The ongoing saga between Ngah Rinyu, popularly known as Rinyu, and Akumba Music Label has sparked a divisive response among fans, leaving many wondering what details are being withheld from the public.
Rinyu recently severed ties with the label, terminating a 15-year contract after just five years. In recent media appearances, she has vocally criticised the alleged mistreatment she endured at the hands of Akumba Music. Disturbingly, she claimed to have lost access to her social media accounts for months, tearfully revealing that everything she had was taken away.
Dying in silence?
While Rinyu initially seemed inclined to maintain silence and move on with her life, Achu Normad, the Production Director of Akumba Music, continued to provoke her, leading to emotional and psychological distress. In an emotional outburst, Rinyu expressed her frustration, stating, “I have had enough. I have not disturbed you since we stopped working. I have not come online to report the page you are running without my consent. You are trying to ruin me.”
What are they not telling fans?
Despite the public attention on the breakup, neither Rinyu nor Akumba Music have provided a clear explanation for the departure. On February 13, Akumba Music expressed gratitude to Rinyu for their time together. According to Normad, he recognized Rinyu’s talent and invested heavily in developing it. However, the undisclosed issues arose when Rinyu secured her most significant endorsement deal.
Normad revealed that following the endorsement, Rinyu, accompanied by her lawyer, initiated discussions that eventually led to an amicable termination of the contract. Choosing to avoid legal battles, they negotiated a termination agreement, allowing Rinyu to leave peacefully while ensuring that Akumba Music still retained control over her social media accounts.
“We could have gone to court to fight this, but we decided not to and to let her have her way because she’s our legacy. We then sat down with her and her legal team and came up with a termination agreement that would see us all ride out this amazing run peacefully,” Normad said.
Normad asserted that the label is entitled to 40% of the royalties from their collaborative projects, and Rinyu is obliged to share revenue equally from her future musical events.
Even though Rinyu has parted ways with Akumba Music, the label still maintains influence over the 50-plus songs they created together.
Divided opinions
The fan and influencer community remains divided on the matter. While some have offered support and encouragement to Rinyu, others argue that leaving the label is a mistake. Some critics have accused Rinyu of only departing now that she is generating income, suggesting that the contract held less significance for her once money started flowing in. However, a faction of her fans is rallying behind her, urging Rinyu to stay strong and strategize for a comeback.
