At the 2015 Nigerian Entertainment Conference held on Wednesday, April 22, 2015 at Eko Hotel and Suites popular rapper MI Abaga announced the merger of his three-year old label, Loopy Music with Audu Maikori’s Chocolate City.
The merger he says was necessary to further strengthen the music label as an entity.
“You all already know Jesse and Jagz Nation have returned to Chocolate City, I’m also happy to inform all of you that my Loopy Music is also merging with Chocolate City. I know a lot of people weren’t expecting that but it is the right thing to do. I am very confident in Chocolate City, it has become a home to me and all of us on the label” he said.
Prior to his announcement, MI who doubles as Vice President of the label gave the audience a detailed account of how the label rose to fame. He stressed that the success of the label was because of the understanding its management had with the acts on board and the tact deployed every time an agreement had to be amended.
He revealed that the reason most labels go extinct is their inability to cater for the signed artists and further stated his conviction as regards Chocolate City’s longevity.
According to him, the new approach that has been adopted by the management will not only solidify its operations but also ensure its staying power,
“At Chocolate City, we have adopted what I will like to call the 360 approach. This approach caters for the artiste in totality and seeks to better his craft, sales, management, endorsement as well as appeal to fans’ he said before announcing a compilation album”
Shortly after the announcement, CEO of the label, Audu Maikori thanked the rapper for his unflinching support before disclosing his intention to resign his position as CEO of the label,
“I have headed Chocolate City for the past 10 years and its been the most amazing period of my life despite the many challenges that came with it. There were times, I would get home and wished I wouldn’t have to go to work the next day. Some other times, artistes will demand for money and I know that it isn’t available but I still have to find it… At this point I have decided to step down as CEO of Chocolate City to allow for the younger generation to steer the ship. My resignation takes effect from June but I won’t disclose who will take over from me until then” he said.
The record label has had Maikori chair its affairs since it was founded in 2005 and presently boasts of well over 10 musical artistes including MI, Ice Prince, Jesse Jagz, Ruby Gyang, Nosa, DJ Lambo, DJ Caise, Victoria Kimani, Loose Kaynon, and others .
