Open Mic defeats Nomcebo in court
GrammyAward-winningsingerNomceboZikodehassufferedamajorlegalblowinherlong-runningdisputewithOpenMicProductions,aftertheGautengHighCourtruledagainstheronMay9.
Inafurthersetback,thecourtalsoorderedZikodetodelivertwocommerciallyviablealbumstothelabelbeforeshecanexithercontract.
ThefeudbetweenZikodeandOpenMicdatesbackto2022,sparkedbytensionsaroundtheownershipandrevenuefromtheglobalhitJerusalema.
ThedisputecenteredonwhetherZikodeco-composedthesongwithproducerKgaogelo “MasterKG”Moagi,orifKGwasthesolecreator.
However,thatspecificissuewasn’tthefocusofthisparticularlegalcase.
Instead,thecourtproceedingsrevolvedaroundBayethe,thesongthatearnedZikodeaGrammy.
ShehadapproachedthecourtseekingtocompelOpenMictofulfillwhatshedescribedasunmetaccountingobligations.
Zikoderequestedfinancialtransparencyonarangeofrevenuestreams,includingearningsfromsonglicensing,bookings,endorsements,andthephysicalsalesofJerusalema.
ShealsowanteddisclosureontheroyaltiesreceivedbyMasterKG.
InDecember2022,ZikodeandOpenMicreachedasettlementagreement,whichthecourtlaterformalized.Aspartofthedeal,bothpartiesagreedthatZikode,throughhercompanyEmazulwiniProductions,wouldenterintoa50/50jointventurewithOpenMicforfuturerecordings.
ThemusicwouldbereleasedviaAfricori,whichwouldactasaneutralfacilitatorbetweenthetwoentities.
Nearlyayearlater,Zikodereturnedtocourt,claimingthatOpenMichadnotliveduptoitsaccountingpromises.
Shealsochallengedthelegalenforceabilityofthejointventure,arguingthatshenolongerwishedtoproceedwithit.
Thecourtdismissedherclaims.Inthejudgment,itstated: “TheHonourableCourtcanacceptthateverythingOpenMicoughttohaveprovidedtotheapplicantshasbeenprovided.
AlinktoaccessOpenMic’saccountingrecordswassenttotheapplicants.Theinformationpertainingtothesynchronisationofthesoundrecordingswasappendedtotheansweringaffidavit.”
Onthematterofthejointventure,thecourtwasfirm: “Zikodehasmadeanagreementtoenterintoa50/50jointventure.ThisCourtcannotdeclarethatZikodeisnotboundbytheobligationsheagreedto.Suchadeclarationwouldcontradicttheconstitutionallyvalidcommonlawprinciplethatagreementsmustbekept.”
Reactingtothejudgment,OpenMicProductionsheadLionelJameladidnotholdback.
“ImadeNomcebo.Today,she’samillionairebecauseoftheinvestmentImadeinher.Unfortunately,shehadotherintentions—shewantedtostealtheJerusalema song,butshefailed,”Jamelaclaimed.
Hecontinued: “WhenImether,noonebelievedinher,butItookherundermywingandmadeheraninternationalbrand.Ibuilther.Ispentmillionsonher,butsheturnedagainstme.Despitethiscase,shestillneedstogivemetwoalbumsbeforeshecandowhatevershewants.”
“Otherwise,she’llbeincontemptofcourt.Idon’twantjustanyalbums,butIwantcommercialones.Thefirstalbumshouldbereleasedin2026,andthesecondin2027.Soshemuststop,we’vegotworktodo.”
