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Tag: BON

  • Fati Zanna gets two BON nominations

    Fati Zanna gets two BON nominations

    FATI Zanna, a northern Nollywood actress, has been nominated in two categories for the 2014 BON Awards.

    “I feel great and excited. It makes me realise that I am doing the right thing and I should go ahead,” an excited Zanna said.

    The graduate of University of Jos, who hails from Borno State and lives in Abuja, has featured in over 30 movies and produced about eight movie, including:  One more man & return of One more man, Honest Deceiver, Real Wives, Waiting For The Sun and Our Differences, among others.

    Talking about her love for movie production, she said: “I like being the producer because I am the boss in charge of the production and I love acting because that is where I express myself better, in terms of art.”

    Zanna got married to John Ehua Lawrence, a Nigerian-based footballer two years ago.

  • BON plans 2-in-1 party for Jide Kosoko

    BON plans 2-in-1 party for Jide Kosoko

    Barely a week after top Nollywood actor, producer and director, Prince Jide Kosoko, marked his 60th birthday with a family prayer and dedication service at his Ipaja, Lagos home, the organizers of Best of Nollywood (BON) awards have rolled out plans to celebrate him at a two-in-one party.

    According to the organizers, Obi Asika, CEO of Storm 360, will deliver a lecture titled: “Nollywood, a paradigm shift to excellence and global market” on Thursday, January 29, at Eagles Park Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos, during the first leg of the grand event.

    Other panelists include Desmond Elliot, Fidelis Duker, Tunde Kelani and Wemimo Ogunde.

    The second day of the event, according to the organizers, will hold on Friday, January 30, at Troy Lounge Ogba, Ikeja, Lagos.

    It will be recalled that the BON management in 2013 hosted the Fuji House of Commotion star, Ngozi Nwosu to a 3-in-1 party.

     

  • EbonyLife TV goes fully local

    EbonyLife TV goes fully local

    AS if charged by National Broadcasting Commission (NBC)’s renewed fight at ensuring that broadcast stations comply with its 80 percent local content, EbonyLife TV, has announced the commencement of its much awaited 100 percent homegrown entertainment programming.

    NBC, in a public statement yesterday, pronounced 80 percent local content for members of Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BON) and Independent Broadcasters Association of Nigeria (IBAN), who had threatened to boycott songs belonging to members of Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON) over royalty tussle.

    But EbonyLife has always promoted itself as Africa’s first Global Black Entertainment Network, and its readiness to go fully local, brings a closure to the number of hours the channel had hitherto dedicated to the broadcast of acquired western content.

    “This development is in being consistent with the channel’s vision, which is to be the preferred global network for premium African entertainment through the creation and broadcast of original, homegrown and premium content.” Mo Abudu, founder of the Channel said in a statement.

    She disclosed that “In addition to the channel going 100 percent homegrown, a brand new, must-see drama will be showing on the channel every new week. This means viewers can sit back, relax and continue to enjoy all the great “Global Black” entertainment shows they have come to love on the channel while bracing up for new, non-stop and refreshing drama series, enthralling sitcoms, engaging pan-Africa talk shows, fresh outstanding home-grown reality shows, musical video chart show countdowns and many more.”

  • COSON/BON/IBAN conflict will end soon, says Okoroji                             

    COSON/BON/IBAN conflict will end soon, says Okoroji                             

    Following messy disagreement over music royalty collection in Nigeria,

    Chairman of Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON), Chief Tony Okoroji, has announced that a scheme has been worked out which should end the recent conflict between his society and the duo of Broadcasting Organization of Nigeria (BON) and Independent Broadcasting Association of Nigeria (IBAN).

    The leadership of BON and IBAN, in November last year, outlawed the airing of songs belonging to members of COSON by its members.

    The broadcasting agencies had described as arbitrary, COSON’s method of charging broadcast stations for the use of songs.

    Many had expressed concern over the possibility of the BON/IBAN decisions, as a huge number of popular and trendy songs were linked to members of COSON.

    “I am happy to announce that we are now in a position to bring to an end the dispute between COSON on the one hand and Broadcasting Organization of Nigeria (BON) and independent Broadcasting Association of Nigeria (IBAN) on the other,” said Okoroji, in a new year message, made available to the media and music industry practitioners.

    “Any moment from now, I expect the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to announce a framework, which if fully implemented, will bring an end to the era of the ban of the broadcast of the music of Nigeria’s best artistes on our nation’s airwaves.”

    In the statement titled ‘2014 – A Year of Unprecedented Boom for the Nigerian Music Industry’, Okoroji described 2013 as a watershed year for the music industry in Nigeria. According to him, “We finally began a much needed and much postponed open conversation with the Nigerian broadcasting industry. Fierce as the engagement may have seemed, I believe that it was absolutely necessary and a lot of lessons have been learnt as a result.  Both the music and broadcasting industries in Nigeria will be better for it over the long run.”

  • When celebs reaped the fruits of their labour…

    When celebs reaped the fruits of their labour…

    REWARD systems are part of showbiz. The Nigerian entertainment industry has witnessed some very glamorous awards this year. This includes AMAA, AMVCA AFRIFF, BON and The Headies, among others.

    AMAA: The African Movie Academy Awards, a pan-African reward system, is one of the most glamorous awards in the Nigerian entertainment industry.

    The 2013 African Movie Academy Awards took place in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State on Saturday, April 20. It was a well-attended event. At the awards ceremony, a Nigerian movie, Confusion Na Wa clinched the prize for the Best Film.

    The late Justus Esiri was honoured with the post-humous award for the Best Actor in a leading role, while Gabriel Afolayan received the Supporting Actor award.

    At the nomination party, actors and filmmakers had the rare opportunity of being hosted by Her Excellency, President Joyce Banda, in Lilongwe, Malawi. The nominees were announced to a cross section of African dignitaries and filmmakers from around the world.

    AFRIFF: This year’s edition of Africa International Film Festival, AFRIFF, which held in Calabar, Cross River State, will go down in history as one of the very important film festivals that have helped to redefine the place of Africa in the world of film-making.

    Over 50 filmmakers from seven countries of the world as well as over 200 local filmmakers and stakeholders attended the awards ceremony.

    Unlike the previous editions, this year’s awards ceremony had all the trappings of a high-profile film festival. While it lasted, Tinapa Resort, venue of the three-year-old festival, was a beehive of activities, including training, workshops, film screenings, interactive sessions and networking.

    Part of the highlights of this year’s AFRIFF was the screening of South Africa’s controversial film, Of Good Report, which was banned from the opening of the Durban Film Festival a few months back.

    The film, which was produced by Luzuko Dilima and Jahmil X.T. Qubeka, opened the festival, amidst some controversies.

    AMVCA: The first edition of the Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards took place on Saturday, March 9, at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.

    Nollywood actor, O.C Ukeje, and Ghana’s Jackie Appiah walked away with the Best Actor and Best Actress awards, respectively.

    Though new in the annals of Nollywood awards, it was well-attended by topflight actors and actresses.

    Mercy Johnson, Genevieve Nnaji, Jim Iyke, Funke Akindele, Tunde Kelani, Jackie Appiah, Olu Jacobs, O.C. Ukeje, Liz Benson, Akin Omotosho, Stephanie Okereke, Rita Dominic, Nadia Buari and more graced the event.

    Artistes that performed at the event hosted by IK Osakioduwa and Vimbai Mutinhiri included Femi Kuti, Iyanya, Banky W., Tiwa Savage and Sautisol from Kenya.

    BON: The 2013 Best of Nollywood Awards took place on Thursday, December 5, at the Dome in Asaba, Delta.

    Some of the winners were Fathia Balogun, Omoni Oboli, Rita Dominic, O.C Ukeje and Alex Ekubo.

    Confusion Na Wa won BON’s Movie of the Year and Director of the Year awards respectively, among others.

  • Omoni Oboli, OC Ukeje steal the show at BON awards

    Omoni Oboli, OC Ukeje steal the show at BON awards

    THE fifth edition of the Best of Nollywood, BON, may have come and gone, but it lingers in the memory and minds of the organisers as well as the guests of the occasion.

    Like in previous editions, the event, which was held in Asaba, the capital of Delta State, was organised to reward acting talents whose sweats had placed the Nigerian movie industry, otherwise known as Nollywood, on the global map.

    Welcoming guests to the BON Awards, convener of the rewards system, Seun Oloketuyi, stated that the success story of the Nigerian movie industry is due majorly to the sheer ingenuity and foresight of the Nollywood stars.

    “From scratch and nothingness, some of the people here today have turned Nollywood into a multibillion-naira business employing hundreds of thousands of Nigerians, while bringing joy to many homes and playing an important role in shaping the social and economic development of this country,” said Oloketuyi.

    Among the winners of the BON Awards are O.C Ukeje (Best Actor in a leading role in an English movie, Alan Poza); Omoni Oboli (Best Actress in a leading role in an English movie, Brother’s Keeper); Mike Ezuruoyen (Best Actor in a Leading Role in a Yoruba movie, Unforgivable); Joke Muyiwa (Best Actress in a Leading Role in a Yoruba movie, Ayitale); Alex Ekubo (Best Actor in a Supporting Role in an English movie, Weekend Getaway); Rita Dominic (Best Actress in a Supporting Role in an English movie, Finding Mercy); Odunlade Adekola (Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Yoruba movie, Aja); Fathia Balogun (Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Yoruba movie, Irugbin) as well as Oyinda Lanpejo (Best Child Actor, female in Finding Mercy), among others.

    Oloketuyi further said that “The journey here has not been entirely hitch-free. Indeed, we are like a newborn baby who has had to go through the whole process of growing up, from crawling to taking the first tentative steps and actually walking.”

  • Reps to investigate telecom operators

    Reps to investigate telecom operators

    The House of Representatives on Thursday mandated its Committee on Communications to investigate alleged unwholesome practices by telecommunication operators in Nigeria.

    The committee is expected to submit its findings within four weeks.

    The resolution is sequel to a motion jointly sponsored by Eddie Mbadiwe (PDP-Imo) and Frank Enokorogha (PDP-Delta) and adopted without debate.

    According to Mbadiwe, the companies have raked in millions of naira as innocent citizens who have not subscribed to some of their sales promotions are being charged without authorization.

    He said the companies had also refused such citizens credit refunds when demanded.

    Mbadiwe said if the trend was not checked, Nigerians would continue to lose their hard earned money without hope of any redress.

    The House also mandated its Committee on Information to intervene in the rift between the Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON), the Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON) and Independent Broadcasting Association of Nigeria (IBAN).

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the committee is expected to report its findings to the House within one month.

     

     

     

  • Kevin Lucciano urges BON to tread softly

    Kevin Lucciano urges BON to tread softly

    THE Interim President of PMAN (Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria), Kevin Lucciano, has urged BON to tread softly after it finally stopped playing songs of musicians who belong to COSON on radio following allegations against the latter on its unethical approach to royalty collections from radio stations.

    Lucciano said “as the only recognised association in Nigeria established to promote, preserve and protect the interests of Nigerian music and musicians, and which we have been doing since we were established in 1982 and registered in 1984, I see no reason why BON should want to kill the chicken that lays its golden eggs. Musicians provide radio stations contents, BON should have deemed it fit to allow us to mediate in the issue as their association. BON cannot stop a musician from belonging to COSON or any other collective society

    He, however, promised to make right PMANs years of dormancy and inactivity from the Nigerian music industry and strengthen the industry by positioning Nigerian music as a viable product with a global appeal. “This would ensure propagating the industry to the rest of the world by inevitably showcasing the values and cultural intonation of the industry to the world at large. Our slogan, “No Music, No life”, depicts the fact that it is impossible to function without music. This is evident in the fact that all sectors of the economy have affiliations with the music industry directly or indirectly.

    He assured stakeholders at the new PMAN office recently that the new mission of the music body will strive to promote member welfare, policy advocacy and management, community service, grants, support and empowerment for industry practitioners, music education and advancement through technology.

    “With a unified front, driven by the new federal mandate as authorised by the Federal Ministry of Culture, Trade Union and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), we are geared to move in a new direction that will allow us to meet up with the offerings of international music councils, while keeping the founding values of the union, prominent in the new vision and mission”, he said.

  • Why BON can’t shun Nigerian songs, by label boss

    Why BON can’t shun Nigerian songs, by label boss

    The tussle between the Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON) and some broadcast stations in the country has continued to expand its ripples, with the leadership of Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON) as latest antagonist. BON had threatened that its affiliate stations may be asked to refrain from playing music by Nigerian artistes, if the former does not relax its harsh method of demanding payment for songs used by broadcast stations.

    A BON jingle on Raypower FM decries what it describes as COSON’s monopoly in the Collective Management Organisation (CMO), asking that government should allow other societies to exist and give artistes alternatives on which agencies should manage their copyright. The jingle accused the government approved sole collecting society of using arbitrary method to collect fees from broadcast stations.

    The campaign began weeks after COSON filed a N10 billion copyright infringement action against DAAR Communications Plc, owners of Ray Power FM, Faaji FM and Africa Independent Television (AIT).

    The society had earlier achieving compliance from Dstv, Cool FM and Eko Hotel among others, for the use of music belonging to artistes under its repertoire.

    Chairman of COSON, Chief Tony Okoroji maintains that, nothing about his society’s method was arbitrary. He said COSON has demonstrated a clear willingness to negotiate with broadcast outfits and engender a relationship based on mutual respect and cooperation.

    According to Okoroji, some broadcast stations “consider the very idea of COSON unsavory and the polite request of compliance to payment for a license, a legal pre-requisite for operation and international standard practice, an affront.”

    Music promoter, Efe Omorogbe who dared BON to carry out its threat said the thought of pulling out Nigerian music from the electronic media is an empty albeit unpatriotic one. “BON is clearly aware that it is impracticable and I would love to see them execute it.”

    Undeterred, Omorogbe, a member of COSON described the threat as a desperate attempt at divide and conquer, recounting on a similar experience. “Before COSON settled out of court with Globe Broadcasting & Communications Ltd. and Steam Broadcasting & Communications Ltd., owners of Wazobia FM and Cool FM, a similar strategy was tested and a few guys on our side of the divide hurriedly jumped ship for almighty promo. One year plus down the road, the reward for their “loyalty” hasn’t translated much as far as I can see. I stand to be corrected but these guys are neither in the top bracket of highest earners in terms of performance fees nor are they the ones who got the biggest endorsement deals. All they have got is some “complimentary” rotation and the ignominy of being the ones who betrayed their industry at a crucial time in its evolution and growth.”

    He noted that while COSON sees music as an intellectual property, the commercial exploitation of which should be duly compensated, BON on the other hand is probably of the view that Nigerian music is something we plug in primarily to “help” promote artistes.

    He said contrary to the allegation that COSON is arbitrary in its approach; the society is simply following a global standard in tariff and format.

    Omorogbe, who gave reasons for why it would be difficult for BON to pull out Nigerian music from Nigerian airwaves, pointed out that the 2013 Nigerian is not particularly big on foreign music.

    “The NBC insists on a minimum required percentage of local content for these guys to even retain their broadcast licenses. If for some reason, they succeed in the criminally unpatriotic bid to pull out Nigerian music off our airwaves, what will they replace it with; foreign music? Most of that is controlled by PRS, SAMRO etc, all represented in Nigeria by the same COSON – back to square one.” He stated.