Tyla Dropped from ‘Water’ Royalty Lawsuit as Legal Tide Shifts
Clear Waters: Tyla Dropped from ‘Water’ Royalty Lawsuit as Legal Tide Shifts
LOS ANGELES — The legal storm surrounding the 2023 global phenomenon “Water” has partially cleared for its star. South African Grammy winner Tyla has been officially dropped from a high-stakes royalty lawsuit after the plaintiffs voluntarily withdrew their claims against her earlier this month.
The 24-year-old singer, who was previously named as a defendant alongside her label and production team, was cleared of any involvement in the dispute on 5th February 2026. Crucially, court records indicate that Tyla was removed from the case without paying any settlement fees, effectively vindicating her team’s stance that she was not responsible for the alleged "nefarious" actions of her collaborators.
The Dispute Over $10 Million
The lawsuit, which was refiled in July 2025, centers on a March 2023 recording session in Los Angeles. Songwriters Olmo Zucca and Jackson LoMastro—both of whom are credited as co-writers on the track—allege they were systematically cheated out of their fair share of the song's massive financial success.
With "Water" generating an estimated $10 million in revenue to date and projected to earn upwards of $50 million, the stakes for the plaintiffs are high. They claim they were unfairly excluded from "top-line producer" credits and were "lowballed" with 10% publishing royalties, while lead producer Sammy SoSo allegedly kept 15% and sole production credit for himself.
The Last Man Standing
With Tyla now removed from the docket and Sony Music Entertainment (the parent of Epic Records) dismissed from the case late last year, the legal focus has narrowed significantly.
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Remaining Defendant: Sammy SoSo (Samuel Awuku), the British producer behind the hit, is now the sole remaining defendant.
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The Allegation: The plaintiffs allege SoSo intentionally concealed their contributions from the label to secure an exclusive producer agreement with Tyla.
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The Demand: Zucca and LoMastro are still seeking official producer credits, a royalty adjustment to 12.5%, and retroactive producer fees.
“God Himself” vs. The Law
While the legal battle continues for her producer, Tyla’s fanbase—the "Tygers", have taken to social media to celebrate her exit from the litigation. Many fans viewed the lawsuit as an attempt to "extort" the singer during her rise to superstardom.
“Fighting this girl is like fighting God himself,” wrote one viral post on X (formerly Twitter). “He took her from SA and placed her where she is, and no one can undo that.”
Despite the legal noise, Tyla’s momentum remains untouched. She recently celebrated her 24th birthday with a star-studded gala in Los Angeles and is currently preparing for the release of her highly anticipated sophomore album, tentatively titled A-Pop.
As "Water" continues to dominate airwaves and streaming charts worldwide, the removal of Tyla from the lawsuit ensures that the singer can focus on her 2026 world tour without the shadow of a courtroom hanging over her.
