Runtown in trouble, record label slams N65m suit on him

Nigerian singer Runtown is neck deep at the moment in a court battle with his record label Eric Many over constant breach of contract and irreconcilable differences.

Reports say Runtown’s record label has filed an injunction at a Federal High court against the singer for attending shows outside the country and recording an album without its consent and approval.

A few days back, Runtown’s record label filed court papers with Suit No: FHC/L/CS/267/2018 accompanied with a statement that partly reads, ‘Runtown has been deliberately breaching his contract with us (Eric Many) for a while and despite our many appeals to him he has refused to bulge. He went for a show in Las Vegas since January 13th, 2018 and has since decided to withdraw all obligations of his contract. He has steadily been recording an album without the consent and approval of his record label’.

Eric Many in its statement of claim is seeking the sum of; “N65 MILLION being General Damages against the defendant (Runtown) in favour of the plaintiff for infringement of the plaintiff’s copyright to the collaborative musical works “Call Me” and “Weekend” both of which featured the Defendant as well as N5 MILLION as costs of this action”.

“Eric Many has chosen to hold back on anything pertaining to Runtown, till further investigations. This means that anyone who engages Runtown without a written approval from Eric Many, signed by the chairman, will be sued heavily.

Read also: Kiss Daniel wins court case against his former label, reports say

The statement issued by Eric Many continues; “A Recording Agreement was made between the Plaintiff and the Defendant dated 22nd June 2016, the copyright and other intellectual property and cognate rights and legal positions and protections applicable to all works done by the Defendant during an initial period of two years covered by the Agreement, is vested in the Plaintiff. The Plaintiff will rely on a copy of the said Recording Agreement at trial. 7. Under the Agreement, parties recognize and acknowledge the sum of N114,456,670.00 (One Hundred and Fourteen Million, Four Hundred and Fifty Six Thousand, Six Hundred and Seventy Naira) as “Prior Investment”, representing the sum invested by the Plaintiff into the development of the Defendant’s musical works and records under the defunct ‘Artiste Agreement’, precursor to the ‘Recording Agreement”.

Eric Many also followed up with a press statement this morning revealing that Runtown has left the label in the dark over his activities recently which contravene the contract he signed with the label.

“He’s been recording with artists like Del B without the written approval of the label and without an Eric Many appointee at the point of recording as agreed in our contract. Runtown has also been appearing in venues and collecting appearance fees without the approval of the label and also performing in private shows without the label’s consent which contravenes clause 4.4.1 of his record deal which states that ‘the Defendant (Runtown) can only engage in recording, collaborating or performing with other artistes for third parties or other record companies upon proper notification in advance to the Plaintiff. Upon this notification, the Plaintiff would then enter into an agreement with the collaborating artiste or his record company to ensure that the Plaintiff and the Defendant receive proper credit, legal/copyright protection and compensation for the collaborative work”.

Reports say this is the second time in two years that Runtown is being sued by his record label.

In the year 2016, Runtown was also charged to court by Eric Many for breach of contract and his label went further to secure a court injunction stopping from performing as an artiste anywhere in the world.

The matter according to reports was later settled after Runtown apologised for his actions.

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