Entertainment of Thursday, 2 May 2019 Source: ghbase.com Tiwa Savage has reportedly left Mavin Records and has signed a new deal with Universal Music Group, the world’s leading music company. The mother of one is arguably the finest female act on the continent with a lot of hit songs and awards to her credit. She was under the tutelage of Don Jazzy during the formative stage of her career till now. She’s now heading to the world’s largest music company and that’s a plus for her music career. Her crew at Mavin Records expressed their gratitude towards her stay at the company for seven years. Mavin Records founder, Don Jazzy took to Instagram to express his gratitude that one of her protegé is moving to a higher pedestal. He wrote; "Our Darling Tiwatope. We At Mavin Would Like To Say A Very Big Thank You For Being Such An Inspiration To All Of Us, A Friend, A Sister. It’s Been An Epic Journey With You And We Are Very Proud Of What We Have Achieved Together. As You Start This New Chapter In Your Life We Want You To Know That We Are Solidly Behind You And Can’t Wait For The World To See What We Have Always Believed You Can Be. Your Jersey As The First Lady Of Mavin Will Forever Be Yours As We Do Not Intend To Fill That Position With Anyone Else. We Love You From The Bottom Of Heart And Pray GOD’s Blessings Continue To Follow You. Amennnn. #Mavin @Tiwasavage"<doc-sep>(CNN) One of the world's leading music groups, Universal Music Group (UMG) has signed an exclusive recording agreement with award-winning Nigerian singer, Tiwa Savage. Savage, under the agreement, will make music with UMG and have access to their infrastructure and distribution tools. Her future music will be released to a wider international audience through UMG's operations in 60 countries across the globe. The singer, one of Africa's biggest music stars, is the only woman to have won the MTV Europe Music Awards in the best African act category. 'Making Africa proud' Born in Lagos, Nigeria, Savage previously performed as a backup singer for artists such as Mary J. Blige and the late singer George Michael. She later attended Boston's renowned Berklee College of Music on scholarship. "My biggest goal is to make Africa proud. I'm so excited for this moment, and I'm thankful to (UMG CEO|) Sir Lucian Grainge and my new UMG family for their belief in my dreams. I'm looking forward to this next chapter in my career, and I'm more ready than I have ever been" Savage said in a media release announcing the deal. "We are looking forward to partnering with Tiwa and her team to help her music reach new audiences around the world," said Adam Granite, executive VP market development at Universal Music Group. "As one of Africa's most successful, influential and dynamic singer-songwriters, Tiwa has truly global ambitions and UMG is committed to help her in achieving them." A win for everyone Savage's recording agreement is not UMG's first foray into Africa, the Los Angeles-based music group currently operates in West and East Africa and has signed some of the continent's top artists such as Ivorian DJ and singer DJ Arafat and Nigerian popstar Tekno Last year, UMG acquired AI records, one of East Africa's largest labels, and opened offices in Ivory Coast and Nigeria. They also have a multi-year licensing agreement with Boomplay, Africa's top music streaming platform. The agreement offers UMG's catalog in 10 African countries to Boomplay's 5.6 million active daily users. American record labels are increasingly looking to Africa. Warner Music Group recently inked a deal with Afrobeats label Chocolate City, while Sony Music's RCA record label has signed some of the continent's leading artists such as Davido and Wizkid. Many musicians in developing countries don't have access to structures that will help them grow, market and distribute their talent and music and by spreading its footprint on the continent, Universal will create a stronger music market for Africans, says Nigeria-based music analyst Joey Akan. "UMG is trying to build businesses that involve talent management and infrastructure. They are expanding their territory and positioning infrastructure for the growth of artists too. Everybody benefits," he told CNN.<doc-sep>
Chux Ohai Highflying and talented singer, Tiwatope Savage, popularly known as Tiwa Savage, is in the news again. This time, it is about her new recording deal with one of the world’s leading music and entertainment companies, the American Universal Music Group, shortly after calling it quits with music producer Don Jazzy’s Mavin Records. Ever since the news was broken by the management of the UMG on social media and affirmed by a tell-tale post on Tiwa’s Instagram, showing the singer posing for a photograph with the Chief Executive Officer of UMG, Sir Lucian Grainge and other members of his team, her teeming fans in Nigeria and the rest of Africa appear to have gone wild with excitement. According to the terms of the new agreement, which was signed by both parties on Thursday, Tiwa’s new works will, henceforth, be released in over 60 countries across the world through the UMG. Reacting to the development in what seems like a farewell message posted on his Instagram page, Don Jazzy thanked the singer for seven fruitful years on Mavin Records. He wrote, “Our darling, Tiwatope. We at Mavin would like to say a very big thank you for being such an inspiration to all of us, a friend, a sister. It’s been an epic journey with you and we are very proud of what we have achieved together. READ ALSO: Without Moremi, the Yoruba would never have survived – Ooni “As you start this new chapter in your life we want you to know that we are solidly behind you and can’t wait for the world to see what we have always believed you can be. Your jersey as the `First Lady of Mavin’ will forever be yours as we do not intend to fill that position with anyone else. “We love you from the bottom of the heart and pray GOD’s blessings to continue to follow you.” Copyright PUNCH. All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH.