Warner Music Group Faces Risk of Nigerian Lawsuit Over Continued Distribution of Burna Boy’s Early Albums Despite Legal Demand to Cease

Lagos-based law firm Creative Legal, acting on behalf of 960 Music Limited—the majority shareholder in Aristokrat Records—has confirmed that global entertainment conglomerate Warner Music Group (WMG) has failed to respond to a formal legal demand to immediately halt all distribution and commercial exploitation of Burna Boy’s foundational albums, *L.I.F.E* (2013) and *Redemption* (2016).

The demand, issued in writing, required WMG—as the distributor for Spaceship Music Limited (Burna Boy’s current imprint)—to suspend immediately all forms of distribution, marketing, monetization, licensing, synchronization, and any other commercial use of the disputed catalogue pending resolution of ongoing court proceedings in Nigeria. WMG was given seven days to acknowledge receipt and confirm compliance. That deadline has now expired without any response or action from the company.

The underlying dispute centers on an alleged mid-2024 transfer of master recordings and intellectual property rights from Aristokrat Records Nigeria Limited to Spaceship Music Limited. 960 Music Limited, holding a 40% equity stake in Aristokrat, asserts that it was neither notified nor provided consent for the transaction, rendering it invalid under applicable Nigerian corporate and intellectual property law. The shareholder is actively seeking court orders to nullify the transfer in proceedings before the Federal High Court.

Creative Legal stated: “Warner Music Group’s continued exploitation of these works, despite formal notice of the ownership controversy and an explicit demand to preserve the status quo, exposes the company to significant legal risk. We are prepared to seek judicial intervention to join WMG as a defendant in the existing civil action and, if necessary, pursue additional remedies to protect our client’s interests.”

This development escalates an already complex multi-million-dollar rights dispute in Nigeria’s rapidly growing music industry, highlighting challenges around transparency, shareholder rights, and catalogue transfers in early-stage artist agreements.

960 Music Limited and its legal team remain committed to resolving the matter through the courts and urge all parties involved to respect the judicial process.