Burna Boy Faces Legal Battle Over Early Music Catalogue as Shareholder Challenges Deal

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Afrobeats superstar Burna Boy may be facing fresh legal complications after a major shareholder in his former label moved to annul a contentious multi-million-dollar music catalogue transaction.

Channels TV reports, as monitored by PM News, that 960 Music Group has approached the courts seeking to void the alleged sale of Burna Boy’s early recordings. The shareholder claims the transfer was executed without the knowledge or approval of existing stakeholders.

The dispute revolves around a 2024 deal in which Aristokrat Music—the label credited with launching Burna Boy’s career—reportedly sold the rights to the singer’s early catalogue and master recordings to Spaceship Music, the imprint associated with Burna Boy and his mother, Bose Ogulu.

However, 960 Music, which holds roughly 40 percent equity in Aristokrat Music, argues that the transaction breached corporate governance protocols. In court documents, the company described the catalogue as the label’s “crown jewel” and contended that the sale proceeded without proper board or shareholder authorization.

The controversy has escalated beyond civil proceedings, with the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) reportedly filing charges against Aristokrat founder Piriye Isokrari. He is accused of financial misconduct, including fraudulent conversion and breach of fiduciary duty, with claims that funds from the catalogue sale were diverted or mishandled outside official company processes.

960 Music alleges the transaction was structured privately in favor of Spaceship Music, effectively sidelining other stakeholders in the label.

Legal experts note that this case could significantly impact Burna Boy’s control over his early hits. While it is increasingly common for artists to reclaim ownership of their first masters, disputes over proper authorization can delay or even reverse such moves.

Should the court rule in favor of 960 Music, some of Burna Boy’s breakout-era tracks could revert to the original label partnership, at least until further legal resolutions are reached.

This legal tussle adds to an ongoing conversation in the music industry about artist rights, label obligations, and the proper management of intellectual property, particularly for global stars whose early works hold substantial commercial and cultural value.

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