Though the actual amount involved in the new deals was not mentioned, it’s clear from the responses of the artistes that they are happy with the agreements believed to run into several millions of Naira.
Elated Iyanya took to Instagram to announce the completion of the deal, describing the relationship, which began in 2008 upon his emergence as winner of Project Fame sponsored by the MTN, as ‘smooth and great’
Don Jazzy, on his part, while announcing the renewal of the contract he first signed in 2012, gave kudos to the organisation for the extension.
Few hours before the contract renewal, rumours were rife that another telecommunications giant, a wholly-owned Nigerian compnay, Globacom, was looking to ‘poach’ Don Jazzy and the entire Mavin Crew with a mouth-watering deal.
Probably, in a bid to pre-empt a mass exodus of its ambassadors and losing the popular producer and his entire crew to a rival company, MTN fast-tracked the renewal of Don Jazzy’s contract.
As at Tuesday when the announcement was made, Jazzy still had two months to run on his existing contract. It may also be a strategy to avoid a replay of what MTN did to Etisalat some years ago when versatile actor, Hafiz Oyetoro jumped ship and popularised the slang, ‘porting’.
The case of Hafiz Oyetoro, popularly known as Saka may have informed the move by MTN. Recall that about two years ago, Saka was priced away from Etisalat by MTN in what has now become known as ‘porting’, the slang normally used when a subscriber decides to change his phone line from one network to another.
Saka decided to adopt the slang in announcing his movement from Etisalat to MTN, in a unique way by singing his ‘I don port o’ song, which became very popular among Nigerians.
In retrospect, would it not have been better and even more rewarding for the ‘Don’ to move on to Globacom, considering the reported eagerness of the firm, owned by Nigeria’s business mogul, Michael Adenuga to sign him on and probably include his entire Mavin crew in the bargain?
That may also have afforded him the opportunity to get endorsement deals for his new signings, Reekado Banks, Korede Bello and Di’Ja, who look up to him as their compass.
Especially considering how such a move would have opened up the horizon and given room for healthy competition, as Globacom was believed to be ready to give MTN a run for its money, and possibly break the bank to have him in their stable.
However, having signed the new deal, we wish the ‘Don’, MTN and the Mavin crew a rewarding business relationship in the next 365 days. As for Globacom, the search continues, but the ultimate winner, in all of this of course, is the entertainment sector
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