It has been an eventful week past two weeks for record label Open Mic Productions. Three of their artists have come forward to claim that they have been exploited. One of the artists being Sdala B who shared several posts on social media and also spoke candidly to ZiMoja about how he left the company on a sour note. However, the Zulu Ghanama singer has since changed his tune and claims a former manager wrote the posts for him.
A CHANGE OF TUNE
Despite speaking to ZiMoja telephonically and saying Open Mic had not paid him royalties. Sdala B has released a video publicly apologising the label. "I saw everyone's posts on my social media showing great concern," he said. "I am very grateful for the support and to those following my music. But I would like to clarify that the post was not by me but someone I used to work with," he said. "I want to clarify that. I am not fighting with anyone. I don't have a problem with anyone, all I want to do is work and take my life forward. I am not fighting with Open Mic or anyone."
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MAKING HITS
Last week, Sdala B declared that he had produced several big hits for Open Mic Productions but said that he had not been compensated. "I'm tired of keeping this to myself," he said. Sdala B said in 2021 he moved from his hometown of KwaMhlanga in Mpumalanga to seek greener pastures in Johannesburg. He thought working for Open Mic would be his big break. " moved from home to Johannesburg to hustle for my family, knowing very well that I'm an orphan and that I must take care of my grandmother who raised me," he said. "I have worked hard and put all my efforts into the songs such as Zulu Ghanama, Khanyisa, Ngiyazifela EP Deluxe, just to name a few. Open Mic Productions came in and promised me the world, but not even one of their promises were fulfilled." Sdala said the company promised to make him a star. "They only shot one video and nothing for the rest. They also wanted to choose what I release and how I make our songs. Everything is just badly organised and they do not live up to their promises," he declared. "When it came to bookings, they wanted to take 30 percent and we couldn't agree." Sdala B said he had not been paid for any of the work he has produced. "I never received even a single percentage of the money made from my sales, nor did I receive any royalties that were generated by all the songs that I made with the label. My career is drowning today, yet I've made millions for people who never cared about me." Sdala B added that he watched people succeed in front of him while doing all of the work. "Their lives are changing before my eyes, and their families flourishing through my hard work. I have no money and I am now forced to start from scratch," he said "The hardest part is walking on the streets because all people now see me as a failed celebrity- a has been! I don't have a lawyer to fight for me," he added. "Open Mic set me back, destroyed my dreams and left me demotivated, but my faith is strong so I'm leaving it all to God."
