Entertainment
Nigerian Music Industry In Limbo … As COSON, MCSN Battle On
The long battle between Copyright Society Of Nigeria (COSON) and Music Copyright Society Of Nigeria (MCSN) as to who is legally responsible to act as a collective management organisation/collective society (CMO) or simply put collect royalties on behalf of artistes rages on.
Recently, MCSN issued a release which was made available to the media that they have been empowered by the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) to be the sole CMO for the Nigerian Music Industry (NMI).
In a bid in putting a tie to the subtle campaign in certain quarters and affirming the progressive direction and development of the collective administration of copyright in Nigeria, the NCC has granted to the Musical Copyright Society Of Nigeria Led/GLC (MCSN) the renewal of its approval license.
Its approval or license to continue to operate as a Collective Management Organisation (CMO) in accordance with the provisions of the copyright Act, Cap c.28 Laws of the federation of Nigeria 2004 and the copyright (Collective Management Organisation) Regulations, 2007.
“The renewal of MCSN’s approval to continue to operate as CMO or collecting society for musical works and sound recordings was conveyed by a letter dated 22nd December, 2020 from the NCC”, the release reads in part.
The release also declares that COSON’s approval to operate as CMO has been suspended since 2018 and thus has no legal standing to operate in the capacity of a CMO. But in a counter move, COSON also released a statement of their own, warning the general public not to seek any license for the use of any musical works or sound recordings in the repertoire of COSON from MCSN.
The statement issued by COSON’s General Counsel, Ms Simi Wash-Pam reads in part:” the recently announced so called renewal of approval of MCSN by the NCC led by Mr John Asein is of little significance. This is so because the maneuvering still cannot permit MCSN to legally license musical works or sound recordings not owned by it or which have not been placed in its repertoire by lawful proprietary assignments or by means of any reciprocal representative agreements lawfully entered.
Ms Wash-Pam also emphasised that under no circumstances is MCSN or any of its agents legally authorised to represent COSON or any of the thousands of members COSON or lawfully license the use of any of the millions of musical works and sound recordings in the repertoire of COSON as non of the works whether here or international are intellectual property belonging to individual has been assigned to MCSN.
Wash-pam was equally emphatic that not even the Nigerian copyright commission has the power under any law known in Nigeria to authorise MCSNvor anyone else to license the musical works and sound recordings lawfully assigned to COSON or placed in the COSON repertoire by means of any reciprocal representation agreement.
From the foregoing, it does appear the Nigerian music industry maybe in a limbo as both COSON and NCSN have artistes registered with them separately. Representation by the CMO requires that artiste is registered with a CMO, thus granting the CMO powers to act on its behalf they operate using a fee schedule, for instance blanket licenses which allows user to make use of the entire contents represented by the CMO for a prescribed period.
However, the NCC has been empowered by Nigerian copyright Act (NCA) 2004 to grant licenses to CMO to operate and act on behalf of copyright owners. By the current development, only MCSN has the blessing of NCC to act as Nigerian sole CMO but the bottom line in the development and the contention of COSON is that MCSN cannot represent artistes registered with them.
Popular businessman and socialite, Pascal Okechukwu, aka Cubana Chief Priest, has said that his relationship with singer Davido is beyond money and gossip.
He stated this in a recent interview with BBC Igbo.
“Davido is my friend. He is my in-law; he married Chioma who is from Imo State where I hail from.
“So the relationship I have with Davido is beyond money and gossip,” he said.
DAILY POST reports that Chief Priest disclosed via his Instagram page that his outfit for the wedding of the singer, Davido and his wife, Chioma, in Lagos on Tuesday cost seven million Naira.
The socialite recently appreciated Davido for not “discarding” Chioma.
He stated that the DMW boss has made Imo State proud by choosing to marry from the state.
Nigerian singer Simisola Kosoko, popularly known as Simi, has lent her voice to the ongoing anti-tax hike protests in Kenya.
The Tide’s source reports that Kenyan youths are marching against tax hike in widespread demonstrations tagged ‘RejectFinanceBill2024.’
Five people were shot dead and dozens wounded after police clashed with protesters who stormed the parliament building in Nairobi on Tuesday, according to Amnesty Kenya.
Reacting via her X handle on Tuesday night, Simi declared her support for the demonstrators.
She stated that “it is both powerful and heartbreaking for a people to have to fight and die for freedoms and rights.”
The singer wrote, “I stand with the people of Kenya. It is both powerful and heartbreaking for a people to have to fight and die for freedoms and rights. Godspeed and Strength. [Hash tag] RejectFinanceBill2024.”
In a series of other posts, she wrote: “Wow. When you’ve had enough, the fight is almost inevitable.
“African leaders- have not you done enough?
“I can’t wait for the day Africa is not a weapon fashioned against Africans. All of this amazing Black power and human resource, but the majority are not likely to thrive unless they run.”
Famous Nigerian Afrobeat singer, Davido was spotted among other top artistes at Asake’s ‘Lungu Boy’ tour concert in Atlanta, Georgia.
Asake’s performance at his sold-out show at the 17,000-capacity State Farm Arena in Atlanta began on August 16, 2024, and is set to run for 10 days.
In a trending video on social media, Davido appeared backstage with American rapper Quavo to support Asake during the live performance.
Other musicians in attendance included Nigerian hitmaker Zlatan and American rapper Russ Millions.
The Tide’s source reports that Asake’s ‘Lungu Boy’ tour is set to cover six U.S. cities, where he will headline notable venues including Madison Square Garden in New York, the Toyota Center in Houston, and the State Farm Arena in Atlanta.
Asake’s tour comes just days after the release of his latest hit, ‘Lungu Boy,’ which features several superstars, including Wizkid, British rappers Central Cee and Stormzy, Travis Scott and Brazilian singer Ludmilla.
‘Lungu Boy’ set a new record for the biggest opening week on Spotify Nigeria, garnering 18.9 million streams in its opening week and breaking the previous record of 14.4 million streams held by Davido’s ‘Timeless.’
