Piracy: COSON gives Alaba marketers 30 days

By Tade Makinde

Top Nigerian artistes, music producers, managers and key investors in the Nigerian music industry, were part of the Select Stakeholders Forum organized by the Nigerian Music Industry Coalition that took place in Lagos recently.

According to the organizers, the forum was to further build synergy in the industry, create an environment for cross fertilization of ideas and generate clear vision for the future as concerted efforts are made to ensure that the music industry becomes more united and profitable for all.

MI, African China, Eldee De Don, 2ush, Dr. Stretch, Djinee and Obiwon, DJ Jimmy Jatt, Kenny Saint Brown, Adewale Ayuba, Laolu Akins, Gloria Rhodes, Feladay, Eppi Fanio and Fatai Rolling Dollar, Kenny Ogungbe of Kennis Music; Solomon Arueye of Westside Music and Kelvin Luciano of Question Mark Entertainment.,were at the event. Several entertainment industry lawyers were also present.

The discussions were moderated by Chief Tony Okoroji, Mr Efe Omorogbe and Mr. Laolu Akins. The highlight of the forum was the decision that November be dedicated by thestakeholders to finally confront the huge piracy problem at Alaba International Market. Consequent upon that, it was resolved that Governor Babatunde Fashola be reminded to intervene and deal with the Alaba market crisis. The forum also cautioned all artistes who may have in any way encouraged pirates to include their works in illegal compilations in the past to desist from the obnoxious behaviour henceforth.

The Coalition is made up of Performing Musicians Employers Association of Nigeria (PMAN), Nigerian Association of Recording Industries (NARI), Association of Music Business Professionals (AM.B-Pro), Music Label Owners & Recording Industries Association of Nigeria (MORAN), Music Label Owners Association of Nigeria (MULOAN), Gramophone Records & Cassette Dealers (AGRECD), Music Advertisers Association of Nigeria (MAAN), Audio /Video CD Sellers Association of Nigeria (AVCDSAN) and Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON).

Meanwhile, a spokesman of MCSN,has querried the involvement of other associations in royalty collections as they are not the original owners of creative works. According to him, those behind COSON are mere opportunists who want to encroach on the rights of musicians. ‘The aim of these guys is to take over the collection rights of established acts. especially foreign acts .

“PMAN will deliver”

Dele Abiodun, PMAN President THE Admiral Dele Abiodun-led PMAN has reiterated its support for MCSW, the only collective management organisation (CMO) that has a member of PMAN, Orits Wiliki on its board, just as it promised to diligently and prudently pursue projects initiated by PMAN and other stakeholders.

Following a meeting of its NEC recently, PMAN promised to cooperate with the NCC in efforts to ensure that music in Nigeria conforms with international standards, while Abiodun added that his regime was determined to curtail the incidence of piracy in the industry. However, how we plan to do this is known only to us. We won’t be violent about it, like others have done in the past, but engage music marketers and other stakeholders in constructive dialogue.

“I should be worried about piracy because my works and those of my colleagues are out there, but we won’t be rash in our actions”, he promised. On the controversy trailing the registration of Societies, PMAN insists it will only support and approve of any collective organisation that serves the best interest of Nigerian musicians and that gives adequate representation of PMAN on its board.

On the proposed inauguration of Frontliners, which has been postponed till November 11, 2009, the Adawa King said the project “is to draw our young acts to PMAN. Gone are the days when it was believed that PMAN was for old artistes only.

“We are extending warm hands to our hip-hoppers, R & B crooners, Afro Jazzists, highlifers, etc. This is a new PMAN with lots of promises. We can only get there with the support of everyone”, he pleaded.