A big fight has erupted between two record labels Open Mic Productions and DJ Tira’s Afrotainment over Jerusalema vocalist Nomcebo Zikode, Sowetan Reports!
The tug-of-war is over the song Nguwe from the 21 Years of DJ Tira album that Zikode is featured on without apparently not getting the proper approval from her record label Open Mic Production.
READ – Warner Music Group Blocks Jerusalema on Copyright Grounds!
And it’s not the first time DJ Tira is involved in a contract dispute.
It’s almost a decade now and he’s been at war with Sheer Publishing, involving a publishing agreement that was apparently signed by Big Nuz in 2004. The dispute involves the band’s hit song Umlilo.
According to the publication, Lionel Jamela, co-owner of Open Mic, confirmed that their lawyers had issued a legal letter to Tira demanding that he takes down the song from all music platforms including radio and album, and stop marketing it.
READ – Black Coffee Calls On The SAMAs To Add Jerusalema!
“As a company that is managing Nomcebo and has signed her, we have decided that we cannot allow anyone to release a song featuring Nomcebo now while we are focused on pushing her as a solo artist,” said Lionel Jamela.
According to the paper, Tira also confirmed that he received the letter on Monday and he was in the process of responding to it.
“Yes, those are some of their demands and I’m responding to all of that so that we can find a common ground. I think there was a breakdown of communication between me, Nomcebo, and them (Open Mic).
READ – Kwesta’s Manager Nota Baloyi says Black Coffee is a womanizer!
“I was dealing with Nomcebo a lot, but she was also supposed to finalize things with them. We all need to come together and sort out whatever issue(s) we have,” Tira told the publication.
Nomcebo Zikode said that she was not aware of any dispute over the song.
“I don’t know anything about what you’re saying. What is the problem with the song? I’ve been doing songs with other artists like Mobi Dixon and the list is endless. I am not aware of any issue between Tira and Open Mic,” said Nomcebo Zikode.
READ – Tshepi Mabulana hangs her radio mic at YFM!
Lionel Jamela said that Tira has no formal agreement with Open Mic, whereas when you record with an artist that belongs to another label you must communicate with them and get the proper legal clearance.
Listen to Nguwe below:
MGOSI.co.za