Abuja – The Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON) and Nigeria’s largest broadcast network, Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), has recently signed a landmark music copyright licensing agreement by which all FRCN stations across the country will immediately begin to pay royalties for the music and sound recordings they broadcast. The agreement which was negotiated over the last one month ends more than three decades of rift between the Nigerian music industry and the government owned network.
At the agreement signing ceremony held at the Radio House Headquarters of FRCN, the corporations Director General, Barrister Yusuf Nuhu who signed on behalf of FRCN, expressed happiness that finally, the corporation has taken the bull by the horn and begun the process of ensuring the appropriate reward of creativity in Nigeria. He thanked COSON for the professional manner in which the negotiations were handled and praised the society’s Chairman, Chief Tony Okoroji for his uncommon doggedness and unwavering commitment to the cause of the Nigerian creative community.
In response, Chief Okoroji, who signed on behalf of COSON, commended Barrister Yusuf for creating the environment that has made the historic agreement possible. Tracing his engagement with FRCN over the payment of music copyright royalties to 1987 when Alhaji Dahiru Modibo was DG of FRCN, Chief Okoroji said that Barrister Yusuf has made history by boldly and successfully taking on a challenge which previous leaders of FRCN could not find the courage to address.
He commended the FRCN negotiating team for their dedication to finding answers to what may have appeared to be difficult questions. Expressing happiness that the jinx of several decades has finally been broken, Chief Okoroji said that the new challenge is to constructively build on the foundation laid by the agreement.
Among those present at the signing ceremony were Mr. Chinedu Chukwuji, COSON Acting General Manager; Alahaji Ibrahim Bako, FRCN Director of Programs and Malam Abdulahi Musa, FRCN Director of News.
Signed: Elizabeth Ike for COSON
D’Banj by Trendy Africa
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