“In December of 2011, after persistent requests from her associates, I signed Cynthia Morgan to my record label, Jton Records. In the early stages of her signing, I personally shot a freestyle and viral video for the mist titled One Blood and Kuehl Ruchi respectively.
In addition, there were several tracks which were recorded and produced but neva released during that timeframe. In the summer of 2013, I successfully secured a US work permit visa for Cynthia Morgan and flew her down to New York with me in pursuit of an independent record deal that was unsuccessful due to conflicts with the contract that was presented to us. Determined to secure a bigger platform for the artist, I then flew her down to Atlanta a few months later for a formal meeting with Jude Okoye.
The intent was to introduce Cynthia Morgan to him with the hope that be would be impressed with her sound and sign her to his Northside label. Unfortunately, he was reluctant to sign any artist at that time to a deal could not be established. We both returned to Nigeria and I immediately began working on the video production of her track, Kuehl Kuehl. Upon completion of the video, I sent the audio to Jude hopeful that he would have a change of heart. The strategy eventually worked and after a year of persistent negotiations; Jude agreed to sign her to Northside, and I remained in the capacity of management only.
The 360 contract and terms for it was drafted by me and not Jude Okoye. After finalizing the draft, it was reviewed and approved by Cynthia Morgan, then sent to Jude via email.
Jude simply put the contract on his letterhead and signed it. Nothing in that contract stated that Jude Okoye or Northside Music Ltd. would have ownership to her legal name, royalties, or social media handles. That was how the Northside Record Deal was structured.
Cynthia Morgan has also made frivol,. clams in an interview Mat her image and brand were undesirable and forced upon her by management a. Me record label. At no point did Cyrithm ever express discom Mn with her styling ar branding. There was never a given time where she was forced, or demands were made by the label and management to portray her unfavorably.
We played our role and hired image consultants to plan and structure how we could creatively pornay hcr auMentically as an artist We determined Mat her branding would mirror her person., – a sexy tomboy. Once t image was combined with her music, it gave In. to a massive Ma brand the Cynthia Morgan Brand.- She was vet, comfortable and as she became more commercial, we tweaked her image even fuller. When we initially presented Cynthia Morgan to the world up until the Donn Break my Mesa video, which was her first video under Northside MUSIC, people had heard her songs, but could not place a face to the artist.
We knew something was missing, which was when I came up with the concept of red hair to really make her stand out. The red hair was a huge success and complemented her music and sound. The I, Taken video introduced her fans and the world to a unique and attractive red headed dancehall rapper.
Though she initially disliked the red hair, she later adjusted to it when she witnased how recognizable it made her The signature style further established her brand and Cynthia took it further by deciding to add a nose ring on her arm. CynMia Morgan has also claimed that her songs were never promoted. Pmmotion does not only require or consist of payola Promotion entails presenting your music directly to influential OAPs, Ole, Promote, TV, and Radio executive. I and lude’s contacts from ydrs in the businds enabled us to submit her songs to everyone.
Though one can pay to get Meir music played, it still does not guarantee Mat the music or video will get the major push it deserves. The industry is not an easy one or particularly favorable to female artists. We fought tirelessly to get C371. M0.311.6 music on rotation. It was tirelessly just to get Cynthia Morgan’s music on rotation.
It was not simply because her music was good; it took a IM of stnnegizing and negotiating Mr her music to become mainstream. I’m Taken was when we finally broke the ice and successfully secured consistent airplay on radio and TV. Cynthia Morgan never paid any Mrm of house rag while workmg with Iron. She stared m my residence for over 3 yam unre lavier part of 2015 when Jude Okoye paid for her to secure her own apartment. As her popularity increased after the commercial success of Pre Taken and German Juice, lode Okoye presented her with Range Rover and money to purchase land for her mother in Benin upon Cynthia’s remmre I have in my possession records and details of every expense spent on Cynthia Morgan by ludo Oltoye until my departure from her M lune of 2016. These expenses include but are wt limited to music video shoots, upkeep allowances. promo.. P.M.., a car. rent payments and other atomises from the years 2013 up until 2016. I’m Taken was the brereareough record CyoMia Morgan Mat changed everything. wen the success of I’m Taken a. Genwan Jake, Cynthia Morgan got bigger Man her team (label a. management,) and out of control. She began performing on countless shows amide of me and Jude Okoyes awareness or approval. we clashed frequently because Me wanted to depart fmm Northside and I repeatedly advised her against it.
She also Wed m convince me to prepare for her exit from the label because she wanted to form her own imprho wMch she wanted my help In tuning. emOhMeaRY told her Mat I could not be a pang to such an arrangement especially after going over and beyond gening her signed to Northside Music Ltd.
In June of 2016.1 parted ways with Cynthia Morgan after realizing that she was no longer manageable. Less t.n year later, Cynthia also parted ways with lode Okoye and released herself from her contract before it ended without penalty or any legal proceedings from Northside. To this day. she maintains the rights to her legal/stage name. brand. and against it She also tried to convince me to prepare for her exit from the label because she wanted to form her own imprint which she wanted my help M naming. I emphatically told her that I could not be a party to such an arrangement especially after going over and beyond to getting her signed to Nonhside Music Ltd.
In June of 2016, I paned ways with Cynthia Morgan after realizing that she was no longer manageable. Less than a year later, Cynthia also parted ways with Jude Okoye and released herself from her contract before it ended without penalty or any legal proceedings from Northside. To this day, she maintains the rights to her legal/stage name, brand. and everything that we created for her.
After departing from Jude Okoye in 2017, she released two songs under her imprint label without any resistance from him. Neither Jude nor I have ever demanded or even contacted her for the outstanding balance owed to the label. I have never uttered a word about the slander she has made online and on air about my credibility as a professional. After all those foam, Cynthia Morgan is persistent in her effons to tamish our names just to seek sympathy from her fans and the world without ever taking any accountability for her actions.
We do not wish ill will against her, but rather that she should be honest when relaying her accounts of all that was done for her during her rise to fame The fabrications and accusations will no longer be tolerated or met with silence and indifference.
Joy Tong President, Jton Productions
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