As the rift between Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BON) and Independent Broadcasters’ Association of Nigeria (IBAN) on one side, against the Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON) rages, the Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria (PMAN) has expressed disgust over the recent development spearheaded by the BON/IBAN via a press release on Thursday, thatcalled for the airplay ban of content from some musicians on all media platforms.
The music body has called for the immediate reversal of the ban in the interest of artistes.
Interim PMAN President, Kevin L. Gabriel, said the ban wss very unfair, demeaning and discouraging.
"We all know that these same artistes who have helped to build the Nigerian music industry, Africa’s biggest entertainment export to the world, are the same people that are now being victimised. With this action, PMAN foresees a situation where this ban will, rather than encourage those with musical talent to hone their craft and join the success story of the entertainment industry, reverse the case.
"We see a situation where the bulk of the material that will be circulated on Nigerian airwaves will be foreign materials, celebrating alien artistes instead of embracing home-grown talents and our cultural heritage".
He said COSON, in its own right by the mandate given it, acts as a collecting society for these artistes, helping to monitor and collect royalties entitled to them. “As a collecting society, they have acted as a shield to these artistes, protecting their intellectual rights.
“BON and IBAN are arguing that the tariffs and standards presented to them by COSON should be defended and agreeable with them, but we know that the ban is not the best invitation to the negotiating table.
"If this ban is sustained, and 80 per cent of the music played on the various media platforms are foreign material, and if these media houses are paying the royalties owed to these foreign artistes, thereby sidelining Nigerian music, we should ask if we are supporting or failing them”, he queried.
In light of this, PMAN demanded that the ban be reversed and that the affected parties and stakeholders in the industry sit down for a dialogue to reach a favourable agreement that will benefit all.
Few hours after the ban, expectedly, COSON members, 2 Face Idibia, 9ice, MI, Azeezat, Ill Bliss, Wunmi Obe, Dizzy K. Falola and representatives of Burna Boy, Sound Sultan, Dammy Krane, Sir Victor Uwaifo, Ice Prince, Sunny Neji, met at the Whitehouse Hotel, Ikeja, on Wednesday, to express outrage over the decision of BON and IBAN.
They urged authors, composers, songwriters, artistes, performers, publishers, record label executives, owners of sound recordings to ignore the IBAN email and that no right owner should send any message to the email provided by IBAN.
“No self-respecting right owner of the Nigerian music industry should sell his/her birth right by sending an email to BON or IBAN to request that they play his/her music”, they argued.
Efe Omorogbe of COSON said that a delegation of the music industry will soon meet with appropriate political office holders within the shortest possible time on the matter.
Before then though, a meeting will hold on Tuesday at Rumors Night Club in Ikeja, Lagos, by 10.00am.
The music body has called for the immediate reversal of the ban in the interest of artistes.
Interim PMAN President, Kevin L. Gabriel, said the ban wss very unfair, demeaning and discouraging.
"We all know that these same artistes who have helped to build the Nigerian music industry, Africa’s biggest entertainment export to the world, are the same people that are now being victimised. With this action, PMAN foresees a situation where this ban will, rather than encourage those with musical talent to hone their craft and join the success story of the entertainment industry, reverse the case.
"We see a situation where the bulk of the material that will be circulated on Nigerian airwaves will be foreign materials, celebrating alien artistes instead of embracing home-grown talents and our cultural heritage".
He said COSON, in its own right by the mandate given it, acts as a collecting society for these artistes, helping to monitor and collect royalties entitled to them. “As a collecting society, they have acted as a shield to these artistes, protecting their intellectual rights.
“BON and IBAN are arguing that the tariffs and standards presented to them by COSON should be defended and agreeable with them, but we know that the ban is not the best invitation to the negotiating table.
"If this ban is sustained, and 80 per cent of the music played on the various media platforms are foreign material, and if these media houses are paying the royalties owed to these foreign artistes, thereby sidelining Nigerian music, we should ask if we are supporting or failing them”, he queried.
In light of this, PMAN demanded that the ban be reversed and that the affected parties and stakeholders in the industry sit down for a dialogue to reach a favourable agreement that will benefit all.
Few hours after the ban, expectedly, COSON members, 2 Face Idibia, 9ice, MI, Azeezat, Ill Bliss, Wunmi Obe, Dizzy K. Falola and representatives of Burna Boy, Sound Sultan, Dammy Krane, Sir Victor Uwaifo, Ice Prince, Sunny Neji, met at the Whitehouse Hotel, Ikeja, on Wednesday, to express outrage over the decision of BON and IBAN.
They urged authors, composers, songwriters, artistes, performers, publishers, record label executives, owners of sound recordings to ignore the IBAN email and that no right owner should send any message to the email provided by IBAN.
“No self-respecting right owner of the Nigerian music industry should sell his/her birth right by sending an email to BON or IBAN to request that they play his/her music”, they argued.
Efe Omorogbe of COSON said that a delegation of the music industry will soon meet with appropriate political office holders within the shortest possible time on the matter.
Before then though, a meeting will hold on Tuesday at Rumors Night Club in Ikeja, Lagos, by 10.00am.
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