Kean Cipriano clarified that he and his wife, Chynna Ortaleza, treat their artists under O/C Records fairly.
This was the first time Kean addressed the controversy involving their record label and singer-songwriter MRLD.
“We did not take anything that we shouldn’t have taken from the time we signed the artist (MRLD), when the artist was still in Leyte, until the years we spent taking care of the artist’s career,” Kean said on “Fast Talk with Boy Abunda.”
“As far as I know, we gave what we could give to help the career prosper.”
O/C Records was founded by Kean and Chynna in 2018. Aside from being a record label, it also operates as a publishing and talent management company. Among the artists they previously handled was Arthur Nery.
In March 2026, O/C Records became the subject of controversy after MRLD complained that she was receiving only five percent in royalties from her compositions. She eventually left O/C Records.
Kean said the company maintains its integrity when it comes to financial matters and that they did not take money from their artists.
“I can look you straight in the eye, face to face. That’s why I said, if there’s something you want to address, come to the office. Let’s talk. Don’t do it on social media, with someone putting out a blind item like this or saying something like that. No. We’re just making things more complicated. Let’s talk, right?”
Kean, however, admitted that there is tension between him and their former artist Arthur Nery and that they have not seen each other for a long time.
“Arthur Nery, honest to goodness, there is tension. We had, we didn’t see eye to eye. And then, because my partner is Boss Vic (del Rosario of Viva Records), Boss Vic and I talked, and we had a deal that, ‘Okay, I’ll hand over the artist to you.’”
When asked if their issues with Nery had already been resolved, Kean replied, “I don’t think so.”
“We all know the business model of this industry. It’s not that simple. There are many facets to it, especially in the music business,” the singer-songwriter explained. / TRC S