Senator Asige Takes Sauti Sol to Court Over Music Rights

Senator Crystal Asige has presented her testimony before the High Court, detailing her contentious separation from Sol Generation Record label.

The case centres on allegations of intellectual property rights violations and the exploitation of her disability, stemming from her dismissal in November 2019, which the label attributed to financial constraints. The dispute traces back to 2018 when Bien Aime of Sauti Sol invited Asige to join the label. A point of contention emerged regarding her relocation from Mombasa to Nairobi in early 2019, which Sauti Sol disputes, maintaining that her move was related to employment with Open Society Kenya in March of that year.

In her testimony before Lady Justice Margaret Mwangi, Asige details her artistic contributions to several notable works, including "Extravaganza," "Favorite Song," "Rhumba Japani," "Ukiwa Mbali," and "Lenga." Despite her involvement in these productions, she asserts that no royalties have been forthcoming. The scope of the legal dispute extends beyond Sol Generation, encompassing KLM Royal Dutch Airlines for their unauthorized use of her musical content. The controversy surrounding the collaborative works deepens with Asige's claims of co-composition and performance credits on "Extravaganza" and "Ukiwa Mbali," created alongside Sauti Sol and fellow artists Bensoul, Nviiri The Storyteller, and Kaskazini.

Sauti Sol's defence maintains that her role was limited to vocal performance rather than arrangement, particularly disputing her claims regarding the "Intro" track on their "Midnight Train" album, which they assert is exclusively owned by Universal Music Limited. A crucial point of contention revolves around contractual matters. Asige reports that the label presented her with a five-year Artist Development Agreement, which she hesitated to sign due to its comprehensive rights appropriation. Her attempts to negotiate a 360 recording contract were allegedly thwarted by scheduling conflicts.

The senator's testimony reveals allegations about the exploitation of her disability for marketing purposes. She contends that while being presented as a unique addition to the group, she faced restrictions on solo performance opportunities, significantly impacting her earning potential. These claims are contested by Sol Generation's legal manager Moriasi Omambia who maintains that the label treated Asige with appropriate care and consideration, including accommodations for her medical needs.

A particularly contentious issue involves the unauthorized use of her song "Lenga" by KLM Dutch Airlines. Asige testifies that she learned of a substantial agreement between Sol Generation and KLM, valued at approximately Sh5 million, only around the time of her departure. Her requests to review this agreement were reportedly denied.