Music executive and producer, Michael Collins Ajereh, well known as Don Jazzy, has dismissed long-running claims that his label, Mavin Records, intentionally prioritises certain artistes while sidelining others, insisting that such a strategy will make little business sense for the label.

Speaking during a wide-ranging YouTube conversation with Crea8torium, the Mavin founder pushed back against a recurring narrative that has followed major record labels in Nigeria — accusations that some artistes are deliberately held back while others receive more support and visibility.

According to him, the idea of 0suppressing an artiste’s growth contradicts the core purpose of signing talent. “The idea that we will have people and not want to prioritise them is not a real thing. When we sign artistes, we want to make money from those artists and want those artists to make money for themselves,” he said. The veteran music executive argued that deliberately leaving a signed act inactive would amount to poor business judgment. “It would seem like taking money and locking it away or throwing it away because it doesn’t make sense,” he added.

Addressing concerns on why some Mavin artistes appear less visible or release fewer songs compared to their label mates, Don Jazzy stated that the explanation often lies with the artistes themselves rather than institutional neglect.

“If you see an artiste in Mavin and the artiste only releases one or two songs in a year, just know that it is the artiste that decided that,” he explained.

The Mavin chief attributed the pattern to personal and psychological struggles, particularly self-doubt. “Most of the time, they actually have imposter syndrome. It’s normal; we are all human beings,” he said.

Don Jazzy’s remarks come amid recurring conversations on social media, particularly within Nigeria’s music space, where allegations of label neglect frequently resurface whenever artistes part ways with record labels or publicly express dissatisfaction with their careers.

Earlier this year, the debate intensified following comments linked to former Mavin artiste, Crayon, after his departure from the label. Claims surrounding unpaid royalties, creative disagreements, and allegations that his “star” had been transferred to another artiste sparked intense online debate and renewed scrutiny of label dynamics.

The posts were later deleted, with Crayon subsequently suggesting his account had been compromised.

Although Don Jazzy did not directly reference any artiste or specific incident during the interview, the timing of his comments appeared significant, addressing criticisms that have circulated around Mavin Records for months.

Known for maintaining a measured public posture, the music mogul avoided naming names. Still, his response made one thing clear: from his perspective, holding back talent is neither intentional nor economically sensible for a label built on artist development.

Over the years, Mavin Records has launched and nurtured the careers of several Nigerian stars, including Ayra Starr, Rema, Johnny Drille, and Ladipoe, cementing its reputation as one of Afrobeats’ most influential talent incubators.