Why Eddy Kenzo Turned Down Warner Music, Sony, and Universal

Ugandan music star Eddy Kenzo has built one of the most remarkable careers on the continent.

From the moment “Sitya Loss” went viral, his name travelled far beyond Uganda’s borders.

The awards soon followed, including the BET Award and the Nickelodeon Kids Choice Award.

Then came two Grammy nominations, placing him among the few African artistes who have reached that level.

With achievements like these, many fans assume a big international label must be behind him.

But Kenzo has remained fully independent, and that decision has puzzled the industry for years.

He recently opened up on NBS After 5 and revealed the real reason he has never taken the deals that came his way.

First and foremost, when you look at the people who are signed, they are like in imprisonment.

Kenzo said that the offers were big and tempting, but he refused them after studying what he would be giving up.

Warner Music already gave me a million dollars, Sony, Universal… I have all the agreements in my email. But I thought to myself, if I take the money, say 2 million dollars, and then I give them my catalog and sell it… because for them when they tell you to sign for about 10 years… but it is like they have given you a loan.

According to Kenzo, most label contracts look like huge opportunities on the surface but are built mainly to recover the label’s investment with a heavy profit.

The contract says they have given you money, and then they also put an interest from which they can recoup their money, and the interest could be 40%, 30%, or 20% depending on the agreement. Now, how long is this contract going to take? Because even when the contract expires but they have not gotten back their money and also a profit, it remains valid. It is perpetuity. It is a forever thing.

He even hinted at other global artistes whose massive signing bonuses did not translate into lasting success.

Even those musicians that are signed that we hear were given 10 million dollars, where are they today? Where is Tekno? What happened?

For Kenzo, independence gives him something money cannot buy.

It allows him to own his catalog, steer his career, and avoid contracts that could tie him down for years.

And judging by how far he has come without a major label, his choice seems to be paying off.

VIDEO: Most of the artists signed to those major labels are like prisoners. Labels like Sony Music, Universal, and others reached out to me, but I turned them down.- @eddykenzoficial #NBSAfter5 #NBSUpdates pic.twitter.com/LGaN6xCZ4M

— NBS After 5 (@NBSAfter5) November 13, 2025