UK rapper Ivorian Doll accuses ex-Radar Radio boss Ollie Ashley of impeding her career
The East London artist, real name Vanessa Mahi, posted a 27-tweet thread on December 2nd, as well as videos on Snapchat. In the thread, she says she feels “trapped” in a record deal with Locked In Music, the label owned by Ashley, son of billionaire and Sports Direct CEO Mike Ashley. (Ollie Ashley declined to comment for this article.) Mahi claims that, despite offers from several major labels, no deal has been signed. She says this “deceitful behaviour” has been going on for nine months.
“I’ve asked Oliver Ashley to let me go,” reads one of Mahi’s tweets. “Me and my manager and lawyer presented the idea that he can get all his money back once I sign a deal. So that means he would take 50 percent profit and on top of that everything he has spent. Once again a loss but I’m willing to take it.”
Mahi claims that Ashley trademarked the artist names Ivorian Doll and IVD without informing her and is demanding £17,000 in exchange for the rights. She also says she’s recorded more than 50 records in 2020, but doesn’t “know if they will be released because of this situation.”
The trademark claims were later verified by freelance journalist Will Pritchard, who did some digging into Locked In Music and its finances. He shared publicly available documents that confirm the company operates at a loss and is financed by loans.
Ollie Ashley’s publishing company, Locked In Music, is financed by loans from parent company O A Industries Ltd (formerly Radar Radio Ltd), which in turn is financed by loans from MASH Holdings Ltd – the company his dad, Mike Ashley, uses to control his stakes in Sports Direct &c https://t.co/PaDNjZq5eK
— Will Pritchard (@wf_pritchard) December 2, 2020
Trademark claims filed by Locked In Music on October 27th 2020https://t.co/jue60112he pic.twitter.com/cblgVWW9Mu
— Will Pritchard (@wf_pritchard) December 2, 2020
In 2014, Ashley founded Radar Radio, the once-beloved online station that faced allegations of a toxic working environment. Radar shut down in 2018 with £4 million debt and £500,000 in closing costs.
As Ivorian Doll, Mahi is known for mixing UK drill with rap, Afrobeats and more. Her 2020 track “Rumours” is one of the biggest of the year.
Read Mahi’s Twitter thread in full. (Click through to Twitter.)
Before I met my manager Jpl i was contacted by my old Management finesse forever that this man called Oliver Ashley wanted to meet me.. I was skeptical because of his reputation .. he owned radar radio and I heard about all the horrible things they was doing to young people.
— QUEEN IVD ?? (@IvorianDoll_) December 2, 2020
