Nigerian music star David Adeleke, widely recognized as Davido, has shared his intention to regain ownership of his music masters from Sony, his international record label, prior to his retirement. In a candid discussion on The Long Form podcast, the artist highlighted the critical role of ownership in the music business. He explained that his goal is to secure his masters and then allocate the royalty streams from his songs to his children after he steps away from the industry.
Davido stated, ‘I have a favorable recording contract, but what truly matters is possession of the work. I aim to retrieve my masters from Sony shortly. Once I do, I can assign specific tracks to each of my kids, ensuring they continue to benefit from royalties long after I stop making music.’ He further emphasized the need for artists to take the commercial aspects of their careers seriously, noting that understanding the business side is as important as creative output.
The singer’s remarks come amid ongoing discussions in the industry about artist rights and fair compensation, with many musicians advocating for greater control over their intellectual property. Davido’s proactive approach serves as a model for upcoming artists, underscoring the value of long-term planning and financial literacy in music.