22/05/2026
Richie Music Empire Raises Concerns Over Alleged Contract Breach Involving Qing Madi and Columbia Records
The ongoing conversation around artist management, contractual obligations, and international label acquisitions within the African music industry has taken another dramatic turn as Richie Music Empire publicly accused Columbia Records of allegedly bypassing due process in its dealings with Nigerian singer Qing Madi.
According to statements released by Richie Music Empire, the label claims that several musical projects recorded by the artiste during her time under the label’s management are now being commercially exploited following her departure from the company. The label insists that these recordings were created under binding contractual agreements before the singer, then known professionally as Madi Kid, allegedly exited the label and later aligned herself with JTown Music and subsequently Columbia Records.
Richie Music Empire alleges that the singer departed the label without properly resolving existing contractual commitments tied to recordings, branding rights, and unreleased projects. The company further claims that attempts were made privately to address the situation before taking the matter public.
In a strongly worded position, the Nigerian label criticized Columbia Records for what it describes as a failure to conduct adequate legal and contractual due diligence before entering into business with the rising Afrobeats star. Richie Music Empire argues that multinational music corporations often possess the legal and financial leverage to overlook smaller African labels during talent acquisitions, creating what it calls an “unequal power structure” within the global entertainment industry.
The label stated that the situation reflects a wider pattern in which African music companies are allegedly marginalized when international corporations pursue emerging talents from the continent. Industry observers note that disputes involving ownership rights, artist contracts, masters, and intellectual property have increasingly become common as Afrobeats continues its rapid global expansion.
While neither Columbia Records nor Qing Madi has publicly issu
