Master KG, South African musician, and Nomcebo Zikode, his fellow singer, have engaged in a heated war of words over ‘Jerusalema‘, their 2019 collaborative project.
The pair had teamed up for the project which has become a sensation across the globe since its release.
The song’s impressive run further improved after Master KG enlisted Burna Boy, the Grammy-winning Nigerian singer, for a remix of the song.
But about two years after the project was released, the two artistes are at loggerheads over the sharing formula to be used for proceeds made from ‘Jerusalema’.
The drama started after Nomcebo took to her social media page to threaten legal action against Open Mic Productions, the label which recorded the song.
According to the singer, she has not been “paid a cent” since the project was released despite her contribution to its success.
The singer and songwriter also claimed that she had been ridiculed in the matter while alleging plots to marginalise her efforts.
“My voice and lyrics have transcended globally, but I still await what is due to me. I have not been paid a cent by the label for ‘Jerusalema’ despite the song’s global success. I have been ridiculed, with efforts to marginalise my contribution,” she wrote on Sunday.
“The continued love and support from the fans of Jerusalema has been my strength and anchor during this difficult time. I, as a female artist, can’t stay silent anymore; the matter is now with my lawyers.”
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But in a swift denial via his Twitter page, Master KG accused Zikode of defaulting on the originally agreed sharing formula to be used for proceeds recorded from the project.
“The agreement of Jerusalema is 50/50 between me and Nomcebo but [Nomcebo] wants 70% and I must get 30%,” Master KG had fired back.
The Agreement Of Jerusalema Is 50/50 Between Me And Nomcebo But Wants 70% and I Must Get 30%
— MASTER KG (@MasterKGsa) July 11, 2021
He also claimed that Nomcebo had so far received 1.5m rand (£75,000) from proceeds of the project contrary to her statement.
@Nomcebozikode Can you confirm if you Not yet Received R1.5 Million So far From Jerusalema???And before I Explain many things You Guys Havent Paid Me For 'Xola Moya Wami" Till date…But you Received money so far From Jerusalema
— MASTER KG (@MasterKGsa) July 11, 2021
In a statement, Open Mic Productions also confirmed that Nomcebo had not been paid due to the contractual disagreement between the pair.
“We can confirm that during the creation of the song that Master KG (the main artist) and Nomcebo Zikode (the featured artist) agreed on sharing 50/50 of Master KG’s earnings,” it read.
“The featured artist’s agreement, which reflected an equal split between the two artists, was drafted last year, November, for both parties to sign. Nomcebo Zikode through her legal team reviewed the contract and proposed for a higher percentage.”
The company explained that none of the two artistes have been paid because Nomcebo has not signed the featured artist agreement.
“This is the agreement that stipulates amongst other matters, what percentage of Master KG’s artist royalties is payable to Nomcebo for her role as a featured artist in the song,” it added.
“These engagements remain ongoing and as soon as these are concluded and the agreement is signed by all the parties, payment will be made immediately.”
‘Jerusalema’ currently has about 422 million views on Youtube.
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