Bu Thiam criticises trend of remote artiste signings; calls for in-person engagements

The Vice President of Columbia Records, Bu Thiam, has expressed disappointment with the prevailing practice of record labels signing artistes without face-to-face interactions.

In an interview on #3FMDrive with Giovani on 3FM, Thiam highlighted the trend of signing artistes remotely, often without artistes meeting label representatives in person.

Contracts are negotiated through virtual platforms like Zoom, and legal teams handle most of the communication.

Thiam emphasized the significance of requiring artistes to visit the label’s home country for the signing process.

He proposed that if an artiste from a particular country is being signed, label representatives should travel to that country for a more personal approach to the agreement.

He, therefore, advised artiste management to insist on in-person meetings during contract negotiations.

Furthermore, Thiam shared an example from his experience, highlighting the importance of personal interaction in artiste signings.

He cited his involvement with Olivetheboy, who he brought to Ghana.

Thiam recognized Olivetheboy’s exceptional musical abilities and wanted to pioneer an artiste from Ghana.

Bu Thiam’s stance underscores the value of building strong relationships and understanding between artistes and their record labels, promoting a more holistic and authentic approach to the music industry.