Songwriters Olmo Zucca and Jackson LoMastro have initiated an action against South African singer Tyla and her producer Sammy Soso Awuku in California over her hit song, ‘Water’.
Xucca and LoMastro claim to be co-composers and co-authors of the song and thus entitled to 12.5 percent royalties as opposed to the 10% they were given by the producer, Awuku.
Tyla, her producer Awuku, and the label Epic, under whom the song was released and distributed, have all been named as parties to the suit.
According to reports, the plaintiffs Olmo Zucca and Jackson LoMastro initially attempted to settle the dispute with Sammy Soso in July 2023 before the song was released, but Awuku refused to negotiate.
The plaintiffs maintain that by standard practice, each of the producers gets one-quarter of the 50% publishing rights.
“Instead of each producer getting [one quarter] of 50% (i.e., 12.5%) of the music publishing royalties (which would be customary), Awuku took 15% for himself, allocated 10% to each of Zucca, LoMastro, and Goufar, and gave 5% to Christopher Alan ‘Tricky’ Stewart.”
Fillings
The complaint provided that between March 8 and 9, 2023, a recording session for ‘Water’ took place in Los Angeles with four producers: Zucca, LoMastro, Goufar, and Awuku.
It also revealed that Zucca and LoMastro produced numerous audio files that were transferred to Awuku’s computer and were used in the final master recording of the Song.
The fillings further argued that all four producers contributed equally to the song and should, therefore, receive full top-line producer credit and an equal percentage of royalties.
Tyla’s ‘Water’ has enjoyed huge commercial success that played a tremendous role in propelling her to global stardom.
The song won the maiden Grammy Awards for Best African Music Song Performance. Tyla also won VMAS, EMAS, BET, and AMA, among other awards, as the song dominated the 2024 award season.
‘Water’ is the first song by an African female lead artist to surpass 1 billion Spotify streams. The song has also accumulated 303 million YouTube views.
Tyla Takes Award at Billboard Women in Music
At this year’s Billboard Women in Music event, the Impact Award was presented by Bose, with music star Tyla as the recipient.
The South African singer and songwriter was honored for her profound influence on the music industry, particularly for her role in spreading Amapiano to global audiences.
The “Water” singer’s recognition at the event followed the footsteps of previous Impact Award honorees such as Solange Knowles, Alicia Keys, Jessie Reyez, H.E.R., Becky G and Young Miko.
When accepting the award, she said, “In life, we all have a chance to pour into one another.”
“Whether it be something you say, a performance, a dance move – literally anything. We all have that chance, and you never know what might ignite in somebody and what that person will pass on to another.”
Tyla
During the ceremony, Tyla also wowed the crowd with a live performance of her hit single “Push 2 Start.” The track has seen massive success, having topped the Billboard U.S. Afrobeats Songs chart for an impressive 14 weeks.
It also reached No. 2 on the World Digital Song Sales chart, further solidifying her position as one of the most exciting emerging artists in the international music scene.
In addition to Tyla’s celebration, the event also saw singer-songwriter Griff catch the attention of attendees as she wore a custom pair of Bose Ultra Open Earbuds designed by renowned jeweler Maggi Simpkins.
As Tyla and Griff continue to make their mark on the industry, this year’s Billboard Women in Music ceremony highlighted the ever-growing influence of young female artists, the continued rise of Amapiano, and the way music continues to serve as a vehicle for change and connection across the globe.
