Musicians Falz, Ruggedman and other stakeholders in the music industry have petitioned users and chief marketing officers (CMOs) within and outside Nigeria to freeze payment of licensing fees to the Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON) pending resolution of the crisis rocking the group.
In a statement signed by Ruggedman, for music stakeholders, other content owners joining in the petition are Mavin Records of Don Jazzy,
2face Idibia’s Hypertek, Naija Ninja of Sound Sultan, Square Records of defunct P-Square, Sunny Neji’s Impakt Records, Northside of Jude Okoye,
Banky W’s EME.
Others are Maga Music, Premier Music, Ivory Music, Black Diamond, Alapomeji, Gospel Choral, G & A, Doc Da Mic, Grafton, The BAIL, Maleke, Cabal, 960 Music and Chocolate City.
Since the December 19, 2017, purported reinstatement of the sacked chairman of the management board of COSON, Tony Okoroji, due to alleged financial and administrative infractions, the society has been embroiled in damaging controversy, lawsuits, suspension of its operating license by the Nigeria Copyright Commission (NCC) and freezing of its accounts.
Okoroji and some key staff members of COSON are currently facing criminal prosecution brought against them by the NCC.
Following the appointment of a new Director General at the NCC and the expiration of the suspended COSON license, some of the stakeholders believe there is a window of opportunity for resolution.
They have now written to the NCC to demand a forensic audit of the account and operations of COSON under Okoroji’s tenure without further delay.
The rights owners say they are committed to working with the regulator and other well-meaning stakeholders to establish efficiency, corporate governance and transparency in royalty distribution and reporting.
