Qing Madi and JTon Music in Legal Battle Over Contract and Takedowns

Qing Madi and Former Label JTon Music Locked in Legal Battle Over Contract, Streaming Takedowns, and Competing Court Claims

Nigerian Afrobeats singer Qing Madi, born Chimamanda Pearl Chukwuma, is at the centre of a high-stakes legal dispute with her former record label, JTon Music, following her departure from the imprint and the subsequent removal of several songs from major streaming platforms. The conflict, which has spilled into public view through social media and competing legal claims, escalated noticeably in late May and early June 2026, with multiple tracks from her new extended play, Barely Legal, pulled from Spotify and other services.

Background to the Dispute

Qing Madi, currently 19 years old, reportedly joined JTon Music — founded by Joy Tongo — when she was approximately 16. Because she was a minor at the time, her mother also signed the agreement on her behalf, according to Madi’s own public statements. During her time with the label, she released the singles Ole and American Love, both of which JTon Music claims have individually surpassed 100 million streams on Spotify — figures the label has cited as evidence of its financial and professional investment in the artist’s career.

Following her exit from JTon Music, Madi launched her own imprint, KFMD, under which she put out Barely Legal. It is this independent activity, according to JTon Music and its founder Joy Tongo, that triggered the legal action. The label filed a breach-of-contract suit against the singer, alleging she departed without meeting outstanding contractual obligations or reimbursing the label’s prior investment. Damages sought have been reported inconsistently across different outlets — somewhere between $1 million and $2 million — though Madi herself has publicly described the claim as $2 million.

Clashing Accounts and Music Takedowns

The two sides offer sharply different versions of where the case currently stands. Madi has stated publicly that she prevailed in court, arguing that the contract she signed as a minor lacked legal enforceability and that the label failed to produce adequate evidence to support its claims. She has pointed to a reported ruling in May 2026 as the basis for her position, noting that her mother appeared in court as her guardian during proceedings. JTon Music, however, maintains that no final ruling on the merits has been handed down and that the matter has not yet gone to full trial. The label insists that a court injunction connected to the case remains active and constitutes the lawful basis for the copyright takedown requests it has issued against Madi’s music. No court judgement, transcript, or official filing from the Lagos High Court has been made publicly available to independently verify either party’s account.

The takedowns have affected multiple songs, with reports indicating that five of the seven tracks on Barely Legal were removed from Spotify around that period. An earlier single, Pepper Me, featuring Zinoleesky, was also previously pulled from streaming platforms, though Madi’s team has stated they successfully challenged that removal as unlawful.

Speaking via a TikTok livestream and across her social media pages, Madi has levelled serious allegations against Joy Tongo, including claims of signature forgery, financial misconduct, and deliberate efforts to sabotage her career through the takedowns and alleged interference with sponsorship and touring opportunities. She also drew a parallel between her own situation and the widely reported fallout between Tongo and Nigerian artist Cynthia Morgan, asserting in an online post that the same pattern of treatment was now being directed at her as a teenager.

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Wande Coal didn't miss a beat in his latest album KING COAL, plus his level of delivery throughout the project was impressive. But, the album glamorizes money, and there's also the act of self-glorification. When it comes to lyrics, Wande did very little, heavily relying on the beats and his flow, which affects the quality of the tracks. That said, tracks like "Dearly" ft Qing Madi, and "Must Be Love" by Tiwa Savage shows the importance of a good collaboration as both artistes went hard on her verses and took the songs to another level. The track "Regard" would've been the best song on the album if not for the explicit line. However, tracks like "Nobody Knows", and "Porsche Panamera" (which was too explicit) had no business on the project as both seem like more of a filler. GBESUNMO also falls short. It's a project that's most definitely worth a listen though, a solid 5/10. No offense.

— Daniel Regha (@DanielRegha) View on X

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