Zakes Bantwini in alleged R2.4m legal battle with record company

Recently reported, record company Paradise Sound System slapped Zakhele Madidia, popularly known by his stage name Zakes Bantwini with an R 2.4 million lawsuit for a breach of contract; however, it seems Zakes Bantwini has turned the tables around after he reportedly demanded payment of his royalties from it, Sunday World reported.

RECORD COMPANY SUES THE GRAMMY AWARD WINNER

The Grammy winner reportedly also accused Paradise Africa Distribution (PAD) of remixing his Osama blockbuster song in breach of their contract.

In response, Zakes Bantwini reportedly filed an affidavit at the Joburg High Court in December. PAD, reportedly trading as Paradise Sound System, accused Zakes Bantwini’s company, Mayonie Production, of signing a marketing and sales deal with their rival record label, Universal Music. 

PAD reportedly claimed it had concluded a written exclusive master recording agreement with Mayonie Productions in Germany or KwaZulu Natal on 6 August 2022.

The company reportedly claimed the agreement granted PAD the right to exploit and distribute audio and audio-visual products overseas.

It reportedly also granted the right to sell Zakes Bantwini’s song on online music stores and anywhere in the world except for Africa.

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PAD reportedly agreed to pay up to 50 per cent of the net profits from the exploitation of the album.

The record label also reportedly claimed that Zakes Bantwini company breached their contract when Mayonie Productions signed an agreement with their rival record company on 27 October 2016 and granted Universal Music exclusive rights to exploit the album for the next ten years starting from 16 October 2016.

The new deal would reportedly mean that PAD would no longer have legal rights to exploit the album. As a result, the company claimed to have lost over R2.4 million, which they allegedly claimed they would have earned had the contract not been breached.

IN ZAKES BANTWINI RESPONSE TO RECORD LABEL CLAIMS

Although the Bayethe hitmaker reportedly agreed that he had concluded an agreement with PAD’s rival company, he denied the claims that he was in breach of the contract. Zakes Bantwini reportedly claimed that the new deal enabled PAD the legal rights to continue exploiting the album. The recording artist also reportedly claimed that PAD had not suffered any damages, saying that they had continued to exploit the album.

He then made a bombshell claim and reportedly said it was PAD who was in fact, in breach of the contract for releasing Pete Tong and Paul Rogers remix song Osamo last year without his consent.

Zakes Bantwini reportedly pleaded with the court to force PAD to render all his royalties dating back from August 2021 and pay him all that was due to him.

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THE GRAMMY AWARD WINNER RETIRES

Previously reported by The South African, earlier last month, Zakes Bantwini had shared that he would retire as a recording artist.

“I don’t want to say I’m retiring from music, but this is my last album that I’m working on under this brand. It’s over for Zakes Bantwini.

“But Zakhele Madida is still going to produce music for other people, and you know what they say…you should quit while you are still on top,” the Grammy Award winner was quoted as saying.

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