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Don Jazzy has clarified his remarks about not making money from his pre-Mo’Hits years, saying he was referring to the limited income available from music at the time.
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The music executive said a resurfaced clip from a 2023 interview was taken out of context.
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He explained that streaming was not a major source of music revenue when he and D’banj were building Mo’Hits.
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Don Jazzy also urged people to be careful with old clips, saying they can be shared without the full context to generate outrage.
August 27, (THEWILL) — Music executive and Mavin Records boss Don Jazzy has clarified comments he made about his earnings before and during the Mo’Hits era.
His clarification follows the resurfacing of a clip from a 2023 interview on the Zero Conditions podcast.
In the interview, Don Jazzy was asked about songs from his pre-Mo’Hits era that still earned him money.
He said he did not make money from that period, a comment that later sparked discussions online.
Don Jazzy has now explained that he was referring to the financial situation at the time, when music streaming had not yet become a major source of income.
“When I said I didn’t earn anything from Mo Hits, I meant back then. Streaming was not a thing, so we weren’t making much money from it.”
Don Jazzy also provided more context about the end of Mo’Hits and his split from D’banj.
He said that when he and D’banj decided to go their separate ways, they reached an agreement and split their interests.
According to Don Jazzy, D’banj was free to leave with his catalogue, while other artistes who chose to leave with him could also take their respective catalogues.
He explained that the lack of streaming revenue at the time meant the music they released was not generating the kind of income artists can earn from digital platforms today.
Mo’Hits Records, founded by Don Jazzy and D’banj, became one of Nigeria’s biggest record labels before the duo went their separate ways in 2012. The label was home to artists including Wande Coal, D’Prince and Dr SID.
Don Jazzy later founded Mavin Records, which went on to become another major force in the Nigerian music industry.
Don Jazzy warns against old clips
Don Jazzy also urged people to be careful about the content they consume online.
He said old interview clips can be taken out of context and shared to provoke reactions, particularly when the full conversation is not available.
His latest clarification was aimed at explaining that his comments were about the limited income from music at the time, rather than suggesting that Mo’Hits and its music had no commercial success.
Evi-Ben Ezaga is an entertainment and society writer with a passion for stories that explore culture, people, and the stories shaping society today.
