This Season’s Biggest Don’t-Buy from Dubai
Behind the Curtain of RMM:
The Cost of Deceptive Music Marketing
In today’s music industry, independent artists face a battleground of scams and schemes, each one preying on the dreams of emerging talent hoping for a breakthrough.
One company has emerged as a particular threat: Royal Music Marketing (RMM), a shadowy operation with layers of deceit and a growing list of disillusioned artists.
RMM’s public face is polished and alluring, promising algorithmic Spotify ads, high-end marketing strategies, and financial support for “promising” artists. But under the surface, RMM is far from the supportive partner it claims to be. The scam isn’t just about stolen money; it’s about stolen credibility, stolen hope, and in one tragic case, the hijacking of a well-established music label’s reputation.
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Dive In
At the heart of this web is Corey Sampson, owner of Blue House Music, an independent label with deep roots in the industry. Corey, a veteran of the music business, has seen trends come and go from his small office in rural Mississippi, far removed from the flashy world of today’s tech-driven industry.
His label is a respected name, known for nurturing artists the old-school way. But in recent years, Corey’s reputation has been exploited, unbeknownst to him, by the very company he once hired to help his label adapt to modern times: Royal Music Marketing.
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The Legal Side of RMM:
The Dubious Foundations of Royal Music Marketing (RMM PVT LTD)
Before we get into the scam, let’s review what’s known about the company. Royal Music Marketing, officially registered as RMM PVT LTD, is a company with a strikingly complex and multinational facade, designed to project legitimacy and industry clout.
This entity is formally registered in the United Kingdom under the name Muhammad Moiz Ud Din Naeem, who operates as the company’s CEO. RMM’s registration in the UK, despite primarily conducting business in the United States, raises red flags regarding its operations and true intentions.
The UK registration of RMM PVT LTD under Mohammad Naeem gives the company important legal protections.
This makes it harder for U.S. clients to get compensation or look closely at how the company operates.
By being based in the UK, Naeem creates the impression of an international business while making it difficult for others to take legal action against him. This strategy shows that Naeem knows how to take advantage of legal weaknesses.
In short, the UK registration of RMM PVT LTD acts as a way to appear trustworthy and as a protective strategy. This allows Naeem to run a profitable business with little direct responsibility, carefully set up to escape the usual scrutiny found in the U.S. music industry.
According to UK Companies House records, RMM PVT LTD was incorporated with Mohammad Naeem listed as the sole director.
However, the lack of a substantial physical presence or visible operations in the UK suggests this registration serves as a strategic layer of legitimacy, allowing RMM to operate under the appearance of an established international company.
I have reported them to the UK government office presiding over financial and business fraud investigations.
I received an email back letting me know if their investigation confirmed my findings, assets associated with the company would be seized and would then “belong to the crown”, which is an exciting way of saying they were going to take back the money RMM stole.
Unfortunately, the UK won’t likely find RMM’s stolen money. It bypasses the UK entirely and goes straight from Wix in the US to Dubai via a decentralized finance app (which appears to be possibly Trust Wallet or Meta Mask) and is then funneled via direct deposits in to overseas accounts.
The use of a DeFi wallet to manage funds is commonly associated with fraudulent financial activities, as balance transfer and currency exchange on such platforms are both unregulated and untraceable.
The last taxable year for the UK’s registered version of the company indicated that they are claiming losses, not profits. Something which is bound to catch up with RMM eventually.
💰 By leveraging the UK’s relatively lax corporate transparency requirements, RMM can mask its internal practices and avoid regulatory scrutiny more prevalent in the U.S. music industry.
This UK-based registration provides a shield for RMM, allowing Naeem and his team to distance themselves from direct accountability. Should any legal disputes arise in the United States, RMM’s UK registration complicates enforcement and jurisdiction, making it challenging for disgruntled clients to hold the company accountable.
🧠 This strategic choice of location underscores the calculated nature of Naeem’s approach, allowing RMM to operate in a gray area that exploits both artists’ dreams and regulatory gaps.
The Bad Guys: Know the Roster
At the heart of RMM’s leadership is the officially registered CEO, Mohammad Naeem. Naeem is possibly one-in-the-same with front end CEO, Mike.
Mike is the guy who’s always wearing the bootleg Nike hat. As a figure whose influence and reach extend into various aspects of the company’s operations, he mostly just shows his face for podcasts, coming off like a detached narcissist who is playing the role of expert marketer and artist mentor, which seems like way more work than it would take to actually be one.
Officially listed as the CEO, Naeem orchestrates RMM’s strategies and oversees a large, diverse team spread across different roles and departments.
The company also includes JD “The Expert”, who joined around 2022 and currently serves as the Chief Financial Officer (CFO).
JD’s transition from what may have started out as a reputable music marketer has now seen him fully transform into a key figure within the RMM architecture. This visible fall from grace reflects how JD was drawn into Naeem’s operation, where the allure of financial success may have overshadowed any previous integrity.
Naeem’s strategic approach includes a sprawling roster of roles, each contributing to RMM’s façade of legitimacy. The corporate structure boasts a variety of executive managers and department heads, including:
Zach in Sales and Bruce and Alexandro in Business Development, who are responsible for driving client acquisition through high-pressure sales tactics.
- Note: Zach looks suspiciously like one of the Ishmael doubles, who appears in some content for Leballoo. Speculation among some of the victims has arisen, suggesting the two scam operations might be linked. This is possible, if not plausible – and yet, I found no conclusive evidence cementing this suspicion as fact.
Fabio in IT, who manages the backend technology that enables RMM’s elaborate operations, including setting up websites and payment portals.
Billy as Creative Director and Ryan as Manager, both of whom contribute to the public image of RMM, crafting visuals and messaging that make the company appear professional and credible.
Jerry, the SEO manager, whose work boosts RMM’s online visibility, ensuring that their services appear in search results, creating a funnel for independent artists searching for marketing solutions.
RMM’s outreach is aggressive, with Zayn and Zach on the frontline of cold calls, often claiming artists have been “scouted” by RMM. This is a tactic designed to lure clients by making them feel chosen and special, though it is merely a ploy to increase sales.
The Good Guy: Know the Story
Corey Sampson, the legitimate founder of Blue House Records LLC, later re-branded as Blue House Music, has unwittingly become a tool in RMM’s operation. By linking Corey’s label to RMM’s payment structures and outreach messaging, Naeem has co-opted Blue House Music’s name, lending RMM credibility by association.
Corey himself operates out of a small studio in Mississippi, far removed from the opulence of RMM’s lavish “Astral Headquarters,” where Naeem and his team work.
🔎 The Worst Crime:
RMM’s use of Corey’s name is emblematic of Naeem’s tactics — leveraging the reputations of independent, established professionals to bolster RMM’s image without their consent.
The Setup: How Corey Got Involved
Corey’s involvement with RMM is an innocent story of someone trusting a company to do the job they’re paid to do.
Like many independent label owners trying to keep up with the industry’s rapid evolution, Corey recognized the need for modern marketing strategies to help his artists thrive.
He was introduced to RMM by a trusted contact, who assured him that RMM specialized in promoting artists through Spotify Ads, social media campaigns, and digital outreach.
Believing he’d found a legitimate partner, Corey signed up, with the understanding that RMM would manage some online marketing aspects for Blue House Music.
What Corey didn’t realize was that RMM was not really offering marketing services; they had a much more devious plan in mind. Or, perhaps it wasn’t planned at all.
Perhaps RMM, like so many scam operations, runs largely unplanned crimes of opportunity. One thing is for sure, when the opportunity presented itself to build a web page for Corey’s record label, RMM jumped at the chance to take on the project.
Based on the timeline constructed from my research, it appears RMM had Corey’s new website operational within a few weeks, even though to this day they’re telling Corey it isn’t yet completed. RMM then began using that new Wix website to start siphoning money into their business under his label’s name.
Despite being sold a vision of cutting-edge marketing services, Corey has been paying for a supposedly-incomplete website and an elusive Spotify campaign, none of which have ever yielded the promised results.
Instead, RMM has used Corey’s label as a financial funnel to defraud other artists, creating the illusion that Blue House Music is a powerhouse label with funds and resources to “sponsor” artists through RMM’s programs.
✍🏻 Blue House Records, aka Blue House Music, became a mask for a Dubai scam operation. Which is incredibly hard to accept, given how hard Corey has worked to build and maintain his grassroots record label. There’s something so incredibly commendable about that effort, and something so unforgivable about anyone who endeavors to tear that down – especially over something as meaningless as money.
The Players: RMM’s Corporate Structure
RMM is structured like a well-oiled machine, but not in the way Corey had imagined. The company operates out of a luxurious corporate headquarters called “Astral Headquarters,” where employees flaunt their wealth, driving exotic sports cars and boasting about the success of RMM’s “revolutionary” artist development programs.
Here’s the current roster:
🎩 CEO: Mike (possibly Mohammad), the brain behind RMM’s scams, who ensures every dollar funneled through their schemes lands in his hands.
💼 CFO: JD, known as “The Expert,” who once had a reputation as a solid industry insider. Recently, JD’s public persona has become increasingly detestable, with social media posts flaunting wealth and hinting at his disdain for “other scammers.”
👔 Executive Managers handle the high-level operations, including Zach (Sales), Bruce (Business Development), Fabio (IT), Billy (Creative Director), Ryan (Manager), Scott (Operations), Jerry (SEO), and Alexandro (Business Development).
☎️ RMM’s sales executives, Louis, Adam, and Melvin, assist with pitching services to artists. Outreach is conducted by Zayn, who handles cold calls and frequently misleads artists about Blue House Music’s supposed involvement in sponsorship programs.
Who is JD?
JD (RMM’s CFO and Mike’s right-hand man) is a strange part of this equation. It’s pretty clear from the evidence that he’s a major ringleader in the entire financial scheme and fraudulent business acts, carefully orchestrating operations behind the scenes with cunning precision and actively taking part in promoting the lies that keeps the Royal scam alive.
However, his general demeanor and unassuming, almost childlike mannerisms make it difficult to want to see that truth, as he projects an image of innocence that deceives even the most vigilant observers. It would appear he is someone who may have once had a reputation as a decent marketer, a promising talent in the industry who appeared to have the potential for some level of success. But, perhaps that wasn’t enough for JD.
Whatever his reasons are, JD soon fell in with Mike and the Dubai boys, sometime in the last few years. He was likely drawn in by the allure of quick wealth and the thrill of high-stakes games, and this would eventually lead to his current state of complete moral bankruptcy.
Recently, JD’s public persona has shifted dramatically, with social media posts flaunting wealth and a lifestyle of luxury, as he strategically curates images that showcase his possessions and extravagant experiences, all while hinting at his disdain for “other scammers,” perhaps to deflect attention from his own dubious dealings and establish a façade of superiority over his unsavory peers.
We may never know where JD’s heart lies in all of this. But we know what his actions tell us: JD’s actions are fraudulent, predatory, and ultimately, unforgivable.
The Scheme: Deceptive Marketing and Financial Fraud
One look at RMM’s outreach messages reveals the deception. Artists are approached by representatives claiming they’ve been “scouted” by Blue House Music’s marketing arm, RMM, and are invited to participate in an “artist development program.”
Click to watch the video.
This is one you don’t want to miss.
Blue House Music
Zayn and Zach, two members of RMM’s outreach team, cold-call artists, dangling promises of financial backing, development support, and big-time Spotify ads that will skyrocket their streams. They now use Blue House Music as effective bait to give reputability to their scammy operation.
But let’s back up a minute. What was RMM doing before they had Blue House’s fake website to send unsuspecting victims to? Were they as successful without Blue House? No. They weren’t.
I know this because they actually reached out to me earlier in the year. I’d almost forgotten about them, since their pitch was so ridiculous.
Take a look at what their outreach used to go down like:
Before Blue House Music Was Part of Their Pitch:
Before RMM thought to use Blue House Music to legitimize their pitch, this is what their outreach typically went like:
Wanna Hear That Audio File?
How Do They Use Blue House Music in Their New Scam?
In RMM’s latest version of cold call outreach, artists are now directed first to Corey’s old website, which he no longer uses.
Specifically, they are directed to the sub-page there, where Corey goes into depth about marketing services his label can offer to its already-signed artists (their current artists, that is. The Blue House roster is closed, and Corey is quite clear about that).
Previous marketing efforts offered to Blue House Artists were accomplished by Corey, primarily through contracting marketing companies to fulfill the basic job of no-frills Meta Ads. That worked out fine, until RMM was the company he decided to hire.
The price on Corey’s old website’s service page is in line with what an artist should expect to pay for a Meta campaign, which is why it makes sense for RMM to direct potential clients there first, hooking them with all the reasonable stuff promoted by Blue House Records’ old LLC website. Corey had no idea RMM was using either website to promote their unsavory endeavors.
This is their new, current outreach message:
However, when it’s time for a potential client to choose and purchase an RMM service, customers are then directed to the new Blue House website – the one which is completely locked out (and was totally unknown) to Corey – where prices surge significantly and descriptions of services become vague and overly hyped. Of course – because that second website was created by RMM, on Corey’s behalf.
On the new, illegitimate Wix website, prices and terms are not so reasonable anymore. Keyword stuffed descriptions and buzzword laden promises are all attached to a price tag ranging from $5,000 – $15,000 for six months of Meta and/or Spotify Ads (it’s a bit unclear how this breakdown works, which is often the case when the company has no plans to fulfill any of these promises. Why bother going into depth about something you’re not even planning to do?)
By the time a client is ready to hand over their hard-earned money, they will be directed to the new website, supposedly owned by Corey, often citing his name directly as if he’s personally backing these offers.
Click to play the video.
Watch at the 3:00 minute mark to see more proof of fraud.
💸 RMM representatives go as far as asking for payments through Corey’s branded Wix site, providing a veil of legitimacy to artists who believe they’re signing up with an established label. The truth, however, is far darker: Corey has never seen a penny of these funds, and he’s never authorized the use of his name for any such sponsorship or development programs.
The Victims: Speaking with Independent Artists Scammed by RMM
Kid Prince
Many independent artists who have interacted with RMM report shockingly similar experiences. One artist, Kid Prince, spoke openly about his encounter with RMM. His words were stark:
“They are scammers and only rob independent artists looking for their one chance.” Kid Prince’s story echoes the experiences of countless other artists who have paid RMM, hoping for the chance to make it big, only to receive nothing in return.
ScurtDae
Another artist, ScurtDae, is a high-profile name that RMM often flaunts as one of their “success stories.” ScurtDae’s connection to JD, RMM’s CFO, adds complexity to this story.
In conversations, at first ScurtDae expressed doubt that JD would knowingly participate in a scam, suggesting that JD may have once been a trustworthy figure who was pulled off track by money and influence.
But, after reviewing my evidence and thinking clearly on the situation, ScurtDae began to feel certain that he had indeed been scammed by JD ad the Royal crew.
ScurtDae’s song “Birthdae”, among others, was highly touted by RMM as one of their biggest success stories. ScurtDae was not happy to hear that they were crediting themselves for his hard-earned success. And I can’t blame him for that.
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I understood ScurtDae’s initial reaction to learning about JD’s unsavory business dealings. JD is not the kind of person you want to be the bad guy. But, unfortunately, the evidence is unfeeling and unbiased, and it points to only one unpleasant truth: JD is not only involved in the scam – he’s basically orchestrating it. Whether or not JD used to be upstanding is impossible to know.
What has become clear is that JD is no innocent bystander, at this point. Perhaps he started off well meaning. Perhaps he had every intention of being an ally to artists when he began his marketing journey.
But for the last two years, JD can be seen flaunting his wealth, driving luxury cars, glorifying scammers, and knowingly aligning himself with a company that exploits artists in the name of profit.
Plea Deal
A low-ranking member of the RMM crew presented himself as an opportunity for information. Because his name was neither crucial to the evidence nor to the condemnation of the crime, I exchanged the information for a promise of his name being redacted.
✍🏻 Update: This article, which previously redacted the informant’s name, has now been un-redacted. Zayn was the RMM member who had agreed to share information with me in exchange for redacting his name and likeness from this report. However, he failed to hold up his end of the arrangement, so our agreement has been nullified.
If you’ve already seen this article once before, you may notice that the images that follow in this section have changed. They now show the person behind these messages.
If you’ve ever received a cold call or outreach text message from Royal Music Marketing, you were probably talking to Zayn.
The Reality for Corey: A Man Fighting for His Reputation
As for Corey Sampson, the situation is devastating. From his modest studio in Mississippi, Corey has worked tirelessly to build a brand that supports and uplifts artists. The fact that RMM is using his name to pull unsuspecting artists into their web of lies is a betrayal of everything he stands for.
Corey continues to pay RMM for services that have never materialized — a website that is said to be unfinished but is clearly being used to funnel money in massive scam operation, as well as paid-in-full marketing campaigns that he’s never seen come to fruition — and all the while, his name is being used to fleece others.
On top of all of that, Corey is running out of distributors who will distribute for him, almost certainly due to the promotional efforts conducted by RMM, who continues to violate these DSP’s terms and conditions (probably the ones related to artificial streaming, or bot plays). That’s something Corey does not stand for. If pressed to choose one word to describe Blue House Records’ legacy, that word would be authenticity.
Of all the people I can think of, Corey deserved this the least. It’s hard not to feel angry about something like this.
Corey’s lack of proximity to the tech-savvy world of digital marketing and his kind-hearted, good nature makes him a natural target for companies like RMM, which thrive on manipulating the complexities of modern advertising.
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Corey trusted RMM to handle the technical aspects of marketing, but he never suspected they would turn his label into a financial front for scamming other artists.
Corey is no fool; he’s a dedicated, experienced professional who simply fell victim to a company that hides its true nature behind corporate glitz and a web of deceit.
The Takeaway: Protecting Independent Artists and Labels
RMM’s story is emblematic of a broader trend in the music industry: companies preying on the hopes of artists and the trust of small labels. The real tragedy here is not just the money lost, but the betrayal of trust that comes with it.
RMM’s actions have not only harmed the artists they scammed, but they have also stained the reputation of a respected label that had nothing to do with their schemes.
For those considering RMM or similar services, heed the warning woven in to Corey’s story. A legitimate label won’t cold-call with grand promises, nor will it demand payments through third-party sites while failing to deliver on promised services.
Legitimate marketing firms are not going to reach out to you, nor will they have confusing or convoluted plans for promotion. Marketers should be able to calmly and clearly answer any questions you have, and if you don’t know what questions to ask, you should probably learn a little something about marketing before you seek one out.
🧠 Real artist development takes time, genuine investment, and a commitment to integrity — qualities that RMM, despite its flashy presentation, appears to lack entirely. Be wary of fast sales pitches. They’re usually just as fast to cut and run with your money.
What’s Next for Corey and the Victims of RMM?
Corey has begun untangling the damage, with plans to distance Blue House Music from any association with RMM. He would like to extend his sincerest apologies to any artists who were wrongfully targeted using his name, and wants to make every effort to clear himself of any association with Royal Music Marketing.
With more artists like Kid Prince and ScurtDae coming forward to share their stories, the hope is that RMM’s deception will soon come to an end.
For Corey Sampson, the fight is far from over. But one thing is certain: he is determined to protect the name he built, even as he faces one of the biggest challenges of his career. And, we, for one, fully support him in those efforts.
Support the Victims
Want to support the victims of this scam? So do we. Streaming is free and can help to begin the process of off-setting the artificial streams employed by RMM. To stream Kid Prince’s latest project, click the button below. Kid Prince is honestly one of the most talented artists RMM ever had on their roster. Which makes it extra painful to see him go through this. He sounds a bit like Kendrick if Kendrick had come up on the Griselda roster. Yeah, it’s as dope as it sounds.
Kid Prince’s Music
Click the button to choose your DSP. Streaming supports.
This exposé is a wake-up call. It’s a reminder that not every flashy company in the industry has your best interests at heart. In fact, almost none of them do. For those seeking success, remember Corey’s story and tread carefully. As ScurtDae so eloquently put it: what looks sweet on the surface can eventually turn sour. And sometimes, sour is what it always was. Stay safe out there.
✍🏻 Update: A representative for Mike (The RMM CEO), has been in contact with me, but has thus far refused to go on record with an official statement.
Stay in the loop,
– Music Scam Alert Staff
don’t get duped.
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