COSON AGM IN PICTURES

SINGING AND DANCING IN LAGOS AS COSON DISTRIBUTES MILLIONS TO MUSICIANS

Members performing at the AGM event

The premises of the National Theatre in Lagos wore a festive look on Tuesday, December 13 as musicians of all shades and key players in the music industry came from different corners of the country for the 1st Annual General Meeting of Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON), the nation’s sole approved collective management organization for musical works and sound recordings.

Among the array of stars present at the venue were octogenarian musicians Chris Ajilo, Emmanuel Ntia and Fatai Rolling Dollar and Nigeria’s biggest reggae stars of all times, Majek Fashek, Ras Kimono, Black O’ Rice, etc. There were the likes of  Zule Zoo, Baba Dee, Daddy Fresh, Onyeka Onwenu, Stella Monye, Kenny Saint Brown, Azzizat, Arthquake, Frank D’ Nero, Adewale Ayuba, Tony Grey, etc. Industry big wigs such as Efe Omorogbe of Now Muzik, managers of Tuface Idibia, Sunny Neji, TWO, Timi Dakolo, etc was there. So was Sunday Are of Mohits All Stars who manages D’ Banj, Wande Cole, Dr. Sid, etc. There was also renowned drummer, and producer Laolu Akins; Charles Novia of November Records; Toju Ejueyitchie of Premier Records; Joel Ajavi of Gospel Choral Records, John Ewelukwa Udegbunam, National President of MORAN and former President of Gospel Musicians Association of Nigeria (GOMAN), Rev. Shola Rotimi who flew in from the United States. Former PMAN Secretary-General Okuoimose Emmanuel Okuoimose was there while the Director-General, Nigerian Copyright Commission, Mr. Afam Ezekude was represented by three of his top officials led by Mr. Chris Nkwocha.     

COSON Directors and members at the high table

In his more than 30 minutes speech which received intermittent applause and a standing ovation at the end, COSON Chairman, Chief Tony Okoroji traced the multiple successes of COSON in its short period of existence. In the words of Chief Okoroji, “I was told that COSON would never be registered by the government and indeed significant steps were taken to block the registration of COSON. Copyright Society of Nigeria Ltd/Gte (COSON) was on December 9, 2009 registered by the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) in Abuja. I was told that COSON would never be approved as a CMO. Indeed, a huge amount of money was spread around to ensure that COSON was not approved. On May 20, 2010, COSON was given the certificate of approval by the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) to be Nigeria’s sole government licensed collective management organization for musical works and sound recordings. I was told that COSON would never be admitted into the membership of the International Confederation of Authors Societies (CISAC).  Indeed a significant international campaign was mounted to stop COSON from being so admitted. On June 24, 2011, news came from Paris, France that COSON had been admitted to the membership of CISAC.

A Cross section of members at the AGM

“Today, the wings of COSON are spreading fast across the globe and our activities are being significantly supported by our partners in Geneva where the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) has its headquarters; in Oslo where the Norwegian Copyright Development Association (NORCODE) operates from; in Harare where the African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO) has its headquarters and across many nations in every continent of the world where CISAC has member societies”. 

Chief Okoroji said that it has since been a period of indescribable wall to wall activity fueled by unquenchable self belief and that COSON has become the affirmation of two maxims: where there is a will, there is a way and together we stand, divided we fall. Said Okoroji, “I can say with deep conviction that in the east, west, north and south of Nigeria today, among the young, old or middle aged in our industry, COSON has become a game changer as artistes across the country have become inspired by the COSON slogan, “Let the music pay!”

The highlight of the meeting was the announcement by Chief Okoroji that in keeping with the promise earlier made by the Board, the sum of N25,720,588.20 (Twenty Five Million, Seven Hundred and Twenty Thousand, Five Hundred Eighty Eight Naira, Twenty Kobo) was available for immediate distribution to all members of COSON whose names can be found on the society’s register as at May 19, 2011, if so approved by the AGM. The scheme was indeed approved by the members and the distribution started at the venue amidst singing, dancing and jubilation as hundreds of musicians stood in line, collected their royalties peacefully and thanked the Almighty for witnessing the day when such could happen in Nigeria.

Also at the AGM was Mr. Chinedu Angus Chukwuji, COSON’s Acting General Manager, who had just arrived the country from a five month overseas study programme. Also present was Ms. Bernice Eriemeghe, COSON’s Head of Finance & Administration who acted on behalf of Mr. Chukwuji in his absence.  Several artistes performed at the event which ended like a carnival.

SAVE INTERVENTION FUND, OKOROJI TELLS JONATHAN

President Goodluck Jonathan

COSON Chairman, Chief Tony Okoroji

Chairman, Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON), Chief Tony Okoroji has made a 0passionate plea to President Goodluck Jonathan to take urgent steps to save the Entertainment Industry Intervention Fund which the President announced last year with so much fanfare. Chief Okoroji who presented the Lead Paper at the Colloquium of the National Festival of Arts & Culture (NAFEST) on Wednesday, October 26 at the Cultural Centre Complex in Calabar held the packed audience, made up of senators, commissioners, permanent secretaries and culture administrators from all the states of the federation, spell bound for close to 45 minutes.

Participants at NAFEST

Leading three other discussants from different Nigerian universities to x ray the theme of the colloquium, Nigerian Traditional Music: A Vehicle for Economic Transformation and Unity, Chief Okoroji, a former President of PMAN said, “Some of us participated in the discussions that led to the institution of the intervention fund, but suddenly, the falcon can no longer hear the falconer. I have been invited to a few meetings from which I have come out with the belief that those charged with administering the fund are not quite sure what they are supposed to do.

“I have very good reason to fear that eventually those who will access the fund are not those for which the fund was established and those who truly need the fund will never smell it. In the industry, there is growing disappointment and peculating conclusion that the intervention fund which created so much initial buzz is after all an election gimmick and money for the boys. No one else has the muscle to change that growing feeling than President Jonathan himself. He needs to personally and quickly intervene in the intervention fund before it becomes an albatross. He needs to give the marching orders to his team to take charge and ensure that the solemn promise he made to the entertainment community is kept”

In his paper, Chief Tony Okoroji, author of the book, Copyright & the New Millionaires and one of the nation’s foremost experts on intellectual property dwelt extensively on issues of intellectual property rights and collective management of rights in the digital age. He praised individual Nigerian musicians and producers for their hard work and enterprise which he says has now made Nigeria a significant force in world contemporary music. He argued however that to sustain this position and harness it to provide jobs for the teaming masses of the unemployed in Nigeria and contribute to national development, the nation needs to urgently articulate the way forward and provide the necessary institutional support that will drive private sector projects.   

Chief Okoroji disagreed with those who have derisively described what is now termed Naija hip pop as a poor imitation of the American hip-pop culture. He traced the development of the burgeoning popular music culture in Nigeria citing examples to conclude that the present day Nigerian popular music forms do not originate from America but have their roots in traditional Nigerian music. According to him, it is indeed American hip-pop culture which is traceable through Soul music, Blues and Jazz music to the Negro Spirituals taken from West Africa to America by the slaves uprooted from our shores. He declared that no one should be surprised by any similarity in the forms as they share the same ancestry and genes.  

Observing that there is serious disconnect between the Federal Ministry of Culture and the private sector practitioners the ministry was set up to support, Chief Okoroji called on the Minister of Culture to reposition the ministry and make it more relevant to the needs of the nation. He decried the abject lack of resources to actualize important projects in the cultural sector saying that things may have been different if the National Endowment for the Arts was up and running.

In the words of Chief Okoroji: “I believe that everyone in the cultural sector in Nigeria ought to be thoroughly embarrassed that more than 20 years after the promulgation of the National Endowment Fund for the Arts Decree (Decree No. 52 of 1991: now the National Endowment Fund for the Arts Act) the fund remains a mirage and people in the cultural sector still grope around for funding when an important source of funds is there. The Honourable Minister of Culture needs to act now. To my mind, if his only achievement in office is to get the National Endowment Fund for the Arts up and running well, he would have left his footprints in the sands of time”

Among those present at the Colloquium were Senator Hassan Barata, Chairman, Senate Committee on Culture and Tourism, Senator Ahmed Sani Stores, Deputy Chairman, Senate Committee on Culture and Tourism, His Royal Highness, Etubom Bob Duke representing the Obong of Calabar and Mr. Gabe Onah, Special Adviser on Tourism to the Governor of Cross River State. The Colloquium proceedings were chaired by Chief Segun Olusola.

NAFEST 2011: OKOROJI TO PRESENT LEAD PAPER

COSON Chairman, Chief Tony Okoroji

Chairman, Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON) Chief Tony Okoroji will present the Lead Paper at the Colloquium of the National Festival of Arts & Culture (NAFEST) which holds on Wednesday, October 26 at the Cultural Centre Complex in Calabar. Chief Okoroji will be leading three other discussants from different Nigerian universities to x ray the theme of the colloquium in the Canaan City which is Nigerian Traditional Music: A Vehicle for Economic Transformation and Unity.

The lead paper from Chief Okoroji, a celebrated past president of PMAN is expected to look at the economic enhancement capacity of traditional music, the limitations faced by practitioners in a global market, ownership of traditional music forms and challenges of royalty payment, music as a vehicle for national unity, retrieval/documentation of disappearing forms of traditional music, etc.

Chief Tony Okoroji, author of the book, Copyright & the New Millionaires and one of the nation’s foremost experts on intellectual property is expected to dwell extensively on issues of intellectual property rights and collective management of rights in the digital age.

Senator Hassan Barata, Chairman, Senate Committee on Culture and Tourism will be Special Guest of Honour while Hon. Ben Nwankwo, House Committee Chairman on Culture and Tourism is the Guest of Honour at the Colloquium proceedings which will be chaired by Chief Segun Olusola.

All 36 States of the Federation and the FCT are expected to participate in this year’s National Festival of Arts and Culture. The festival is also expected to attract stakeholders from the academia, non-governmental organizations as well as individual promoters of Nigerian arts and culture.

The Festival Colloquium is the intellectual platform of the National Festival for Arts and Culture, the festival that unites the nation. It is the forum for discourse, analysis and suggested best practices on the presentation and promotion of Nigerian cultural industries and products.

OKOROJI BACK FROM ACCRA FORGES COOPERATION BETWEEN THE MUSIC INDUSTRIES OF GHANA AND NIGERIA

Chief Tony Okoroji, Chairman, Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON), the nations sole government approved copyright collective management organization for musical works and sound recordings, arrived the country this past weekend after a three day visit to Ghana which he has described as a ‘mission of peace and co-operation’

While in Ghana, Chief Okoroji met with visiting officials of the Norwegian Copyright Development Association (NORCODE). NORCODE which is doing significant copyright development work in several nations around the globe is one of the major international organizations supporting COSON with training and capacity building. At the Accra meeting were the Managing Director of NORCODE, Mr Frode Lovik and the collective management expert and NORCODE advisor, Mr. Saemund Fiskvik.

In Accra, Chief Okoroji also addressed a large meeting of the Association of Music Right Owners (AMRO) where he spoke of the historic relationship between the Nigerian music industry and the Ghanaian industry and the need for stronger cooperation between the two industries for increased income to practitioners in both countries.

The COSON Chairman also held a joint meeting with Ms. Yaa Attafua, Ghana’s Acting Copyright Administrator, Mr. Bice Osei Kuffour, President, Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA) and Mr. Carlos Sakyi, Interim Chairman of Ghana Music Rights Organization (GAMRO), the new all embracing national music CMO set up similar to COSON.

Chief Okoroji, one of Africa’s most respected experts on copyright, has described the Accra meetings as very productive. According to the former President of PMAN, “I was very well received in Ghana. Our two nations will benefit immensely from the cooperation we are forging.  With the high level of use of Nigerian music in Ghana, we have a major stake in the development of the copyright system in our sister nation. Our Ghanaian brothers and sisters with whom we share common ancestry are excited by the opportunity to work closely with us on different fronts and together we will significantly expand the frontiers of the protection of the rights of musicians in our sub region”  

COSON MOURNS CHRISTY ESSIEN IGBOKWE

The Board, members and management of Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON) have received with tremendous sadness the news of the  passing  to glory today of our frontline member, the Lady of Songs, former Chairman of the defunct PMRS and formers PMAN President, Chief Mrs. Christy Essien Igbokwe MFR.

Christy Essien Igbokwe was like no other woman of her time. The first nationally accepted female pop icon of the Nigerian nation with music that was cherished across the length and breadth of Nigeria and far beyond, she gave to the arts in Nigeria a towering stature

Beyond her extra-ordinary multiple talents as a songwriter, singer, actress and comedian, Christy Essien Igbokwe was deeply devoted to the future of the Nigerian creative industry, committed herself to the emancipation of artistes in Nigeria and played an unequaled role in the founding of PMAN, the national musicians’ union of which she became the president for two successive terms.

She was also a founding member and later, Chairman of the defunct Performing & Mechanical Rights Society (PMRS) which is one of the key organizations that gave birth to COSON, Nigeria’s sole government approved collective management organization for musical works and sound recordings.

It is impossible for the story of the development of modern entertainment in Nigeria to be told without a significant mention of Christy Essien Igbokwe. The human body of the irreplaceable Christy Essien Igbokwe may have quit the stage but her spirit will continue to live in her millions of fans and admirers everywhere. Without doubt, many will continue to hum and sing her many hit songs such as Seun Rere, Have You ever liked My Person, Patience, Freedom, etc

The creative industry in Nigeria must come together and give a befitting funeral to this great ambassador of the arts in Nigeria. There will never be another Christy Essien Igbokwe.

ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION

COSON Plans Open House Get Together 

The dazzling premises of Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON) in Opebi, Lagos will be a scene of major activities on Friday, May 20 as the vastly active CMO celebrates the first anniversary of its approval as the nation’s sole collective management organization for musical works and sound recordings by the Federal Government of Nigeria. Expected at the midday big open house event are top artistes, music industry big wigs, senior journalists and friends of the copyright community. COSON will use the opportunity of the celebration to make significant announcements. Speaking on the anniversary, COSON Acting General Manager, Mr. Chinedu Chukwuji said, “This event is important to us because the last one year has been historic. I am sure that it is clear to everyone that COSON is working! While I expect eating and drinking, in line with COSON’s responsibility to keep its members, stakeholders and members of the public abreast with its activities, the event will also be very informative. Those familiar with COSON know that each of our events is very professionally organized. We promise all those invited to the event that it will be a great way to start a good weekend” It will be recalled that COSON was approved as the nation’s sole collective management organization for musical works and sound recordings on May 20, 2010. It has since bestraddled the nation with its famous slogan, “Let the music pay!”  Speaking on the anniversary, COSON Chairman, Chief Tony Okoroji said, “It has been one year of wall-to-wall success. Many will be surprised that COSON was approved less than one year ago. It is indeed incredible to think about the amount of activity that has been parked into less than 12 months with very modest resources. We thank the Almighty that there is nothing that COSON has promised during the period that it has not delivered. That should give everyone the confidence that COSON will ultimately deliver solid results to the Nigerian music industry” Chief Okoroji gave kudos to the Board and management for the tireless work that has been done to set up professional structures for the society to stand on. He observed that never in the history of the entertainment industry in Nigeria has such painstaking effort been made to set up an organization, staff it professionally, provide requisite training for the staff at home and abroad and also provide a conducive environment with the cutting edge technology required by the staff to deliver. Said Chief Okoroji, “I know of people who are concerned about our ability to continue to manage this success, considering the antecedents of our industry. We cannot discountenance that concern but I want to assure one and all that COSON will continue to work”.