Olawale Babalola, the CEO of the US-based company Fathia Entertainment, finds himself in a sour mood currently.
He’s embroiled in a dispute with the management of Marlian Music because he alleges they failed to fulfill their part of the agreement regarding a US tour for their artist, Zinoleesky.
In an interview with Sunday Scoop, Babalola explained, “We had a contract with Zinoleesky for a US tour. I had obtained his visa and other essential documents.
However, he departed for Puerto Rico on the visa I procured for him without my consent, which violated our contract.
Leading up to the event, I repeatedly asked them, especially their manager, Gabby, who resides in the UK, when they would arrive in the US, but received no response.
When the controversy surrounding Mohbad’s death arose, and Marlian Music faced backlash, they contacted me just three days before the tour was set to begin, informing me of a postponement. I explained that tickets had already been sold, and we couldn’t postpone that easily.
Given the negative press their label was receiving, I requested a refund of the money I had paid them, which included a $45,000 deposit for the tour, $15,000 for their visas, and $6,500 for Zino’s business class ticket. I have all the payment receipts.
They asked for patience, but I insisted on the exact refund of my payments; I wasn’t seeking damages.”
On the other hand, Marlian Records claimed it was Fathia Entertainment that canceled the tour.
Gabby, Marlian Music’s Diaspora manager, clarified, “The contract clearly stipulated that there would be no refund if the promoter canceled the tour.
Zinoleesky couldn’t perform if the promoter canceled, and we learned about the cancellation online, just like everyone else.
The promoter had signed an agreement outlining the consequences of cancellation.
Additionally, after Mohbad’s tragic passing, we suggested postponing. Even after his death was announced, Fathia Entertainment was still trying to book more dates, showing insensitivity.
They didn’t inform the artist or his team about their cancellation plans. The cancellation was the promoter’s decision.”
Babalola, however, stated that they were ‘forced’ to cancel the show when Marlian Music asked them to postpone the tour just four days before the scheduled date.
In response to this claim, Gabby said, “Addressing the PR crisis was secondary to acknowledging the loss of a former artist.
The first show was slated for September 28, 2023.
Moreover, considering the false accusations circulating, I expected Babalola to work with the team to find a suitable solution given the online threats.
Even Bella Shmurda postponed his Canadian tour after the news broke. We took steps to reschedule, but he chose to cancel without notifying us.
