South African singer-songwriter Rowlene has emotionally opened up about what she describes as an eight-month battle to receive payment for a performance she delivered in late 2025.
In a heartfelt video shared on Instagram, the artist appeared visibly emotional as she detailed her frustrations, revealing that months of attempts to resolve the matter privately had left her exhausted and questioning the realities of working in the music industry.
“If you knew me, you would know that I don’t usually do this, but I’m out of options,” she said.
“I’m at a position where I’m starting to question if my business model is all messed up, or if people just generally don’t grasp how their indecency affects other people.”
According to Rowlene, the performance took place in October, and despite fulfilling her contractual obligations, she claims she has yet to receive payment for her services.
The singer explained that she made several efforts to reach an amicable solution, including proposing alternative arrangements that would have reduced the financial burden on the event organisers.
“I tried to work out a payment plan. I even said they don’t have to pay me the full amount because I know I didn’t sell all the tickets,” she said. “It just feels so disrespectful.”
As the dispute continued, Rowlene said she was ultimately forced to seek legal assistance, a decision that has created additional financial pressure and emotional stress.
“My lawyer is handling it, but now it’s money that I don’t have that I’m going to have to use to get back money that I worked hard for,” she explained. “Please tell me what I’m supposed to do.”
In the caption accompanying the video, Rowlene reflected on her decade-long career in music and the impact the situation has had on her personally.
“As someone who wakes up at 5 am in the morning to make sure I’ve checked all the boxes, as someone who’s done this for 10 years, I still feel like I failed myself over something that’s beyond my control,” she wrote.
The singer also used the moment to highlight the broader challenges faced by many artists, particularly independent musicians who often rely on performance fees and live bookings as a primary source of income.
“If this is happening to me, I can only imagine smaller artists trying to navigate this industry,” she added. “My heart is just broken.”
Her comments have sparked conversations online about accountability within the entertainment industry, with many artists and fans expressing support and sharing similar experiences involving delayed payments, contractual disputes and financial uncertainty.
Despite the setback, Rowlene made it clear that she remains committed to her music career and is determined to continue creating.
“Still trying to make music, guys,” she said. “I just wanna sing and feed my cat, but life’s just making it so impossible.”
The emotional post has since attracted an outpouring of support from fans and fellow musicians, many of whom praised her for speaking openly about an issue that affects countless creatives behind the scenes.
View this post on Instagram
