Dapper Music break silence on Shallipopi’s exit from label

Dapper Music, the record label credited with kickstarting Shallipopi’s music career, has responded to the singer’s recent accusations following his announced exit from the label.  

On Wednesday, Shallipopi alleged that the label had breached his trust, mismanaged his finances, and neglected his growth.

Addressing these claims in a statement on Thursday, Dapper Music reaffirmed its commitment to “transparency and fairness” in all operations.

The label firmly denied the accusations, clarifying that all parties, including Shallipopi, had mutually agreed to a 30% management commission.

They also emphasized that their contracts do not bind the singer’s future earnings to the label indefinitely, focusing solely on projects and opportunities developed during the contract period.

Expressing surprise at what they called Shallipopi’s “false claims,” Dapper Music revealed they are fully cooperating with auditors engaged by the singer to investigate the matter.

“Dapper Music & Entertainment, we prioritise transparency and fairness in all our operations. Every contract we offer is presented with clarity, ensuring that both parties fully understand and agree to the terms. Our artists are always provided with the opportunity for legal representation,” the statement reads in part.

“All parties, including the artist in question, willingly agreed to a 30% management commission. This decision was made voluntarily and reflects the substantial investment required to launch and sustain their careers. It is important to note that earning from music in our territory is challenging due to lower royalty payouts compared to other regions, yet our investment remains substantial. We are committed to bringing new voices and talents to the world.

“We do not have any agreements with Mr. Crown Uzama that tie the artist’s future earnings to our business indefinitely. Our contracts solely relate to recordings and opportunities worked on and provided by our team within the contract term, which is common practice in the recording industry.

“Our commitment to artists is ongoing. After the success of Mr. Crown Uzama’s first album, he had the opportunity to review and renegotiate the terms with full legal representation. On October 28, 2024, we varied the terms to ensure he had the freedom to explore new opportunities. Confident in our partnership, he and his representative willingly signed a second agreement. This was a collaborative decision, not coercion.

“We have provided all parties with full accounting via our accounting system. We are surprised by Mr. Crown Uzama’s false claims, especially as we are currently cooperating fully with the auditors he has engaged. We remain actively involved in the audit process, having just held a meeting on Monday, the 9th of December 2024.

“We have received several emails from legal representatives threatening to destroy our business by utilising the court of public opinion. We are confident that we have conducted business with the highest integrity and are prepared to seek redress in a court of competent jurisdiction.”