Grammy award-winning Nigerian singer, songwriter, and rapper Burna Boy has inked a global deal with Kobalt Neighbouring Rights (KNR) .
The deal offers Burna Boy a full range of royalty collection as well as earnings maximization services on a global scale.
(Update: In an announcement confirming its completed acquisition of KNR earlier this week, Sony Music Group referred to the company simply as ‘Neighbouring Rights’, dropping the ‘Kobalt’. A Kobalt rep confirms that, for now, the firm’s name currently remains Kobalt Neighbouring Rights.)
Damini Ogulu, born in Port Harcourt, Nigeria, is better known today as Burna Boy, the Afro-fusion singer, songwriter, and performing artist.
Signed to Atlantic Records in the United States and Warner Music Group internationally – as well as his own record label Spaceship Entertainment – Ogulu has worked with some of the most recognized names in modern pop, from Sia and Diddy to Sam Smith, and Justin Bieber.
Multiple collaborations have brought award kudos for Burna Boy, both locally and internationally, including a Grammy win for Best World Music Album, a BET award win and Edison Award win.
This past spring, Burna Boy featured on the soundtrack to Coming 2 America, and later released a string of his own singles.
“My music is global.”
Burna Boy
A tour date announcements is set for later this fall, says Neighbouring Rights
Burna Boy said: “My music is global and I have toured the globe, I need my performance royalties collection to be on point, tidy, transparent, quick, not sure anyone does it better than KNR.”
“it only makes sense to align with an efficient performance royalties collector with strong international reach.”
Bose Ogulu, Burna Boy manager
Bose Ogulu, Burna Boy’s manager, said: “When you manage an international artist whose music is constantly played around the world, it only makes sense to align with an efficient performance royalties collector with strong international reach… KNR.”
“Burna Boy is one of the most influential and culturally important artists to break on a global scale.”
Micheal Stinton, Kobalt Neighbouring Rights
Micheal Stinton, KNR Neighbouring Rights Business Development Manager, added: “Instantly recognisable, Burna Boy is one of the most influential and culturally important artists to break on a global scale over the last few years.
“From a Grammy nomination for his incredible 2019 album, African Giant to a Grammy WIN for 2020’s Twice As Tall, Burna Boy has also seen global success with collaborations including Dave, Ed Sheeran, Stormzy, Sam Smith, Chris Martin, Jorja Smith, Jeremih, Future, YG, Justin Bieber – the list goes on!
“We truly appreciate the trust that Burna and his whole team have placed in KNR to administer his global Neighbouring Rights.”
Singing a deal with a globally renowned artist like Burna Boy is a sign that, for now at least, KNR are still willing to spend money on big signings after several months of change at the company.
In February, Sony Music agreed to pay Kobalt USD $430 million to acquire Kobalt Neighbouring Rights and AWAL, a recorded music services firm that works with independent artists including Lauv, Finneas, AG Club, girl in red, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, and Little Simz.
Once the ink had dried, Kobalt Music Group was left with two of its flagship divisions – Kobalt Music Publishing and publishing collection society AMRA.Music Business Worldwide
