Michael Odiong, Premier Records MD
The management of Premier Records Ltd. has no contractual misunderstanding with Mr. Charles Oputa alias Charly Boy, nor has it infringed on his music and sound recordings copyright.
The record company made this known in a statement through which it reacted to media reports that Charly Boy, also known as Area Fada, was on the verge of filing a suit against it for violating contracts both parties entered into over three decades ago.
The statement disclosed that Premier Records had no issues with Charly Boy, stressing that they both had enjoyed “a long-standing relationship spanning three decades despite all odds”, just as it added that it had no problem with other Artistes in it’s fold.
Said Premire: “We want to categorically state that we do not have any issues with Charlie Boy and have had a long-standing relationship spanning three decades despite all odds”.
The company further explained that it met with Ms. Doris, Charly Boy’s manager, in a cordial atmosphere at its head office last Thursday, during which she was briefed on the nature of their different contracts while relevant royalty statements were handed to her.
The statement explained that the 1990 album’s copyright belonged to the company due to the contract signed in 1988 with Polydor (now Premier Records Ltd), pointing out that it clearly stated that the artiste had assigned all the rights to the company as contained in paragraph five and fifteen of the contract.
Read the statement: “Our attention has been drawn to media reports from some media houses about Mr. Charles Oputa’s (Charlie Boy) claim of a possible infringement on his works by Premier Records Limited.
“We want to categorically state that we do not have any issues with Charlie Boy and have had a long-standing relationship spanning three decades despite all odds. We had a meeting with his manager, Ms. Doris last week Thursday being the 15th of June 2023 in our office. We had a cordial discussion and the different contracts were explained to her and royalty statement was given to her.
“The management of Premier Records had mentioned to his manager that ‘Reality‘ album was a licensing deal and not owned by the company and that we would not take a dime from whatever has accrued over the years and the masters will be given back.
“The 1990 album copyright belongs to the company according to the contract signed in 1988 with Polydor (now Premier Records Ltd). The contract clearly states that the artiste has assigned all the rights to the company as contained in paragraph five and fifteen of the contract.
“We also informed his manager that we are willing to return the ‘U-Turn‘ album due to some circumstances surrounding the contract for the album.
“In all these, we have kept in touch and have fulfilled all the requests made by Charlie Boy.
“We have the highest respect for Charlie Boy and would not do anything as a company to undermine him. We never claim what is not ours and duly pay artistes their royalties when it gets to the threshold. This is our major integrity test that has been passed from one management to another.
“We assure the public that this issue will be addressed and resolved amicably as we see our artistes as not only artistes but family”.
Signed
Management.
