Singer Nomsa Mazwai has raised questions about the royalties connected to her 2012 collaboration with internationally acclaimed DJ and producer Black Coffee.
Mazwai says she believes the royalty calculations surrounding the collaboration do not reflect what she is owed and claims the outstanding amount could be around R2 million.
Nomsa Mazwai raises royalty concerns
Mazwai questioned the figures relating to the payments she says she should have received from the collaboration.
“Why is my money changing now that it’s time for you to pay me?” the singer asked, highlighting her concerns about how the royalties were calculated.
According to Mazwai, she believes she is owed approximately R2 million in royalties.
Her comments have brought renewed attention to the complexities surrounding music royalties, particularly where collaborations involve multiple artists, producers and rights holders.
Questions over music royalties
Royalty disputes can involve several factors, including contractual agreements, publishing rights, performance royalties and how revenue is distributed among contributors.
In this case, Mazwai has publicly questioned the calculations relating to her 2012 work with Black Coffee and says she believes there is a significant amount still outstanding.
The claims are Mazwai’s and do not, on their own, establish that the reported R2 million is legally or contractually owed.
The dispute has nevertheless sparked discussion about transparency in the South African music industry and how artists track and receive payments for older recordings.
