Crystal Asige takes Sol Generation to court over unpaid royalties

Senator Crystal Asige. (Courtesy)

Senator Crystal Asige took the stand on Tuesday to testify against her former music label, Sol Generation, in a Sh5 million legal case.

Asige went to court in 2022 seeking compensation for her work and shared her struggles this week. She wants the court to force the trustees to disclose how much they made from the songs Lenga, Extravaganza, Ukiwa Mbali, Intro, and Favourite Song since 2019.

 Asige joined Sol Generation in February 2019 as a flagship artist, collaborating on hits like “Extravaganza.” However, her time there was short; by November 2019, she was reportedly asked to leave due to alleged financial issues at the label.

After her departure, Asige filed a lawsuit against Sol Generation, claiming Sh5 million for breach of contract and misuse of her work.

The case also points to a lack of payment for her contributions to tracks on Sauti Sol’s “Midnight Train” album. Asige claims she hesitated to sign a full recording contract, and negotiations never happened, leaving many issues unresolved.

In court, she stated that her lyrics and melody were used in “Extravaganza,” part of Sauti Sol’s Midnight Train album, without her permission, which she argued was illegal.

Although credited as a co-writer, Asige maintained that no formal negotiations took place and she never received any payment for her contributions. She recounted creating part of “Extravaganza” during a recording session and stressed that the track was released on Sol Generation's platforms without her knowledge of any agreement. She later found out about a Sh5 million deal arranged for her, yet received nothing.

Asige further accused the label of exploiting her disability for profit. Presenting her disability certificate in court, she argued that when she tried to claim her rights, she was ignored.

When she sought assistance, she was reportedly told she was the “weakest singer” on the team and that the company was too broke to pay her royalties.