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Tyla Sued in California Over Hit Single Water — What's Actually Going On?


Afro Artist Tyla and crew


South African artist Tyla is now at the center of a legal dispute in California over her Grammy-winning 2023 single Water. The lawsuit was filed on July 25, 2025, and it names Tyla, producer Sammy SoSo (real name Samuel Awuku), and Sony Music Entertainment (the parent of Epic Records) as defendants.


Who's Filing the Lawsuit and Why?


The plaintiffs are Olmo Zucca and Jackson LoMastro, two California-based songwriters and music producers. They assert that they were key contributors to Water—from melody and harmony to producing audio elements like piano, guitar, and sine pads—but were unfairly excluded from top-line producer credits and equitable royalties. The suit points to a March 2023 recording session in Los Angeles that included them, Sammy SoSo, and Rayan “Rayo” Goufar.


Royalty Split in Dispute

The plaintiffs argue that the royalty distribution was unequal:

Contributor

Alleged Share

Sammy SoSo

15%

Olmo Zucca

10%

Jackson LoMastro

10%

Rayan (Rayo)

10%

Tricky Stewart

5%

They contend that a fair division among the four main producers would grant each 12.5%, and that they were wrongfully marginalized.


Tyla Water

What's Being Sought


Zucca and LoMastro are seeking:

  • Official recognition as top-line producers—both retroactively and moving forward.

  • A 12.5% share of publishing royalties per person.

  • A share of master recording royalties and SoundExchange digital performance royalties.

  • A standard producer fee for their contributions.

  • Compensation for reputational harm and lost industry opportunities.


Broader Context & Impact


Released in July 2023, Water became a global smash, earning Tyla the inaugural Grammy for Best African Music Performance, exceeding 1.1 billion Spotify streams, and peaking at No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100.


The lawsuit was initially filed in March 2025, dropped on July 24, and then refilled on July 25 with new legal counsel—suggesting a careful strategic maneuver. Although Tyla is named in the case, none of the articles indicate that she is accused of wrongdoing; the suit focuses on credit and royalties, not on wrongdoing by her.


Industry experts suggest this case could influence how producer credits and royalty splits are handled for cross-border hits—especially for rising African artists working with international collaborators.

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