A legal storm has arisen for Warner Music over the Burna Boy catalog rights dispute

A coalition of Nigerian music entrepreneurs, led by 960 Music Limited, has petitioned the global entertainment giant over the alleged unauthorized sale and exploitation of the artist’s early works.

Lagos-based law firm Creative Legal, representing 960 Music, confirmed that it has officially notified WMG—the distributor of Spaceship Music, Burna Boy’s label—of the dispute involving the albums LIFE (2013) and Redemption (2016). The company demanded that Warner immediately suspend all distribution, monetization, licensing and related commercial activities related to the catalog pending a court decision.

According to the petitioners, 960 Music, the largest shareholder in Aristocrat Records—Burna Boy’s former label—was neither informed nor approved of the alleged transfer of catalog from Aristocrat Records Nigeria Limited to Spaceship Music Limited. Lawyers argued that the transaction did not require board and shareholder approval, thus forming the basis of an ongoing lawsuit.

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The matter is currently being filed with the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt (Letter No. FHC/PH/CS/188/2024), where 960 Music seeks to cancel the assignment and recover the proceeds from the alleged sale. Similar criminal proceedings have also been initiated in Lagos (Charge No. FHC/L/1087/2025), with authorities bringing charges including fraudulent religious conversion.

Creative Legal has issued a series of demands to WMG, including an immediate halt to all exploitation of the work, preservation of financial and royalty records, and a commitment to avoid any new licensing or distribution agreements related to the catalogue. The company also requests written confirmation of compliance within seven days.

By the time the deadline expired, the company said Warner Music had not responded, raising the possibility of further legal action. Managing Partner Justin Ige noted that the next steps will depend on instructions from 960 Music, as the dispute threatens to pull one of the world’s largest music companies further into Nigeria’s ever-evolving music rights landscape.