Friday 19 June 2015

MTN splashes over N400m on Don Jazzy, Iyanya, Sound Sultan, others

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It is the season that notable Nigerian music acts have been waiting for. Don Jazzy, Iyanya, Sound Sultan and Chidinma are some of the acts who have renewed their contracts with MTN as ambassadors for another year. 
MTN Nigeria has splashed out millions on Nigerian music stars by renewing their contracts with the telco company for another year.
In the space of 48 hours, MTN concluded renewals for the endorsements of some of Nigeria’s biggest stars including Iyanya, Don JazzyTiwa SavageChidinma and Harrysong.
Others who have been captured so far for another year are Sound Sultan, Banky WDr Sid, and Praiz. By estimation, the telcom firm has spent nothing less than N400m on the music stars.
In 2013, MTN officially signed MMMG act, Iyanya for around N40m, Tiwa Savage for about N30m and another Project Fame winner, Chidinma Ekile for a figure believed to be N20m.
Along with Don Jazzy, the stars have had their agreements with the company renewed for the 3rd consecutive year last week while Dr Sid was signing for his second year with MTN.
The total signings by Mavin Records crew of Don Jazzy, Tiwa Savage, Dr Sid and D’Prince was valued at over N150m in 2013 and the figure is believed to have risen even further this year.
That line of thought according to observers, might not be unconnected with rumours fuelled by a statement from one Gbenga Olorunpomi that all the acts under the Mavin umbrella were set to ditch MTN for a rival and wholly Nigeria-owned company, Globacom.
In the cases of Banky W and Sound Sultan, their initial deals reportedly came in at N40m and N30m respectively while Five Star Music act, Harrysong’s was put at N10m two years ago. With all of them having remained relevant enough to add value to the brand, a substantial increase is believed to have been inserted one way or another.
All the deals were signed and renewed through the Paul Okoye led Upfront Bookings Talent Agency. Some stars like WizkidDavido and KCEE who are all MTN ambassadors are not in the country at the moment, which explains why there’s been no mention of their renewals.
NET reached out to a couple of the ambassadors who got their deals renewed but only Chidinma responded. She said: ‘I feel great having my deal renewed, it’s a good feeling. She however declined to comment on how much the deal is worth, saying, ‘I won’t want to talk about that, but my relationship with the brand has been great.’
We also sought to get details of the endorsement deals from the MTN through its General Manager, Corporate Affairs, Funmi Onajide but she was yet to respond to our email as at press time.
ArtistAmount (NET estimates)
Davido40m
Wizkid40m
Saka30m
Iyanya40m
Chidinma20m
Praiz20m
Mavin150m
Banky W40m
Sound Sultan30
Harrysong10
Total420m

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