Pregnancy Bans In Music? Ubi Franklin Reveals Sh*cking Clauses In Female Artists’ Contracts

Speaking on the Culture Sonic podcast, Franklin emphasized that the entertainment industry demands heavy financial investment, noting that backing a new artist can cost as much as ₦300 million before they gain recognition.

He explained that if a female artist becomes pregnant before establishing her career, it could jeopardize the investment and significantly hinder her progress. According to Franklin, it’s not about opposing motherhood but about ensuring stability in one’s career before taking such a step.

He argued that in Nigeria’s music industry, it is particularly challenging for an up-and-coming female act to regain momentum after childbirth unless she already has a strong foothold in the industry.

“This is a serious business,” Franklin stressed. “People mistake the music industry for social media fun and games, but it’s far from that.”

He added:

“Imagine investing heavily in a female artist, pushing her brand, and then she gets pregnant. That’s a major setback. You rarely see a female act in our industry who had a baby early in her career and still made a comeback. That’s why, in my contracts, I include a clause that prevents pregnancy during the contract period. This isn’t personal—it’s business.”

Franklin concluded by reiterating that launching an artist today often requires over ₦150 million—and even then, success is not guaranteed.