the team after sending D’banj away from the group. He was replaced with Tiwa Savage.
Wande Coal had been with the team since 2006 under the name ‘Mo’ Hits Records’ before the fallout with D’banj that resulted in the name change. He released the music but Don Jazzy went on Twitter, a social networking site, where he castigated Wande Coal. He also released a demo of the song he did about a year ago, but Wande Coal was pissed that his boss should have called him on the issue rather than going on Twitter. He also denied stealing any song. The raging battle has resulted in the record label disowning Wande Coal.
“It is with deep regret that we officially announce the departure of recording artist Wande Ojosipe, popularly known as Wande Coal, from Mavin Records due to irreconcilable differences”, Mavin Record, which also has Dr. Sid and D’Prince, wrote in a statement.
“Over the past few months, Mavin Records has made a concerted move to consolidate its position in the Nigerian music industry. Mavin has pursued a renewed ethos to raise its standards of quality and professionalism to a world-class level.
“Wande’s vision has not aligned with ours and a few months ago all parties mutually agreed that a separation would be the best course of action. Legal parties on both sides have spent the past six months trying to reach an amicable solution in terms of musical property rights.
“However the decision by Wande Coal to release ‘Baby Face’ purportedly as his own material is a direct breach of intellectual property law and compelled an immediate clarification on our part.
“Mavin Records and Wande Coal have enjoyed a remarkable run in the course of their working relationship. It is unfortunate that conflicting priorities contributed to the premature curtailment of a hitherto fruitful accord”.
Mavin Records reaffirmed its goal, which it said is to constantly provide high-quality music to its fans and introduce new and exciting talent into the industry.
“We wish Wande Coal the best of luck in all his future endeavours”, the record label concluded.
