COSON to Distribute 2013 Copyright Royalties

Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON) will hold an extra-ordinary general meeting to approve the distribution of 2013 copyright royalties for artistes in the music industry, according to Chinedu Chukwuji, general manager,  COSON,

Chukwuji, said  that the main purpose of the meeting would enable members to pass a resolution to approve this year’s distribution of music copyright royalties.

Also top on the agenda of the meeting, according to the statement, are resolutions to tackle the recent dispute between COSON and the leadership of the Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BON) and the Independent Broadcasters Association of Nigeria (IBAN).

Chukwuji said that COSON had continued to live up to its mandate as the sole collecting management organisation (CMO) for music in Nigeria.

He said that COSON had not failed to give to the rightful owners in the music industry their deserved royalties.

According to him, COSON has continued to live up to its responsibilities to members of the society, in spite of the challenges encountered, while carrying out its duties.

“We are committed to our cause and assure all that as long as music is continually used in different quarters, members will continue to be paid their royalties,’’ he said.

Also in the statement, Chief Tony Okoroji, COSON chairman, said that the notion that music was not profitable in Nigeria could not be true.

“I have been told many times that the music can never pay in Nigeria.

“ But time and time again, COSON continues to prove to all that the music can pay and is indeed paying in Nigeria,’’ Okoroji said.

He said that Nigerian music had become a force to be reckoned with internationally, “so there is no reason why Nigerian artistes cannot be rewarded commensurately with the glory they bring to our nation”.

Okoroji said that the annual distribution of music royalties by COSON was in line with the society’s core mandate to license the use of music and to distribute royalties to members.

He said that COSON distributed N25 million and N100 million to Nigerian artistes in 2011 and 2012, respectively.