Harrysong Begged Us To Sign Him – Five Star Music

When Five Star Music told Saturday Beats that the record
label would soon unfold the plans they have in stock for
their former artiste, Harrysong, it probably wasn’t a fluke.
Saturday Beats gathered that the Reggae Blues singer was
arrested by his former record label on Friday for “contract
breach.”
Since the controversy started, the record label had kept
mum concerning the issue but in a press release signed by
C.C Chris of Five Star Music Limited and made available to
Saturday Beats, the record label disclosed that Harrysong
“begged” them to sign him before they finally caved in to his
pleas.
According to the release, before the singer could get on
board Five Star Music, the label had to pay about N5m to
his former record label, Question Mark Allstar, where they
claimed he also left in a controversial manner.
The press statement read in part, “It has become both
imperative and necessary to state our position on the
ongoing misguided and fallacious news making the rounds
in the media between our esteemed record label and Mr.
Harry Tare Okri. Sometime in 2008 when Mr. Harry first
approached our record label for a music contract, we
immediately declined the request when we found out that he
had a subsisting contract with one Mr. Kevin Luciano of
‘Question Mark Entertainment Label’. All efforts then by Mr.
Harry to influence our management proved abortive as our
position was maintained on grounds of equity, fairness and
professionalism.
“For further avoidance of doubts on the true facts of the
present situation, our management has decided to officially
set the records straight, because of negative and pervasive
influence being foisted on the psyche of our numerous and
well meaning fans. Our first encounter with Mr. Harry was
sometime in 2008 when he approached our management for
a music contract. As stated above, according to our findings
at that time, his contract with ‘Question Mark Entertainment
Record Label’ was still subsisting and valid. Obviously we
declined when we found out that Mr. Harry’s plans were ill
orchestrated against his employers, by walking out on them
without fulfilling the obligations clearly contained in his
running contract with them. When Harry’s employers
(Question Mark Entertainment) got wind of his frantic efforts
to desert his contract, a stern and official public statement
was issued against Mr. Harry and a certain clause
establishing his existing contract was clearly published for
full consumption by the general public.”
According to the record label, the tussle continued between
Harrysong and his employers till sometime in 2014 when
they claimed Harrysong once again “desperately”
approached them.
“We opened preliminary discussions with him but demanded
an official document from his former employers relieving
him of any obligation or liability with regards to his contract
with them. Our move to do things right and professionally
with Mr. Harry earned us a N20m suit from Mr. Kevin
Luciano of Question Mark Entertainment (Records are there
for confirmation). We were joined as co-defendants with Mr.
Harry. Juxtaposing the above with what is going on now, it
is quite unfortunate because “Good intention counts as
much as good actions, and the person seeking to do good is
as good as someone who actually does it. Knowing the
vulnerability of Mr. Harry on the impending legal suit, we
solicited the help of certain well respected individuals in the
music industry to wade into the matter, one of which was
our dear veteran Daddy Showkey. Mr. Luciano having found
out our intention from inception to act in good faith, agreed
to withdraw his suit against Mr. Harry and our company
But, not without consequential and settlement fees N5m.
We paid this amount solely without Mr. Harry contributing a
dime!”
The record label claimed that the singer also breached the
three-year contract that he signed.
“Because we are known for running our affairs
professionally and legally, we signed a three-year contract
with Mr. Harry and certain conditions and obligations were
specifically and properly spelled out apart from the terms of
the contract. Most important of these were his obligations
to our music label, which amongst others include: That he
must deliver at least, three (3) full music albums on or
before the expiration of the first term of his three year
contract, otherwise the label solely reserves the right either
to rescind or extend the contract. These conditions were
never met.
“While in the employment of the Five Star Music Label, he
must not engage himself in anyway whatsoever, whether
directly, by proxy or through a third party in any music or
recording business other than that of Five Star Music. This
condition was also repeatedly breached as Mr. Harry has
been releasing music, going on tours locally and
internationally without our consent or paying the agreed
percentage to the label,” the statement read.
Source: Punch