LOCOMOTION 5: WHY DO THEY WANT TO MAKE ME A HERO? – TONY OKOROJI

On the same day that the leadership of Association of Nollywood Core Producers (ANCOP) at Protea Hotel, GRA, Ikeja presented me with the ‘Nollywood Icon’ award for my work in the defence of the rights of creative people in Nigeria, another group of Nigerians under the aegis of Independent Broadcasting Association of Nigeria (IBAN) and Broadcasting Organization of Nigeria (BON) made history. On that day, IBAN and BON issued a statement banning from Nigerian airwaves the music of practically all the topmost music stars that our dear country has produced. To the best of my knowledge, this is the first time in the history of mankind that all the top music stars of any nation have been forbidden from being heard on the airwaves of their nation.

You may ask, ‘what big offence did Nigerian artistes commit to be banished in their land?’ The artistes are members of Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON), the organization approved by Nigeria’s Federal Government to ensure that all those who use music in a public or commercial setting obtain a licence and pay royalties to the creators of the work for such use. You may also ask, ‘is Nigeria the first country where broadcasting stations are asked to pay royalties for their musical content?’ Certainly, not!In practically every civilized nation, it is unheard of to deploy the intellectual property of anyone in a broadcast without a licence and/or compensation. In Nigeria, it is the law of the land. Indeed, Nigeria is signatory to many international conventions requiring that we offer such protection not only to our citizens but to citizens of other nations. By not doing so, we expose ourselves to diplomatic and economic sanctions.

In the IBAN/BON statement which is being broadcast repeatedly on several stations across the country, they have left the message and pounced on the messenger. If you are not informed, the way they repeat my name,you may think that I am a politician running for office or a preacher of the gospel. I am simply Chairman of COSON and with a bible in my hand, I swore to defend the rights of members of COSON and its affiliates around the world. I have tried to do the job I swore to do the best I can.  All I have asked of my brethren in the broadcast industry is to obey the law and give to the worker, his dues. It is clear they don’t want a conversation. They want a shouting match.

LOCOMOTION 4: 7 DAYS OF MADNESS! BY TONY OKOROJI

As the year tappers off and I have to deal with the unending threat of the Nigerian broadcast industry against Nigerian musicians and all the many matters that pile up at this time of the year, it is not difficult to forget that 2013 has been a watershed year in many ways. If I can forget anything, how do I forget those seven days of madness in Lagos in May called the COSON Week?

Having conceived the seven different events of the COSON Week and produced them, everyone would expect that I would be the best person to describe the week to anyone who was not there. Each time I have tried to describe the COSON Week however, words have failed me.

In 1989, with some colleagues, I started the celebrated Nigerian Music Awards. It was the biggest show in the land with very complex organizational demands. The NMA which was the forerunner to practically all the entertainment award events that take place in most of Africa today, has played host to Heads of State, Governors, Ministers, Ambassadors and stars from around the world.

With its unique themes and sub events such as the ‘Soul Flight’, the ‘Treasure Box’, the ‘Green Carpet’, the ‘Street Train’, ‘Dinner with the Stars’, the ‘African Breakfast Party’ etc., the intricate planning and execution required to faultlessly put together such an event tests every skill you have.

LOCOMOTION 3: ON THE WAY FROM ABEOKUTA - TONY OKOROJI

I am reliably informed that all roads led to Abeokuta, the beautiful capital city of Ogun State earlier this week as our kit and kin in the broadcast industry all dressed to finish headed to the Olumo rock city to show off their new attires and new rides. The big event was the General Assembly of the Broadcasting Organization of Nigeria (BON).

I do not belong to the broadcast industry but I have attended more General Assemblies of BON than I need. I was at the 41^st BON General Assembly which took place at Gateway TV Broadcasting Hall in the same Abeokuta on December 1, 2005. I remember that trip to Abeokuta in the company of the great highlife saxophonist, Chris Ajilo who is now 88 years old. Chris Ajilo was then General Manager of Performing & Mechanical Rights Society (PMRS). Also on the trip to Abeokuta was young ChineduChukwuji who had joined PMRS not long before with the big dreams of every young man. Our ‘driver’ on the way to Abeokuta was ace music producer and acclaimed drummer, Laolu Akinswho was my colleague on the Board of PMRS. Akins had driven us in his Toyota Camry, the most presentable car to be found among us at that time.

I remember Abeokuta in 2005 as if it was today because the same self-serving excuses that were made in 2005 are still being made today. In Abeokuta, there was a lot of back slapping and self-adulation, the kind that takes place whenever a group of Africans who believe that they have extricated themselves from the abject poverty in which the rest of their kin are gripped, get together.  There were several flowery speeches during which not a few people dosed off. 

LOCOMOTION 2: WHY DO THEY ALWAYS UNDERRATE US? - TONY OKOROJI

I attended the Super 7 edition of the Nigerian Music Video Awards (NMVA) organized by never-say-die CalyIkpe this last weekend. It was a really good show. As I came in, I was welcomed by a senior broadcast journalist, a friend of mine. Even before he had asked about the family, as I thought was the custom around here, he fired me with ‘‘why are ‘you people’ hammering BON relentlessly?’’ In BON, he obviously meant Broadcasting Organization of Nigeria and ‘you people’ I believe, refers to Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON) of which I am chairman.

I could not understand how COSONoperating from one modest building in Ikejacould be said to be hammering BON which has deployedmillions of naira in powerful transmitters of its member stations spread across Nigeria to threaten the music industry with the stoppage of the broadcast of Nigerian music on Nigerian airwaves. The broadcast is repeatedcountless times every day. I thought of asking my journalist friend if he had ever heard the phrase, self-defence. The conversation was lost in the heat of the commotion caused by Paparazzi flashing light bulbs in all directions and the countless new TV gossip columnists all demanding to talk to me, not because they really find me interesting in any way but because they are desperate for content to fill the endless airtime they have in their hands.

LOCOMOTION 1: SEE ME WAHALA! - TONY OKOROJI

I once wrote a small column for the Punch. I was a lot younger with a lot of fire in the belly. Despite the mad tussle with deadlines and the once in a while writers block, it was fun. I had very strong opinions and could not wait for people to hear them. Of course, when you are young, you think that you are the only one who has an opinion that counts. As you get older however, you begin to realize how stupid you have been. Everybody has an opinion and everybody thinks that their opinion counts.

A 29 year old American called Mark Elliot Zuckerberg found out how much everybody wants to express their opinion. As a result, Zuckerberg has become a billionaire several times over. On Zuckerberg’s Facebook, everybody is expressing their opinion to everybody whether they want to hear or not. Dirty linens are being washed with the whole world watching and the stinking water splashed around with complete abandon. Girls are stalking guys on Facebook and guys are enjoying being stalked. You can’t be on Facebook and not say something. It is like a huge Oyingbo market. So, everybody is talking, everybody is lying and everybody is posing. In the new world of Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and BBM, everybody is a publisher, everybody is an editor and everybody is a columnist. 

SHORT STORY - YOUR RIGHTS, YOUR LIFE (PART 2)

The air-conditioning in the reception area of MAKINDA, BURNES &Co was almost freezing, yet Anna broke into sweats as she sat nervously waiting to be called upon by the lady at the reception. She was scheduled to meet with John Makinda, Senior Partner at the law firm and a veteran attorney whose Elsie’s parents had referred her to. She was sure that with his pedigree, Makinda would be the right person to make Jusky pay for the wrong he had done her.

‘‘Madam, the boss will see you now’’ the young attractive attendant called out to her. “You may take the elevator to the 4th floor; the first office at the right is the one. He is expecting you”.

Anna muttered a thank you and hurried to catch the elevator.

‘‘Good afternoon Miss, may I call you Anna?” Asked Makinda as he rose to his feet to welcome her

‘’Yes please and thank you for agreeing to see me sir’’ Anna said

‘‘I will do nothing to offend my good friends who spoke to me about your case’’ Makinda replied with a smile. ‘Please sit down and tell me all about it’ 

SHORT STORY - Your Rights, Your Life

Listening to her new single banging away in the crowded club, Anna couldn’t help the feeling of pride wash through her. ‘My big break may be here’, she thought to herself as she watched the fairly large group of people on the dance floor gyrate to the rhythm of her song which was fast becoming a hit. Just recently she was mentioned as one of the upcoming acts to watch out for on the biggest radio station in the country.

“Ladies and gentlemen”, a voice blared from the speakers as the music lowered in the background, “Welcome on stage, the hot and sexy, Nalyyyyyaaaaaaaa!!!!!”

Nalya was her stage name. The crowd went into frenzy as Anna took to the microphone to perform another of her new single. Although the song was freshly out of the studio, not one person stood still all through her performance, even the bartenders were not left out, everyone screamed and danced as Anna did her thing. “This could be it, please God let this be it”, Anna silently prayed while she went on thrilling the crowd. As she went back to her seat by the bar stand, chants of Nalya, Nalya rented the air and Anna knew deep down within her that she had scored a big one.

“Hi Nalya, that was a good one”, a deep voice resonated by her side, Anna turned round to find herself staring at the disarmingly handsome Jusky. Jusky was the owner of the biggest record label in the country; he was one of the most respected persons in the country too. Rumour had it that he was nursing a political ambition and many believed he will succeed if the time came. 

BASIC FACTS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT COPYRIGHT

Bola, a budding writer has just completed the manuscripts of her new novel, The Love Lane. Among the myriad of challenges she is facing in pushing her work to fame and fortune, Bola fears that her work can be ‘stolen’ and worries about what she can do to check that. She shared her fears with her childhood friend Chioma who advised her to ‘get the copyright’ for her work.

Lasleek on the other hand has been pursuing a successful career in music. One day while hanging out with his buddy, Tom, also an aspiring musician, Lasleek shared with him a piece of music he had playing in his head, certain it will be his launch pad to stardom. Tom fell in love with the song immediately and urged him. One weekend while listening to his favourite radio station, Lasleek heard the unmistakable voice of his best friend Tom performing the same song which he shared with him. Heartbroken, Lasleek headed straightaway to his lawyer’s house, confident he had a case against his longtime friend Tom but was in for a shocker when he found out he had none, because he had no proof of ownership of the said piece of music. 

COSON TABLE TENNIS BLOWOUT RELOADED

The games in the ongoing COSON ALL STARS TABLE TENNIS BLOWOUT, one of the seven events of the much publicized COSON week will be resuming at the Rowe Park Sports center on April 7. The games which have been reloaded and taking up a notch will see some of the qualifiers return to compete in the knock off matches.

The repackaged games will also be used as a launch pad to bring back the glory days of the one sport that has made Lagos state one the most popular sports destination cities in Africa.

According to COSON CEO and General Manager, Mr. Chinedu Chukwuji, the competition in the last two weeks has not only provided fun for many guests that thronged the Multi-purpose Hall of Teslim Balogun stadium in Surulere and Rowe Park Sports Center, Yaba, but also created time for exercise and work out sessions for the stars that participated.

THE COSON WEEK

Today, February 19 is exactly 3 months from the unfolding of the BIIIGGGG spectacle.
The COSON Week (May 19-25); 7 days, 7 momentous events.
Get ready Nigeria!!!!

STOP THE ABUSE

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