Diamond Platnumz not worried for cashing in 60% from his artists
About three weeks ago after the exit of Te Quiero hit maker, Rayvanny, sources have alleged exploitative contract deals made by the Tanzanian label, WCB. The Tanzanian brand owned by Diamond Platnumz is known to take a 60% of the total revenue generated by the artists signed under the label.
Following an internal contractual dispute between Rayvanny and the label, the musician had to pay around KSh.50M to buy out of his 10-year contract with the label.
Many artists including Harmonize have come out expressing how WCB ill-treats its own artists.
Once a renowned bongo flava producer back in the 2000s with his record label, Bongo Records, P Funk Majani has called out against Wasafi Classic’s tactics.
“Harmonize left, Rayvanny has just left, Mbosso has never been denied his publishing rights as a songwriter, producers S2Kizzy and Lizer Classic are neither recognized as composers of the projects they have created, where is their 50%? S2Kizzy was denied a publishing advance by Sony Music hub because you guys forged the public registration of the songs he produced,” stated Majani.
In response to the allegations WCB manager Babu Tale claimed that Majani is being naïve despite having respect for him.
“I wouldn’t want to engage someone who is considered a legend. But we have to be professionals, contract between parties are private entities. When you see someone publicly analyzing contracts that he is not part of, then he is being naïve. Music is business and as such there are contractual obligations between parties agreed to it,” stated Babu Tale.
According to sources, the main reason Rayvanny exited WCB was the exploitation in the contracts signed with Wasafi Classic, an allegation that has been hugely denied by the record managers.
“I am so disappointed with Majani’s comments, we have been together in this business for many years and he understands pretty well how this industry is. It’s true we take 60% of the revenue generated by an artist but there is a reason behind that. When artists join WCB, they’re always rookie with nothing. We establish them. The 60% caters to the manager’s salaries, music promotions of these artists, audio and visual recording of their projects and tax too. The artist is left with 40% all for himself, so where is the problem in that,” stated Said Fella.
Rayvanny who had been a signee at the WCB label for about six years felt it to be unjust to have 60% taken out of the revenue he generates for the label considering how he has already become an established artist.
Despite his huge success, the Tanzanian label wouldn’t come back to the drawing table to renegotiate the terms.
Back in 2019 Harmonize left WCB to start his own venture Konde Gang citing Wasafi Classic’s exploitative contractual moves of taking 60% of his revenue, the artist was forced to pay a sum of KSh.25M at the time to buy out of the 10-year contract.
The move has ever since seen bad blood between Harmonize and the WCB family.
In spite of the allegations Diamond Platnumz seems to not being worried about the alleged rebellious artists, whom in his own statements, he took them from the ground where they had nothing and invested in them to stardom and that whatever he cashes in from his artists is part of his due.
“Let’s get one thing right here, music is business. Those complaining we are exploiting artists seem to forget these artists were in other different labels but were not popular. We took them in, and molded them to a point where they were now marketable and able to generate good money unlike it was before. WCB made them rich and famous and you hear them attest. There are no richer artists in Tanzania after me other than those from WCB. I did this by investing millions of my own money in them, but now when an artist is established, he wants to run away with the whole business. I can’t allow that, I got to have my money back and profits too. When an artiste wants out, we ask for a buyout of the contract now it becomes a tussle. That’s when you start to hear those exploitative comments,” reiterated Diamond Platnumz.
