When Wizkid left Empire Mates Entertainment (EME), he famously said, “I left with zero balance.” That statement has since become a mantra among upcoming artists hoping to escape record label contracts debt-free.
But here’s the truth many miss: Zero balance doesn’t mean full ownership.
Yes, Wizkid didn’t owe EME financially. But guess what he also didn’t leave with?
His masters.
🔑 The Catalog He Doesn’t Fully Own
Wizkid’s foundational albums — Superstar (2011) and Ayo (2014) — and early career hits like Holla at Your Boy, Don’t Dull, and Pakurumo are still under EME’s control. Whether or not Banky W personally owns them, the label as a business does. There’s no public record that Wizkid has bought them back or even renegotiated rights to them — unlike Burna Boy, who reportedly reclaimed parts of his early catalog from Aristokrat.
So while his newer classics like Essence, Ojuelegba, and Come Closer are released under his Starboy/RCA deal, the music that launched his legacy? Not fully his.
And that brings us to today’s most important lesson for indie artists:
📄 Understand the Deal Before You Sign: Key Clauses That Shape Your Future
Whether you’re an artist, a manager, or an indie label, understanding your contract is not a luxury — it’s survival. Below are the most critical clauses in a record deal that determine whether you’ll be free and paid — or famous and stuck.
1. Master Ownership Clause
What it means: Who owns the final version of your recording.
Why it matters: If the label owns your masters, they earn from your songs forever. You may leave the label, but your biggest hits stay behind.
What to negotiate:
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Request a reversion clause (see below).
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Push for partial ownership — even 20% is better than nothing.
2. Recoupment Clause
What it means: The label must recover (recoup) their investment in you before you earn anything.
Why it matters: You can have millions of streams and zero in your bank account.
What to negotiate:
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Transparent royalty reporting.
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Define limits on what the label can recoup from (e.g., exclude shows or brand deals).
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Insist on a clear audit process.
3. Reversion Clause
What it means: Ownership of your masters reverts to you after a set period (e.g. 5–15 years).
Why it matters: Without it, the label owns your songs forever — even after they’ve made back their money, just like in Wizkid’s case.
What to negotiate:
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✅ Buyback option – Let you repurchase your masters at a fair price.
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✅ Right of first refusal – Label can’t sell your masters to anyone else before offering them to you.
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✅ Partial ownership from day one, if full rights aren’t possible.
4. Exit Clause
What it means: What happens after your contract ends.
Why it matters: If it’s vague, the label might still control your music, brand, or future moves — even when you’re done.
What to negotiate:
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Buyback and royalty continuity.
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No post-contract restrictions (e.g. limits on performing or re-recording your own music).
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Right of first refusal on your catalog.
5. Termination Clause
What it means: The rules for ending the contract early — by you or the label.
Why it matters: Some contracts allow labels to drop artists easily, but trap artists who want to leave.
What to negotiate:
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Mutual exit rights.
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Label default clause — if they don’t promote or fund you, you can leave.
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Cure periods — each side should get time to fix issues before exit.
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No unreasonable penalties for walking away.
6. Survival Clause
What it means: Some contract terms survive even after the deal ends.
Why it matters: These can include royalty payments, confidentiality rules, and non-disparagement clauses.
What to negotiate:
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Royalty obligations must survive termination.
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Define clear confidentiality terms.
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Limit post-deal restrictions to what’s fair.
7. Morality/Behavior Clause
What it means: The label can penalize or drop you for behavior they find damaging.
Why it matters: These are often vague and can be weaponized. Labels may ignore the rules when things are good, then enforce them when things go bad.
Examples:
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Rema may have had early clauses limiting public smoking — which changed after renegotiation.
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A known artist was dropped because of a non-smoking clause — even though the label knew he smoked from day one.
What to negotiate:
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Define what counts as “immoral” or “harmful behavior”.
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Set clear proof and process standards.
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Include a clause on non-selective enforcement — if the label ignored something before, they can’t use it against you later.
🎯 Final Word
Wizkid’s situation isn’t a scandal — it’s a masterclass.
He walked out of EME in peace. But the songs that built his empire? They don’t fully belong to him. That’s the cost of signing early without full awareness.
As an indie artist or music entrepreneur, don’t just chase the moment — protect your legacy.
Ask the hard questions:
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Who owns my masters?
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When do I start earning?
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What happens if I leave?
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Can I ever buy my catalog back?
The paperwork is not just the label’s shield — it should be your sword.
Credit/Source : Obama Naija
