South African Amapiano producer and artist Semi Tee has opened up about his experience with unpaid royalties, sharing his side of the story during an appearance on Mr JazziQ and Friends. The producer spoke candidly about his concerns over money he believes he was owed, offering insight into the challenges artists can face when navigating the business side of the music industry.
Semi Tee, known for his contribution to the Amapiano movement, explained how conversations about outstanding royalties left him questioning whether he had been treated fairly. His account highlights the importance of transparency, clear communication and proper financial agreements between artists and the people handling their music.
Recounting one of his conversations about the matter, Semi Tee said he approached the people involved after repeatedly hearing that his royalties were on the way.
“So I fetched the guys and I asked him, ‘You’ve been saying the royalties are on the way?’ And he tells me that an artist becomes rich after three years. And now I don’t know anything and I agree. But then I started seeing Busta and that’s when I realized this guy played me,” he explained.
According to Semi Tee, the conversation left him accepting an explanation at the time, but subsequent developments made him reconsider what he had been told. His comments suggest that his concerns grew as he began questioning how royalties were being handled and whether he had received a fair account of the money generated by his music.
The producer also discussed an offer connected to the release of his album Warona. He said he was approached with a proposal to receive R600,000 in exchange for releasing the project, prompting him to question what had happened to the earnings from previous years.
“Then they came to me and told me they were gonna give me R600,000 for me to release the ‘Warona’ album. And I asked them, since you want to give me R600,000 now, what about the money I made since 2019 to 2023? And since that day they never came back to me,” Semi Tee said.
His account raises questions about the importance of royalty statements, contractual clarity and accountability in an industry where songs can generate revenue across multiple platforms and channels. Artists need to understand how their music income is calculated, what deductions may apply and when payments are due.
However, Semi Tee’s comments represent his account of the dispute, and the claims have not been independently verified here. The response from the other parties involved was not included in the account provided.
By speaking publicly on Mr JazziQ and Friends, Semi Tee has added his voice to broader conversations about artist compensation and royalty transparency in South African music. His experience underscores why clear agreements and accessible financial records are essential to protecting artists’ interests.
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