Many takes on Cynthia Morgan is laughable. Just as we take our time to understand the laws governing the state while analysing politics, it’s important to understand business models before criticizing or analysing a business relationship. A record label is like a gambler. Thread

They stake tens of millions on artists with agreements protecting their returns. If it goes well, they win, it goes south, they lose. They continue to make returns as locked in the agreement till the end of the contract. Depends on how the contract is crafted, some even way after

Let's make it simpler. It’s like monies companies spend developing new products- R&D, product packaging, promotions, approvals, etc. Millions & millions. When products launch, companies smile to the banks, you see success, but you don’t see the investment and the sweat behind it.

But if products fail, they count their loses. Just as Dangote did after investing billions in noodles. The artist becomes a product of the label. Like indomie is to Dufil. They own rights to the brand, albums, concerts, endorsements, etc. Another similarity is Venture Capitalism.

As with every other business, the label can be selfish or take advantage of a desperate artist, but then, we rarely hear of label owners crying foul when artists fail to deliver returns as expected, they take their L and count their losses as a business. It is what it is.

Just as oil & gas companies count their loses when they fail to find oil after years of exploring. Or find in quantities far lower than they anticipated, after investing billion of $. We often hear artists' cry when they "blow" & realize they aren’t as independent as they want.

They suddenly realize what the label staked on them isn’t as much as they are making, they feel cheated. They cry foul. A society that’s already conditioned to victimhood - from experience with leadership, immediately feel sympathy. The label must be evil, cruel, corrupt, selfish

But they forget that the label would have also been the biggest loser if the artist didn’t make it. And the label wouldn’t have felt cheated. Nigerians must understand the dynamics of business, and how those dynamics change from one industry to another.

Yes, a business man can be selfish, but many artists too enjoy their moments of selfishness when they are getting set up with cars and houses and millions that they didn’t work for, and more selfishness when they try to flip their contract. It is business - you win or lose.

Sadly, the Nigerian industry isn't that advanced and we do have that many Intellectual Property lawyers to provide affordable services to upcoming (I prefer the word emerging though) artists. But then, that's why network & relationships matter. Get a lawyer within your network.

It is why I advise SMEs to always get a second review of contracts, lawyers aren’t that expensive. Invest in relationships. Get one to review for you. Even if you are still desperate to sign, at least, you’ll be walking into it with your two eyes opened. End