By By: Alphanso G. Kalama;
Monrovia, Liberia –Just six days ago, Liberian music fans were celebrating what appeared to be a massive win for the industry: a $25 million Liberian Dollar recording deal between breakout star S.I.O. and LibMuzik Records. But today, that deal is officially over.
According to an April 8 statement released by LibMuzik, the two parties have “parted ways due to differences in creative vision.” The label praised S.I.O.’s early success—particularly his debut single “Blessings”, which shattered records with over 1 million streams in less than 10 days—but confirmed the deal would no longer proceed.
The announcement has left many stunned—and asking hard questions: What went wrong so fast? Did S.I.O. misstep, or was this always a shaky deal from the label’s side?
Publicity vs. Reality?
One of the most outspoken voices since the contract termination is veteran artist JB De General, who took to social media to express concerns about the deal’s sudden collapse.
“Da na all help da help,” JB wrote. “Since the day that audio amount were made public I knew something wasn’t right… Big record label won’t disclose huge amount, reason is to prevent both parties from public pressure.”
He questioned whether the $25M announcement was more about show than substance, even suggesting S.I.O. may have been pressured to appear wealthier and more successful than reality allowed.
“You na give my son money but we should act rich in public and be depressed in private,” he added.
JB’s comments have reignited ongoing conversations in the industry about transparency, exploitation, and whether young artists are being used for short-term publicity gains by labels that may not fully commit to their growth.
The Bigger Picture
Critics are asking whether LibMuzik’s public-facing deals are sustainable—or simply PR tactics aimed at elevating the company’s brand without long-term artist investment.
Meanwhile, fans are left disillusioned. The same deal they were celebrating a week ago is now off the table. And S.I.O., one of the most exciting new voices in Liberian music, is once again a free agent—with no official support system to continue his upward trajectory.
What’s Next?
S.I.O. has yet to release an official statement, instead posted that the record label remain his family. Still, industry veterans like JB De General are rallying behind him, urging the artist to stay focused and true to his path.
“You are talented and get a lot of time on ur musical watch,” JB wrote. “Man na God… Stay focused.”
As the dust settles, one thing remains clear: Liberia’s music scene is growing fast—but the systems around it may not yet be strong enough to support that growth.
And if deals like S.I.O.’s can fall apart in less than a week, it may be time for artists and fans alike to take a harder look at who’s really helping—and who’s just making noise.
