Harrysong ‘repeatedly breached’ his contract, says Five Star Music

Five Star Music has accused its former artiste, Harrysong, of breaching the three-year contract he signed with them.

Harrysong recently announced his departure from Five Star Music and set up his own imprint, Alter Plate.

The singer was on Friday arrested and subsequently released at the behest of the record label.

In a press release signed by C.C Chris, the label narrated how it paid N5m to free Harrysong from Question Mark Records, his former employers, who had sued him to court.

The record label says it subsequently signed a 3-year deal with the singer/songwriter to release three albums, but he never came through on his end of the agreement.

Five Star Music, however, failed to mention in the statement why the singer was arrested as opposed to being sued for breach of contract.

The statement read in part: “Sometime in 2008 when Mr. Harry first approached our record label for a music contract, we immediately declined the request when we found out that he had a subsisting contract with one Mr. Kevin Luciano of ‘Question Mark Entertainment Label’. All efforts then by Mr. Harry to influence our management proved abortive as our position was maintained on grounds of equity, fairness and professionalism.

“When Harry’s employers (Question Mark Entertainment) got wind of his frantic efforts to desert his contract, a stern and official public statement was issued against Mr. Harry and a certain clause establishing his existing contract was clearly published for full consumption by the general public.

“Our move to do things right and professionally with Mr. Harry earned us a N20m suit from Mr. Kevin Luciano of Question Mark Entertainment (Records are there for confirmation). We were joined as co-defendants with Mr. Harry.

“Knowing the vulnerability of Mr. Harry on the impending legal suit, we solicited the help of certain well respected individuals in the music industry to wade into the matter, one of which was our dear veteran Daddy Showkey.

“Mr. Luciano having found out our intention from inception to act in good faith, agreed to withdraw his suit against Mr. Harry and our company But, not without consequential and settlement fees N5m. We paid this amount solely without Mr. Harry contributing a dime.

“Because we are known for running our affairs professionally and legally, we signed a three-year contract with Mr. Harry and certain conditions and obligations were specifically and properly spelled out apart from the terms of the contract. Most important of these were his obligations to our music label, which amongst others include: That he must deliver at least, three (3) full music albums on or before the expiration of the first term of his three year contract, otherwise the label solely reserves the right either to rescind or extend the contract. These conditions were never met.

“While in the employment of the Five Star Music Label, he must not engage himself in anyway whatsoever, whether directly, by proxy or through a third party in any music or recording business other than that of Five Star Music. This condition was also repeatedly breached as Mr. Harry has been releasing music, going on tours locally and internationally without our consent or paying the agreed percentage to the label.”

When Harrysong left Five Star Music Group in November 2016, the singer said his contract with the label expired before he decided to move on.

Five Star is owned by Emeka Okonkwo, a businessman and brother of KCee, Limpopo singer.