Tyla Faces Lawsuit Over “Water” Royalties: Behind the Glitter, a Battle Brews Over Fair Credit

Grammy-winning South African sensation Tyla is currently caught in the middle of a heated legal storm as two producers, Olmo Zucca and Jackson LoMastro, have filed a lawsuit against her and her team. The bone of contention? Royalties and recognition tied to her breakout global hit, “Water.”

The lawsuit, filed in California, outlines serious claims that Zucca and LoMastro were unjustly sidelined from a fair share of both the financial and creative credit for the smash single that has already notched over one billion Spotify streams and global acclaim.

🎧 What Really Happened?

According to the court documents, Zucca and LoMastro allege that during a March 2023 production session in Los Angeles, they made significant creative contributions to the development of "Water," working alongside Rayo (Rayan El-Hussein Goufar) and Awuku. However, when it came time to split the rewards, they say the math didn’t add up.

They claim that Awuku, who handled the distribution of royalties, unfairly elevated his own share to 15%, while assigning just 10% to Zucca, LoMastro, and Rayo each — and only 5% to veteran producer Tricky Stewart. Furthermore, they argue that they were falsely portrayed as mere session contributors, when in fact they were core creative partners in crafting the song.

The situation took a turn for the worse when private negotiations broke down in July 2023, with Awuku allegedly refusing further discussions. What was supposed to be a quiet, professional resolution has now morphed into a very public legal battle.

🧠 Opinion: A Case of Creative Injustice or Industry Norms?

This lawsuit raises important questions about credit transparency and the often murky waters of music industry royalty sharing. While Tyla herself is not accused of creative theft, the lawsuit puts a spotlight on how young artists can sometimes get caught in label-level and producer-level disputes — often unaware of the backroom negotiations and discontent simmering beneath their success.

If the claims of Zucca and LoMastro are proven true, it would represent yet another instance of undervalued creatives being pushed aside while their work generates millions. The music industry has long been plagued by such controversies — from uncredited songwriting to disputed beat ownership — and "Water" might just be the latest headline in that saga.

💡 Why This Matters

Beyond the star-studded headlines and Grammy glitz, this lawsuit speaks to the need for fairness in creative collaborations. As the music world becomes more global and digital, ensuring proper credit and compensation for all contributors is no longer just an ethical consideration — it’s a necessity for the industry's future health.

Tyla’s camp has yet to respond publicly, but eyes will now be watching to see how the courts handle this claim — and whether justice will finally flow like... water.

💬 What’s your take on the battle behind the beat? Should industry players adopt stricter systems for royalty transparency? Or is this just another case of post-fame fallout?