When Rema decided to leave Mavin Records, he reached out to Don Jazzy, informing him of his decision to terminate their 10-year contract.
When Rema decided to leave Mavin Records, he reached out to Don Jazzy, informing him of his decision to terminate their 10-year contract. Their meeting at the Mavin headquarters was tense, as Don Jazzy, clearly displeased, asked Rema:
"Do you understand the consequences of breaking a contract—especially one with Africa’s biggest record label?"
Here’s what could have happened:
🔺 The label could have taken control of all Rema’s social media accounts, including Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
🔺 His music streaming profiles on platforms like iTunes, Spotify, and Audiomack could have remained under the label’s ownership.
🔺 Even his YouTube channel, with 4.66 million subscribers, technically belonged to Mavin Records since they helped create it.
🔺 Rema could have been banned from performing songs released under the label and potentially blacklisted in the industry.
But despite all these possibilities, Don Jazzy showed nothing but goodwill. Instead of enforcing these strict measures, he allowed Rema to walk away freely. The only agreement they maintained was a shared royalty deal for the songs released under Mavin. Today, Rema has full control over his social media, Spotify account (boasting 21.6 million listeners), and YouTube channel, which continues to earn him millions.
It’s rare to see this kind of generosity in the music industry, and Don Jazzy’s gesture speaks volumes about his character.
