By Fasuyi Tolulope Samuel
Mavin Records founder and music mogul, Don Jazzy, has opened up about some of his career regrets, particularly regarding top Nigerian artists he admired but never got to sign.
In a recent revelation, Don Jazzy shared that he once had his eyes on Simi and Teni, two female stars who eventually carved successful paths in the industry without his label’s backing.
He praised their unique talents and admitted he would have loved to bring them under the Mavin umbrella.“I like Simi. I didn’t sign her. I wish I did. I like Teni. I wish I did,” he confessed.
Don Jazzy, known for his strategic eye for talent, also disclosed he passed up the opportunity to sign global Afrobeats star Davido. Despite being aware of the singer’s potential early on, he believed Davido would succeed with or without him.
“I had the opportunity for Davido, obviously, but I didn’t because I kind of figured that he would be fine,” he said.
He further revealed that he came close to signing Falz the Bahd Guy but the deal ultimately didn’t materialize.“Falz, I love his work and we almost actually had a deal. Well, it didn’t work out,” he added.
Don Jazzy also spoke about missing out on Wizkid, stating that Empire Mates Entertainment (EME) boss, Banky W, secured the star before he had the chance.
“To Wizkid, obviously, I couldn’t because Banky got to him first. That would have been amazing.”
Reflecting on these experiences, the hitmaker acknowledged that while he has an eye for exceptional talent, it’s simply not feasible to sign every promising artist.“But then at the end of the day, you cannot sign everybody,” he concluded.
Michael Collins Ajereh, popularly known as Don Jazzy, is one of Africa’s most influential music producers and label executives. He co-founded Mo’ Hits Records in the early 2000s, propelling artists like D’banj into international fame.
Following Mo’ Hits’ breakup, he founded Mavin Records in 2012, launching the careers of stars like Tiwa Savage, Rema, Ayra Starr, and Johnny Drille.
Known for his charisma, business acumen, and fatherly mentorship style, Don Jazzy remains a cornerstone of Nigeria’s entertainment industry, consistently shaping the future of Afrobeats.
