Nikita Kering sheds light on controversial music deal
Award-winning artiste Nikita Kering recently shared snippets of a music deal she signed with unnamed music label, a decision she came to regret about, after it caused her untold anguish and led to a tumultuous 2023.
While she did not explicitly name the label in question, Nairobi News understands the deal in question was the 2020 recording deal she penned with an indepedent and popular agency based in Nairobi.
In the interview with podcaster and singer Ayrosh, Kering recalled advice from Sauti Sol’s Bien, who cautioned her against signing under a table and encouraged her to pursue her music as an independent artiste.
“When someone warns you about something, just listen. Bien about two years ago, probably he doesn’t even remember; he told me, ‘Nikita, just stay independent. Trust me, just stay independent,’” she recounted.
However Nikita choose to ignore Bien’s advice and went on to sign the deal as she believed it was a life-changing opportunity, entrusting her team to handle the contractual details.
The move would come back to bite her acknowledging the pitfalls of her decision, noting that not everything could be safeguarded in a contract.
While Kering did not divulge details of the deal, a little bird privy to the agreement indicates she was shortchanged in many aspects.
“The deal was worth Sh6 million to record, produce, market and promote the EP ‘Side of Me’ but according to my understanding the funds were never released to her. That was frustrating. Under the contract, she also found out that her merchandise was being sold in South Africa yet she didn’t receive any penny from the same,” the source claimed.
The 22-year-old has to sever ties when the deal expired early this year.
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