Zuko Komisa

Grammy-winning vocalist Nomcebo Zikode has been dealt a significant legal blow in her ongoing dispute with Open Mic Productions.
The Gauteng High Court ruled against the “Jerusalema” singer on May 9th, ordering her to deliver two commercially viable albums to the record label before being released from her contract.
The feud between Zikode and Open Mic began in 2022, fueled by disagreements surrounding ownership and revenue from the global hit “Jerusalema.”
While the initial tensions centered on claims of co-authorship by Zikode alongside producer Master KG, this recent court case focused on alleged unmet accounting obligations related to her Grammy-winning song “Bayethe.”
Zikode had sought greater financial transparency from Open Mic regarding various income streams, including licensing, bookings, endorsements, and physical sales of “Jerusalema,” as well as Master KG’s royalties. A previous settlement in December 2022 led to a planned 50/50 joint venture for future recordings via Africori.
However, Zikode returned to court nearly a year later, alleging that Open Mic had failed to uphold their accounting commitments and challenging the enforceability of the joint venture agreement. The court dismissed her claims, stating that Open Mic had provided the necessary accounting records.
Regarding the joint venture, the court firmly asserted that Zikode was bound by her agreement.

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