Former Sol Generations artist, and only female signee, Crystal Asige, took to the chambers to testify against her former label yesterday. The court battle that started in 2020 touches on matters of music copyrights (IP) and compensation. Through her law firm, Mwakireti and Asige advocates, she has sued Sol Generation Records Limited, Bien-Aime Baraza, Polycarp Otieno, Willis Chimano, Delvin Mudigi, and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines Kenya.
Ms Asige who was also signed as a songwriter, wants the court to compel the label to disclose how much royalties they have accrued from the singles Lenga, Extravaganza, Ukiwa Mbali, Intro and Favourite Song from 2019 which she sang in, co-wrote, arranged and laid background vocals.
Lenga Release
She claims her sound composition, Lenga, was released exclusively on KLM’s FB platform without her acknowledgment. She claims that she was never in agreement with the deal between the airline and the label.
Sol Generation entered a deal with KLM Airlines, in October 2019, to produce an album dubbed ‘1919 To Forever’ to celebrate the airline’s inception a century ago. The deal compensation is said to be in the tune of Ksh 5M.
The original composition is also said to have been rerecorded and changed to ‘Intro’ for SautiSol’s 5th album Midnight Train without her knowledge or consent. The album was released in June 2020.
The disabled (partly blind) female artist, in her argument, added that she was unceremoniously kicked out of the label, in November 2019, after she aired her grievances. No negotiations were done. The issues at hand were never discussed or addressed and that’s how her battles with her label started.
Present were singer Bien, Moriasi Omambia, Sauti Sol’s legal manager, and Sol Generation manager, Natasha Qubu. She was informed that they no longer wanted to continue with her at the label.
The singer is now a nominated Senator representing people with disabilities.
Also, she owns her own foundation, The Crystal Asige Foundation, which champions the right dignity, well-being, and efficacy of all people living with disabilities.
The hearing of the case is ongoing.
