It was another milestone celebration at the Corporate Headquarters of Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON) recently as the nation’s sole government approved collective management organization for music and sound recordings celebrated the landmark reciprocal representation agreement just signed between them and the United Kingdom based PRS for Music, probably the most respected CMO in the world.
The agreement formalizes
the mandate to COSON to manage in Nigeria the extensive repertoire of world
music controlled by PRS for Music while PRS for Music will ensure the collection
of royalties on behalf of COSON, its members and affiliates for the use of
Nigerian music in the UK and other territories where PRS operates directly or
true its affiliates.
The details of the
agreement negotiated over a period of two years were concluded during a recent
visit to London by COSON Chairman, Chief Tony Okoroji who is elated by this
watershed development and popped a few bottles of Champagne with COSON General
Manager, Mr Chinedu Chukwuji to mark the occasion.
Reacting to the
development, Chief Okoroji said ‘’the signing of the agreement between COSON
and PRS for Music is proof that the world has taken notice of the significant
progress COSON has made with respect to the collective management of copyright
in Nigeria. Nigerian artistes can now feel confident to churn out world hits
knowing that wherever in the world their music is utilized, there is a
worldwide network heavily protecting their interests’’
Also highly elated Mr.
Efe Omorogbe, CEO Nowmusik and manager of several top Nigerian artistes such as
2Face Idibia, Timi Dakolo, J. Martins, Seyi Shay, Sunny Neji, Dammy Krane,
Tunde & WunmiObe, etc said, ‘’This is wonderful! Many boasted that it could
not be done. Now, it is done. Anyone who may have been trying a divide and rule
tactics to thwart COSON must now come to the conclusion that the game is up.
Let the music pay!’’
An ecstatic COSON
General Manager, Mr. Chukwuji, who could not hide his joy said, ‘’My-o-my! This
is an incredible development and an indication that it can only get better with
collective management of copyright in Nigeria. Nobody can ask me again, ‘who
controls the PRS repertoire in Nigeria?’ COSON does, FULLSTOP!’’
Besides the recent
agreement signed on behalf of PRS for Music by Ms. Kareen Buse, Managing
Director, PRS for Music International and Chief Tony Okoroji, COSON has also
signed reciprocal representation agreements with several other CMOs in
different parts of the world and today possesses the fastest growing global collective management network in Africa.
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