Nigerian record label, Eric Many, has sued singer, Runtown, for an alleged breach of contract. In an injunction filed at a Federal High Court in Lagos, the label says the ‘Energy’ singer has been “deliberately breaching his contract”. The label accused the singer of failing to fulfil his contractual obligations, recording an album without its consent, and performing at shows without approval.
“He’s recording with artists like Del’B without the written approval of the label and without an Eric Many appointee at the point of recording as agreed in our contract,” a statement of claim read.
“Runtown has also been appearing in venues and collecting appearance fees without the approval of the label and also performing in private shows without the label’s consent which contravenes clause 4.4.1 of his record deal which states that ‘the Defendant(Runtown) can only engage in recording, collaborating or performing with other artistes for third parties or other record companies upon proper notification in advance to the Plaintiff.”
The label also claims that Runtown is knee deep in debt to them after taking out loans on a luxury car and executing unauthorised collaborations which caused the label losses in royalties.
“Hundreds of millions in naira from the Lamborghini Gallardo super-fast car which he still has to pay back to the label and also an album that must be released through the right channels,” the label said in a statement.
“He has been doing numerous collaborations with several artists without getting the written approval of the label and as a result, no royalties have come back to the label from any of these collaborations.”
Runtown, whose deal with Eric Many expires in June, was two years ago sued by the record label over allegations similar to the ones he’s currently being accused of.
Eric Many in its statement of claim is seeking the sum of “N65 MILLION being General Damages against the Defendant (Runtown) in favour of the Plaintiff for infringement of the Plaintiff’s copyright to the collaborative musical works “Call Me” and “Weekend” both of which featured the Defendant as well as N5 MILLION as costs of this action”.
“Eric Many has chosen to hold back on anything pertaining to Runtown,till further investigations. This means that anyone who engages Runtown without a written approval from Eric Many, signed by the chairman, will be sued heavily.
This will be the second time in two years that Runtown has had to face off with his label. In May 2016, he was sued in the Federal High Court by Eric Many on allegations that he signs up, concludes and attends musical shows without the knowledge of the label.
Back then, Eric Many also secured a court injunction stopping Runtown from performing as an artiste anywhere in the world. He later went back to the label to apologize and the case was settled out of court.
