Nigerian artist Fido claims he received only ₦1.5 million from a $20,000 advance for “Awolowo,” sparking dispute over transparency and artist rights.
Music sensation Fido (real name Awosika Olayemi Josiah) has publicly accused his former record label, Inner Circle Entertainment, of withholding the majority of his advance payment allegedly leaving him with just ₦1.5 million from $20,000 for his hit single “Awolowo.”
Speaking during a radio interview, the singer claimed:
“They took 95%. They just gave me only like N1.5 million out of $20,000.” He added that the financial dispute was a key reason behind delays in his music career.
Fido further criticized his ex-label for opacity, saying they withheld his financial records and backend analytics making it impossible for him to verify earnings. He said:
“I was transparent… even when I was with you guys, you took all my advance from me.”
The drama isn’t new. Earlier this year, Fido took to social media to criticize marketers within the industry, decrying how some companies treat artists as cash cows while keeping them in the dark about revenue.
This isn’t the first time concerns about transparency have surfaced in Nigeria’s music sector. Marketing companies are often accused of controlling artists through financial gatekeeping and limited access to backend data.
