Burna Boy signs deal with Kobalt Neighbouring Rights

The deal, which was made public on 20 May, allows the artist a full range of royalty collection and maximisation services on a global scale. Burna Boy joins fellow African acts like Mr Eazi, whose emPawa Publishing secured an agreement with Kobalt in September last year.

Kobalt was founded in 2000 by Willard Ahdritz, who doubles up as the company’s CEO. Kobalt is behind an online portal providing royalty income and activity to artists, allowing them to manage their rights and royalties directly.

“My music is global and I have toured the globe. I need my performance royalties collection to be on point, tidy, transparent, quick. Not sure anyone does it better than KNR,” Burna Boy said about the deal.

Burna Boy’s manager, Bose Ogulu, said: “When you manage an international artist whose music is constantly played around the world, it only makes sense to align with an efficient performance royalties collector with strong international reach – KNR.”

KNR business development manager Micheal Stinton said: “Instantly recognisable, Burna Boy is one of the most influential and culturally important artists to break on a global scale over the last few years. From a Grammy nomination for his incredible 2019 album, African Giant to a Grammy win for 2020’s Twice As Tall, Burna Boy has also seen global success with collaborations including Dave, Ed Sheeran, Stormzy, Sam Smith, Chris Martin, Jorja Smith, Jeremih, Future, YG, Justin Bieber – the list goes on! We truly appreciate the trust that Burna and his whole team have placed in KNR to administer his global neighbouring rights.”

Born Damini Ogulu in Port Harcourt, Burna Boy is signed to Atlantic Records in the US, Warner Music Group internationally and to his independent label, Spaceship Entertainment. His latest single ‘Kilometre’ was released last month ahead of his forthcoming sixth studio album.