Nigerian music star Tiwa Savage has spoken about the importance of record labels in the growth and development of music artists, revealing that she fully appreciated the value of being signed to a label only after leaving Mavin Records.

Speaking during an interview on the Afrobeats Intelligence podcast hosted by Joey Akan, the award-winning singer reflected on her years at Mavin Records and the supportive environment created by the label’s founder, Don Jazzy.

Tiwa Savage, who was signed to Mavin Records from 2012 to 2019, described the label as a close-knit family that provided emotional support, mentorship, and unity among its artists.

According to her, despite leaving the label several years ago, Mavin Records still remains an important part of her life and career journey.

She also advised upcoming artists to focus more on creating quality music rather than feeling exploited by record labels seeking to generate revenue.

In her words:

“After I left Mavin, I then realized how important the record label was to me. We always came together as one big family with Don Jazzy to discuss issues and support one another. If it required tears to resolve a situation, I would do that because we genuinely cared about each other.”

Tiwa Savage further compared her experience at Mavin Records with her current relationship with Universal Music Group, noting that the structure and atmosphere are significantly different.

“At Universal Music Group, it’s a completely different environment. Everyone focuses on their individual responsibilities, and there is little room for personal interactions. That is one of the reasons I still miss Mavin Records,” she said.

The singer’s comments have since sparked conversations among fans and industry observers about the role of record labels in nurturing artists beyond music and business.