Napji, a Nigerian musical producer, who had produced three songs on Davido’s album ‘a better time’ including his hit single ‘fem’ has voiced out his grievances over unpaid royalties for his contributions,
He posted on his x account on Monday clearly stating that he was paid a mere sum of 500,00 naira for producing each pof the artist’s songs, ‘fem’, ‘jowo’ and ‘sunlight’ off the singer’s 2020 album ‘ a better time’ though Napji was credited and acknowledged as the producer for all three songs, he still said he was yet to get his royalties and publishing while promising to share more information concerning the issue as he seeks to collect his royalties and publishing.
” i an Napji, producer behind fem, jowo and sunlight on @ Davido’s album ( a better time) which was released 13th November 2020, i was paid an advance fee of 500,000 naira for each of the songs, i will be releasing more information as i seek to collect my royalties and publishing”
FEM is one of the lead singles in the album, the song became a smash hit and one of the anthems of the famous Endsars protest, the single which got 33 million streams on youtube and almost 10 million streams on spotify.
Jowo also enjoyed massive commercial success with a total of 53 million views on youtube and 26 million streams on sportify, and according to industry practice, Napji has a 50 percent entitlement on the publishing of the song which means he get to earn a part of the streaming royalties which comes from different platforms which has been accrued over the years.
In recent times there have been different issues of producers and songwriters having the publishing rights and royalties held by different artists, example is the recent issue of Dr Roy who has has a similar issue after producing Mercy Chinwo’s ‘excess love’ but has not yet been paid his royalties from EezeeTee concepts who was the former distributor of the gospel artist.
Davido reacted to Napji’s claim on X , he wrote after sharing the producer’s post, “ur papa”, while Davido’s reaction does not justify or clarify the allegations leveled against him, it is expected that more information will be shared by the producer as he earlier said while seeking to claim his royalties and publishing rights.
