World Music Day: COSON wants more respect for Musicians

As the world celebrates World Music Day this June 21, 2013, Nigerians have been told to set aside the day to respect talented Nigerian musicians and their counterparts worldwide by recognizing that music like every other valuable product in the world is sacred.

 According to the Chairman, Copyright Society of Nigeria, Chief Tony Okoroji who is currently on international assignment, ‘everyone in Nigeria ought to come to terms with the fact that the music profession has become an important contributor to whatever respect Nigerians receive today across the world as our musicians continue to fly the flag of our nation high wherever they find themselves. Our country has to in turn ensure that the rights of our musicians are respected at home. It is our duty to make sure that the wanton abuse of the intellectual property of our creative geniuses in our country becomes a thing of the past and that our nation appropriately reaps the fruit of that ingenuity in continued investment and employment. Who knows from which family the next 2Face Idibia, Flavour or Banky W will come from?’

 Continuing, he added ‘we do not sleep at COSON because we see a bright future for the Nigerian nation, a future not driven by the scramble over oil revenue but the appropriate harnessing of the talents and skills that abound in Nigerians wherever they are found’

 Also speaking, GM/CEO, Copyright Society of Nigeria, Mr. Chinedu Chukwuji said music is property and as such the rights of its owners must be respected. According to him music should be accorded the same respect and regards anyone or organisation will give to another man’s property before venturing to use it arbitrarily.

He said "I cannot imagine life without music. Music has greatly enriched the human race in so many ways that I sometimes wonder, what life would be without music. As they say, “if the music is good let it play on” but let it also pay those who create it. Music is property and that is why it is called Intellectual Property. Its use therefore in any business, commercial or public space must be accorded the same respect you accord to a property you don’t own. I doff my hat for the great Nigerian musicians who despite the harsh economic realities of our time are keeping people all over the world dancing with our unique brand of music"

 Also known as Fête de la Musique, the celebration of the World Music Day started in France in June 21, 1982. It was a day set aside to organize a carnival that will have musicians from all over come together and play music for free. Ever since, the festival has become an international phenomenon, celebrated on the same day in more than 460 cities in 110 countries, including Germany, Italy, Egypt, Syria, Morocco, Australia, Vietnam, Congo, Cameroon, Mauritius, Fiji, Colombia, Chile, Nepal, and Japan.

 Its main purpose is to encourage amateur and professional musicians to perform in the streets. The slogan Faites de la musique (Make music), a homophone of Fête de la Musique, is used to promote this goal. It is also a day where many free concerts are organized, making all genres of music accessible to the public and according to its founders, all concerts must be free to the public, and all performers donate their time for free.