A major legal dispute has erupted over the ownership of Burna Boy’s early music catalogue, setting his former label against his current management.
The conflict centers on a mid-2024 deal in which Aristokrat Records, the label that launched his career, allegedly sold his early masters and intellectual property to his current imprint, Spaceship Music, run by Burna Boy and his mother.
However, 960 Music Group, which owns a 40% stake in Aristokrat Records, claims the sale was illegal and done without its consent. The company has filed lawsuits in federal high courts in Lagos and Port Harcourt seeking to overturn the transaction, arguing that Aristokrat could not sell assets it did not fully own.
The dispute has escalated beyond civil court, with criminal charges reportedly filed against Aristokrat founder Piriye Isokrari following allegations of financial misconduct.
The case now threatens to reshape control of Burna Boy’s early hits and highlights the high stakes surrounding music ownership in the industry.
