What does singer’s exit from record label mean for her?

Pending an intervention from God himself, her mother or her pastor, Chidinma Ekile will no longer be a member of record label Capital Hill Music/The Goretti Company.

According to confirmed sources, the singer is leaving her music home of the past 5 years, after failing to really maintain her place at the top of the industry. Her contract with the imprint, which expired last month was not renewed, via her request, making her a free agent, who can take her career in any direction.

Sources close to both parties say that’s what this is about. Chidinma has grown and matured in the last five years with the label, and can make important career decisions for herself. It’s all in her hands now.

What this means for her is simple. Her career is in her hands.

In 2010, Chidinma was the new girl hero of the country. She had just won the prestigious  Tolu, Eyo, Yetunde, Ochuko, and Ghanaian, Kesse. Everyone was ecstatic. She had become the face of hardwork and spirit. The deals came through, and she released a first album “Chidinma”, closely partnering with MTN. The LP contained songs ‘Kedike’ and ‘Jankoliko’.

2011 really another fine year, as the singer played a huge part in the song ‘Emi ni baller’, and the remix, setting her up for fire. Over the next years her songs came thick and fast, including ‘You and I’, ‘Kite’, and more.

But in all of the five years at Capital Hill Music, she failed to release a body of work. Chidinma has not released an album in the past 5 years. Only singles. Also, there’s a growing agreement within the entertainment industry that the singer also failed to truly shine at the top. There’s a pervading feeling that she had not truly fulfilled the true range of her potential.

This exit places more weight upon her shoulder, but ironically frees her up for more growth. Previously, a number of people can share the responsibility for her career, but now, she drives solo. More eyes will be on her, and the pressure to succeed will be enormous.

Where Chidinma goes from here will be her choosing. She either seeks out a partnership with an investor, where someone funds her work, and together they split her profits. Or she gets signed to another record label with a bigger better contract and more autonomy. The first seems more likely due to the dwindling power of record labels in Nigeria.

Chidinma would also need to redefine her work as an artiste. Her good-girl image is in dire need of a makeover, and that cannot wait for too long as she returns with a new movement.

But is this breakup good for Chidinma? Only her can answer that with effort and with time.