Winky D Faces Channel Shutdown as Hits “Disappear” in Copyright Row
Zimbabwean music fans were met with a surprise recently as two of Winky D’s popular hits, “Disappear” and “Mirror,” disappeared from his official YouTube channel, winkyonline.
This development comes amidst a copyright dispute between the artist and his former record label, Kenako Music.
Reports indicate that Kenako Music has filed copyright strikes against the two songs, putting Winky D at risk of losing his entire YouTube channel.
YouTube’s policy dictates that three copyright strikes within a specific timeframe result in channel termination, erasing all content and associated subscribers.
The source of the conflict appears to be unpaid royalties. According to reports, Kenako claims they haven’t received their due compensation for producing “Disappear” and “Mirror.” Notably, “Disappear” was produced by Oskid, who has since parted ways with Kenako and established his own label, Oskid Productions.
This situation echoes a recent copyright infringement case involving gospel artists Jah Signal and the Charambas. The Charambas successfully removed Jah Signal’s renditions of their songs from YouTube due to a lack of consent and proper acknowledgment.
Similar to Winky D’s case, the Charambas emphasized the importance of respecting copyright laws and seeking permission before using another artist’s material.
Winky D has yet to publicly address the copyright strikes, leaving fans in suspense regarding the dispute’s nature and potential solutions. With the potential loss of his YouTube channel looming, fans eagerly await his response and hope for a swift resolution to the matter.
