The music industry is not for the faint-hearted. Melanie B of former Spice Girls sensation once said, "You've gotta be business savvy really, or else you get the piss taken out of you." Amapiano artist, Sir Trill has come forward to say that he is being exploited and not paid for the hits he has made since his rise to fame.

SPEAKING UP

The Nkantin singer took to social media in a thread of tweets to say he has made many music hits but has not been paid. "It's tiring and mentally damaging. So many hits and I've never seen a cent. I'm tired," Sir Trill says. The new dad says he has never been one to open up about his personal life but feels, he needs to speak up. Without mentioning any names, Sir Trill says, "Never been an artist that talks much or exposes much. This will definitely be a joke to some of y'all, which I understand. But it's mentally damaging and exhausting. What are we working so much for?'

OTHER ARTISTS WHO CLAIMED TO HAVE BEEN EXPLOITED

In the past, there have been many artists claiming to have been exploited and not paid what is due to them. Last year Emtee revealed that he was paid R10 by the Southern African Music Rights Organisation (SAMRO). "Ao, Samro bang'rometse two klipa,' Emtee tweeted. In 2019 Award-winning artist Amanda Black opened up about being exploited. "So many artists have so many stories to tell. So many artists don't talk about what they've been through in the industry. They don't get to tell their truth and that's because it's not easy and also there's so much at stake. So, you're at risk of getting closed doors in your face. Being blocked in many ways in the industry,' Amanda explained. Singer Nomcebo Zikode has been in a long battle with former record label Open Mic Productions for alleged exploitation and allegedly not paying her what is due to her. She also recently went back to the Pretoria High Court after Open Mic Productions wrote to Spotify, asking them to remove the song from their charts. DJ Charmza also joined Nomcebo in the fight and stated that he, in fact, produced the song Jerusalema.