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Tag: Tony Okoroji

  • COSON set to distribute royalties

    COSON set to distribute royalties

    FOR the forth time since it was licensed by the Nigerian Copyright Commission, (NCC), the Tony Okoroji-led Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON) will distributing royalties collected on behalf of its members.

    It will be recalled that the society has engaged in series of litigations in its bid to get users of intellectual properties, including broadcast stations, hotels and other public places to pay for the use of such works, with many still in defiance.

    Management of COSON has fixed Tuesday, December 16, 2014 for its Extra-Ordinary General Meeting (EGM), where the main agenda of the meeting is for members to pass a resolution to approve this year’s distribution of music copyright royalties after which distribution shall commence.

    The event is scheduled to take place at the Oranmiyan Hall, Lagos Airport Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos.

    Speaking on this year’s distribution, General Manager of COSON, Chinedu Chukwuji said, “At COSON, we remain committed to our cause to ensure that right owners are rewarded for their music exploited. In spite of the economic downturn, COSON continues to ensure that at the end of the day, right owners can smile.

    We want to assure all our members and affiliates that we would not rest on our oars until we get to the place of our dreams, which is a more vibrant and rewarding music industry where intellectual property is given the respect it deserves.”

    An excited COSON Board member, Azeezat Allen said, “I am always very proud to be a member of COSON. If I was told few years back that a system like this would work in Nigeria, I would have laughed my head off in mockery. But right before my eyes, not only do we have such a system in place, it is being run efficiently. Come December 16, COSON members can be sure of a good Christmas and end of year celebration. COSON is indeed working”.

    The annual distribution by COSON is in line with the society’s core mandate to license the use of music and to distribute royalties to right owners.

  • COSON tasks Okonjo Iweala on copyright levy scheme

    COSON tasks Okonjo Iweala on copyright levy scheme

    THE Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON) has called on the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, to activate the copyright Private Copy Levy scheme.

    In his address during the celebration of the annual No Music Day on Monday, September 1, the COSON chairman, Chief Tony Okoroji, called on the Minister to immediately and personally see to the Private Copy Levy Scheme, which has remained trapped in the Directorate of Fiscal Policy in her ministry for several months.

    “The Private Copy Levy Scheme, which for many years has been in operation in many countries around the world, including some in our sub region, is intended to provide the badly needed cushion for the stakeholders in the creative industry suffering from the unbridled copying and downloading of creative materials made possible by modern technology,” Okoroji said.

    Okoroji also called on President Goodluck Jonathan to direct the Bank of Industries (BOI), the Nigerian Export & Import Bank (NEXIM), the Federal Ministry of Trade & Investments and everyone connected with the Growth in Employment in States Fund (GEMS) and the Entertainment Industry Intervention Fund announced by President Jonathan three years ago to do what is necessary to make sure that the funds begin to have real impact on the industry, create the badly needed employment and reduce the restiveness in Nigeria.

    “We wish to state that both the Growth in Employment in States Fund (GEMS) and the Entertainment Industry Intervention Fund announced by President Goodluck Jonathan three years ago, which created so much initial buzz, have not been the catalysts they were intended to be,” said Chief Okoroji.

  • No music Day not binding on radio stations, says Okoroji

    No music Day not binding on radio stations, says Okoroji

    Music rent the air yesterday on several radio stations, despite request by the coalition of music industry stakeholders that music be suspended for just one hour.

    Tagged No Music Day, the group had expected radio stations to sympathise with artistes, whose intellectual rights have been trampled upon by copyright violators.

    The initiative, which started about six years ago, happens every September 1, during which broadcast stations are urged to refrain from playing music, but devote a significant period to the broadcast of interviews, debates, comments, discussions and other programmes related to the rights of artistes and creative people.

    This year, to ensure ease of compliance, the group had allotted only one hour ( from 9am to 10am)to the exercise.

    Contrary to expectation, most broadcast stations in Lagos had a field day, playing listeners’ favourite songs.

    The No Music Day phenomenon is not peculiar to Nigeria. Globally, the event, which is usually celebrated onNovember 21, was introduced by Bill Drummond, a South African-born Scottish artiste, musician, writer and record producer, to draw attention to the cheapening of music as an art form.

    According to Drummond, “I decided I needed a day I could set aside to listen to no music whatsoever… Instead, I would be thinking about what I wanted and what I didn’t want from music. Not to blindly – or should that be deafly – consume what was on offer; a day where I could develop ideas.”

    Against the backdrop of radio stations defying the request in Nigeria, the chairman of Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON), Chief Tony Okoroji, put it in perspective.

    “What we did was to ask them not to play music for a certain period, but to use the period to grant interviews and do commentaries and reports on the creative industries. We had several music industry people who were out this morning to different broadcast stations to be a part of those discussions and interviews. I listened to a number of them myself.”

    He, however, noted that there is nothing binding such stations to the day’s event. “We appeal to stations that are in solidarity with the industry and the challenges that the industry is going through. No one is compelled to be a part of it,” he said.

  • COSON lauds Ebenezer Obey

    COSON lauds Ebenezer Obey

    Following his appointment as Visiting Artiste/Emeritus Professor at the Department of English and Performing Arts, Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ago Iwoye, Ogun State, renowned Juju artiste Evangelist (Dr.) Ebenezer Obey-Fabiyi has been commended by the management of the Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON).

    Chairman of COSON, Chief Tony Okoroji, who was part of the team that witnessed the investiture, described the legendary singer as a gift to the music community in Africa and beyond. “I rejoice with my big brother and benefactor, Evangelist (Dr.) Ebenezer Obey-Fabiyi, on this great achievement. His works and contributions to the music industry in Nigeria and beyond have continued to distinguish him and I am certain that there is more to come for this great man. I have no doubt that the students and authorities of OOU will stand to gain richly from his wealth of knowledge and experience,” Okoroji said.

    Also, Chinedu Chukwuji, General Manager, COSON, commended the authorities of OOU for the opportunity given to the students to get hands-on experience from Ebenezer Obey, who is also the chairman of the COSON Advisory Council.

    At the event graced by a delegation from COSON, government officials, royal fathers and top personalities in the entertainment industry, an elated Obey assured the authorities of the institution that he would use his wealth of experience to enrich the Department.

    According to him, “I regard this as a great honour that I will hold dear to my heart as a development which I believe, by God’s grace, will enrich the Performing Arts endeavour of this noble institution of excellence in higher learning. I hereby humbly accept the offer. May I assure the University’s authorities that, as one of the legendary custodians of music in Africa and beyond, I promise to bring to bear my age-long experience in this industry for the maximum benefits of the students in particular and the University in general. I am making a commitment to be available to offer any help as may be deemed necessary and as may be possible. I will give this appointment the same commitment and dedication I have always given to my musical career and evangelism to make it a success story.”

     

  • COSON mourns Kefee

    COSON mourns Kefee

    The Board, members and management of the Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON) have expressed shock over the passing on of award-winning gospel singer, Keffi Obareki, aka Kefee.

    Reacting to the sad development, the chairman of COSON, Tony Okoroji, described the singer as a gift to the Nigerian music industry.

    “Her incredible talent, soaring voice and never-say-die spirit in a very difficult industry made her truly outstanding. Her song, Kokoroko, remains one of my favourite Nigerian recordings of the recent era. Kefee and I had a unique relationship. In difficult moments, she always sought my counsel. When she wanted to start her musical training in Los Angeles, she asked for my written recommendation, which I was so glad to do,” Okoroji said.

    Also, the General Manager of COSON, Chinedu Chukwuji, said: “I am yet to get over the shock I received following the news of Kefee’s passing on. I find it hard to believe how someone so young and vibrant can be here one day and is gone the next. She came around to the office only a few weeks ago, chatting and smiling. So, to hear this news now is so devastating. Kefee may have gone to be with the Lord, but her music keeps her alive in our hearts. She will be greatly missed.”

    Kefee Don Momoh( nee Obareki) passed on in the United States of America last Friday. Fondly referred to as the Branama Queen, Kefee came into the limelight with her hit track, Branama, in 2003. She was one of Nigeria’s most promising female music acts. Some of her hit songs include Kokoroko and Sapele Water, among others.

     

  • End in sight to COSON-BON-IBAN crisis –Tony Okoroji

    End in sight to COSON-BON-IBAN crisis –Tony Okoroji

    THE chairman of Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON), Chief Tony Okoroji, has said that the crisis rocking the music and broadcasting industries in Nigeria over the payment of the copyright royalties in the last quarter of 2013 may soon be over.

    While addressing some musicians at the COSON Headquarters in Lagos, Okoroji said that a lot of progress had been made in the negotiation to break the deadlock between COSON and the broadcasting industry.

    Okoroji, who had led the COSON team to the negotiations moderated by the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) with the support of the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC), said: “Not for one minute have we forgotten that we represent the music industry and that we must represent the industry forcefully. What we say or do will have far-reaching impacts on the music industry in Nigeria for years to come. On the other hand, we are citizens of Nigeria and must search for that which is best for our country over the long run. We do not want to kill the broadcast industry, but to work with it.

    “What erupted as a major crisis may, indeed, turn out to be the proverbial blessing in disguise for our country. For many years, Nigeria has run away from addressing this problem, which has frustrated many and driven important investments out of our nation. There are many who had given up, believing that this problem will never be solved. Finally, we are sitting on the same table with the broadcast industry and important issues that affect both our music and broadcast industries are being ironed out.”

    On the progress made in the on-going negotiations, he said: “Contrary to the propaganda in some quarters, COSON is and has always been open to negotiations. We are very responsible and sensitive to the challenges faced by users of music. We put all of that into considerations when negotiating copyright royalty fees. The case is not different with the broadcast industry. We are still involved in a series of negotiations and I am certain that at the end of the day, all parties involved will be satisfied that we have solved a huge problem that has bedevilled our country.

    It will be recalled that in 2013, COSON instituted back-to-back multi-million naira law suits against some of Nigeria’s biggest broadcast stations, including AIT, Ray Power, STV, Rhythm FM, Beat FM, Classic FM, Naija FM, Smooth FM, Brila FM, etc, with a threat to sue many more broadcast stations. In response, the Broadcasting Organizations of Nigeria (BON) and Independent Broadcasting Association of Nigeria (IBAN) had announced the suspension of the broadcast of the music of nearly all the topmost musicians in Nigeria, all of them members of COSON on radio and TV stations across Nigeria. This resulted in massive public outrage across the country followed by an all-out media war between the music and broadcast industries. It took a major public pronouncement by the NBC at the beginning of 2014, which set up the COSON/BON/IBAN/NBC/NCC Joint Committee, for tempers to abate and the on-going negotiations commenced.

  • 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.”

  • Music veterans honoured in Lagos

    Music veterans honoured in Lagos

    Some veteran Nigerian musicians were honoured in the early hours of Monday in Lagos, for their contributions to the development of Nigerian music.

    The awards, tagged: “The Headies Veterans’ Night, “held at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos were presented to Tony Okoroji, Sir Shina Peters, Laolu Akins, Stella Monye and Ras Kimono.

    Others were: Mike Okri, Adewale Ayuba and Victor Olaiya.

    Chief Dele Momodu, publisher of Ovation Magazine, Patrick Doyle, Femi Lasode, Edi Lawani and Grand Master Lee also won awards for their contributions to Nigerian Art.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the annual event organised by Smooth Promotions, was a celebration of evergreen Nigerian music rendered in contemporary genre platform by younger artists.

    The musical performances which brought back fond memories in the audience saw a pop artist, Jaywon opening the event with a rendition of late Fatai Rolling Dollars’ “Won Kere Si Number Wa, “ while Chidinma performed “Seun Rere’’ by late Christy Essien-Igbokwe.

    Dammy Krane performed Pasuma’s “Liga Liga Li,” Sean Tizzle rendered King Sunny Ade’s “Merciful God” Sound Sultan sang Majek Fashek’s “Send Down the Rain,” while Tosin Martins replicated Adewale Ayuba’s “Ijo Fuji.”

    NAN reports that the highlight of the infectious night was when some of the veteran musicians in attendance joined the younger artists in an impromptu duet.

    The electrifying moment saw Ayuba joining Martins on stage to perform, while Ras Kimono teamed up with Sound Sultan in performing his evergreen track, “Rumba Stylee.”

    Dr. Sid performed “Guitar Boy” by Sir Victor Uwaifo, while Teju Babyface cajoled Sir Shina Peters into performing “Shinamania” with him.

    Babyface repeated the same trick with Mike Okri, who also came onstage and performed the old track “Omoge.”

    Saxophonist, Mike Aremu, also leveraged the night’s tempo with his replication of Lagbaja’s “Cool Temper.”

    The organiser of the event, Ayo Animashaun, said the awards were in recognition of the veterans’ contributions to the development of the Nigeria music industry.