‘Shake Body’ singer, Skales, got a rough deal recently when his record label, Baseline Records seized him by the jugular over an alleged breach of contract.
The label alleged that Skales and his manager, Osagie, failed to remit the correct percentage of money from the singer’s performance and other fees due to the company.
However, the matter has been resolved, with Skales’ former manager, Osagie, getting the boot, while his bookings will now be handled by Upfront and Personal Bookings.

Meanwhile, we learnt some vital lessons from the saga, we believe artistes should also take cognizance of whenever they want to sign contracts.

Get a lawyer

Shortly after the terms of the contract came to light, many people were appalled that the artiste could have signed such a contract that would have him forfeiting the copyright to his songs which were recorded before he got signed to the label. As a Twitter user said, “It doesn’t make sense.”

It’s not known if a Lawyer was there with Skales while signing that contract, but it goes without saying that a good lawyer worth his salt wouldn’t let his client sign such a contract.

Don’t be too desperate

Skales may have had a Lawyer, but perhaps, he was too desperate to sign a record contract. Many artistes believe that without a record label, their careers can’t progress. Thus, they would take any deal offered to them by any record label.

Record labels and neglect of artistes

Most record labels in Nigeria do not have structures, so it’s not surprising that they’re usually mismanaged. According to Osagie’s version of events, Baseline neglected Skales for a long period, so he had to invest his own money to promote his career. It was also alleged that after the label fired its former managers, Howie T and Dipo Abdul, the line of communication between Skales and the label was closed.

Every Artiste Needs a Good Manager

In all of his troubles with the two labels he has been with, EME and Baseline, Skales’ manager, Osagie Osarenkhoe has stayed with him all through.

It is clear to see that she is really passionate about him, and her impact on his career has been very positive. In the height of the crisis, she had said, “For the avoidance of all doubts, I didn’t steal from Baseline. There has never been, and will never be any basis to conclude that I have been dubious or fraudulent in my dealings with the label. What we have done is to keep our work and lives going on, following inaction from them. Everything I have done, from allowing him sign with the label to date was always in Skales’ interest at the end of the day, not for my personal gains.”