She has been with Open Mic Productions for three years and believes that it is time to move on. The record label came to the rescue after Makhadzi, real name Ndivhudzannyi Ralivhona had just left an "unhealthy' relationship with her former manager Rita Dee Nephawe, who allegedly swindled money from her bookings. At the time, she also accused her of deleting her songs from YouTube and taking over her social media. Open Mic saved the day and signed her in 2020 but the Milandu Bhe singer has since left the record label to be independent.?

GOING INDEPENDENT

The award-winning musician will not be renewing her contract with Open Mic. "My contract has ended and I will not be renewing,' she tells ZiMoja. "We have been working normally but, the contract has ended and I am now an independent artist. I'll do things on my own,' she says. Makhadzi has travelled across the continent and overseas with the label and she is grateful for the opportunities. "We did great work together, I will not discredit them, but it's time to move on.'?

NO BAD BLOOD

Makhadzi says there is no bad blood between her and the company, but she is moving on. "I communicated with them by email to say, my contract has ended but no one has said anything to me or responded.' Makhadzi says the record label has been good to her. "I have no complaints. No one is perfect and they worked hard to build my brand but it's time to move on.'

ARTISTS CONTINUE TO LEAVE THE LABEL

Makhadzi is not the first to leave the label. Producer and hitmaker, Master KG, real name Kgaogelo Moagi left the label some years ago but continues to do some work with them. Nomcebo Zikode still has an ongoing legal battle with the label after she claimed not to have received money that was due to her for the song Jerusalema. Not long ago, a former member of pop group Jamali, Jacky Carpede was allegedly embroiled in a dispute with Open Mic Productions after claiming she had not been paid a single cent of royalties. The song is said to be part of the soundtrack on one of Netflix's biggest series Blood and Water, but she has not received a cent in royalties from the track. Trouble started when she was allegedly announced as one of the talents who joined Open Mic Productions. But it turns out that she never signed a contract with the record label after refusing to give away her publishing rights. Label owners Molau Rammala and Lionel Jamela could not be reached for comment.

Nkateko Maluleke from Open Mic Productions says Makhdzi's contract is longer than three years. "I'm not sure where she is getting all that information about a three-year contract. I cannot divulge the details of her contract, but it is definitely longer than three years, She is still signed to Open Mic,' he says. At the time of publishing, Open Mic had not spoken to Makhadzi about the matter. "We will be having a meeting and we will release a statement in due time, but as it stands, Makhadzi is still with us.'