Music executive and producer Michael Collins Ajereh, popularly known as Don Jazzy, has refuted long-standing allegations that his record label, Mavin Records, deliberately prioritizes certain artists while neglecting others. In a recent YouTube conversation with Crea8torium, the Mavin founder argued that such a strategy would be counterproductive for any label.
Business Logic Against Favoritism
Don Jazzy emphasized that signing artists is a business investment. "The idea that we will have people and not want to prioritize them is not a real thing. When we sign artists, we want to make money from those artists and want those artists to make money for themselves," he said. He compared sidelining an artist to throwing money away, stating it makes no business sense.
Artists' Own Choices
Addressing why some Mavin artists release fewer songs or appear less visible, Don Jazzy attributed it to personal decisions. "If you see an artist in Mavin and the artist only releases one or two songs in a year, just know that it is the artist that decided that," he explained. He cited imposter syndrome as a common psychological hurdle, noting, "Most of the time, they actually have imposter syndrome. It’s normal; we are all human beings."
Context of Recent Controversies
Don Jazzy's comments come amid social media debates about label neglect, especially after former Mavin artist Crayon left the label. Allegations of unpaid royalties and creative disagreements surfaced, but Crayon later claimed his account was hacked. Don Jazzy avoided naming individuals but addressed the broader criticism, reiterating that holding back talent is neither intentional nor economically viable for a label focused on artist development.
Mavin Records has launched stars like Ayra Starr, Rema, Johnny Drille, and Ladipoe, solidifying its status as a top Afrobeats talent incubator.
