I lost 6 million - Bahati opens up on massive losses at EMB records

Sue Watiri

April 11, 2019 5:37 PM

He revealed what led to the huge loss.

Bahati (Infinity Clix)

On Wednesday, Gospel singer Bahati relaunched his EMB record label, unveiled Gospel singer Danny Gift as his new signee and released their new song ‘Fanya’.

This rebirth came after the stable recently suffered a mass exodus with artistes like Mr Seed, Weezdom, David Wonder and Rebecca Soki leaving. There were also accusations of Bahati mistreating and refusing to pay some of his artistes like Mr Seed.

As EMB records relaunched, Bahati confessed that he made massive losses during his first years at the old EMB because he injected so much money into artistes’ projects and had few returns.

“I lost 6 million when trying to manage my artiste and even execute a project. A song could cost me Kshs450-500,000 but fewer returns and it is okay. So in the midst of it all, I spent a lot,” he admitted to Kiss 100.

Bahati (Instagram) Pulse Live Kenya

This figure comes about a month after the ‘Mama’ singer disclosed that EMB was not making money from the artistes signed under it. He claimed that EMB records was more of a launching pad for those artistes signed under him rather than a money-making venture.

“EMB entertainment is a business which wants to raise people, actually it’s more of a ministry because it doesn’t make money from the artistes. So if money is not involved you cannot fall out with anyone. We are still building and it’s time for another artiste (to be signed),” he explained during an interview on Mambo Mseto where he addressed his apparent beef with Mr Seed.

Weezdom

Speaking on Weezdom, Bahati revealed that he wasn’t signed officially to the record label, he had just taken him under his wing as he has a ‘fatherly spirit’. “Weezdom wasn’t signed officially, Weezdom is a friend, I have a fatherly spirit.”

Weezdom (Courtesy) ece-auto-gen

The ‘Mama’ hitmaker went on to add that God has given him the ability to uplift others and EMB records for him was a sacrifice since he didn’t make money from it.

“I can say this confidently God has given me the grace to uplift others. To support a new artiste, you need to pump in money, to make a good video you need money. At that time when an artiste is starting out you cannot make it a business, you need a good heart for your artist to prosper,” he explained.

Sue Watiri