All broadcast stations and the major users of music across Nigeria not to broadcast music…
Plans are in top gear as the Nigerian Music Industry Coalition is set to celebrate the annual ‘No Music Day’ this year. The event which is held on September 1 of every year seeks to focus attention on the widespread infringement of the rights of composers, song writers, performers, music publishers and other stakeholders in the Nigerian music industry. The theme of this year’s celebration is “A World without Music” and is focused on promoting the unsung contributions of Nigerian music to the socio-economic development of the nation.
As part of the activities of this year’s ‘No Music Day’, the Nigerian Music Industry Coalition which is a coalition of the key national associations in the Nigerian music industry is requesting all broadcast stations and the major users of music across the country not to broadcast music between the hours of 8am-10am on Saturday September 1, 2012 as a mark of solidarity with the nation’s creative industry being devastated by massive copyright infringement. All stations sympathetic to the plight of the music industry are being requested to dedicate the time belt to interviews, documentaries, debates and discussions that focus on the rights of creative people and the state of intellectual property rights in Africa’s most populous nation. Newspapers and magazines are also being encouraged to do special features on the industry to mark the day.
Lovers of music will not be left out of the celebration as the coalition is launching online engagements, debates, discussions and quizzes with prizes for different participants.
In commemoration of ‘No Music Day 2012’, Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON), the nation’s sole collective management organization for musical works and sound recordings will host an “Open House” on September 1, 2012 at the society’s headquarters in Opebi for journalists who may wish to update themselves with the activities of the Nigerian Music Industry. Various officers and top members of the society will be on hand to interact with journalists and grant serious interviews.
Speaking on ‘No Music Day 2012’, COSON Chairman, Chief Tony Okoroji, said, “No Music Day has become a very important event in our industry. It reminds us of the culmination of that week in 2009 when for a number of days, several Nigerian artistes went on hunger strike in protest against the wanton infringement of the rights of artistes in Nigeria, the first time any such activity has held anywhere in the world.
‘Music is like air. As long as it is there, we really do not quite value it. Take it away for a few hours and we realize how difficult life can be without it. Our theme for this year is “A world without music”. Apart from the tremendous social impact of music, the contributions of our industry to the growth of the Nigerian economy are enormous. The music industry is one of the largest employers of labour in the country and caters to many talented young Nigerians. No Music Day has been set aside to bring to sharp focus the value of the work of these great talents and to seek serious national intervention in the problems militating against the proper growth of the music industry’
Also speaking on ‘No Music Day 2012’, Secretary of Association of Music Business Professionals (AM.B-Pro) and COSON Board member, Mr. Efe Omorogbe who is presently leading a group of young and talented Nigerian musicians on a musical onslaught of North America, said, “Music is our business, we must protect it. Nobody invests in a venture without the intent of making profit, neither do we. We want to use the platform of No Music Day to say to all who have continually infringed on our rights, desist from this. For too long, we have watched our businesses being plundered by pirates and when I say pirates, I also mean those who have illegally copied and used our works to power their operations. We will not sit and watch this happen anymore. As artistes and investors in the music business, we have come together to ensure that we see the end of this great injustice that has been done our music industry and we will”. Also speaking on the day, Secretary of Association of Music Business Professionals (AM.B-Pro) and COSON Board member, Efe Omorogbe said, “Music is our business, we must protect it. Nobody invests in a venture without the intent of making profits, neither do we. We want to use the platform of the No Music Day to say to all who have continually infringed on our rights, desist from this. For too long, we have watched our businesses being plundered by pirates and when I say pirates, I also mean those who have illegally copied and used our works to power their operations. We will not sit and watch this happen anymore. As artistes and investors in the music business, we have come together to ensure that we see the end of this great injustice that has been done our music industry and we will.”
Reacting to the No Music Day, President of Music Label Owners & Recording Industries Association of Nigeria (MORAN), and a key member of the Nigerian Music Coalition, Hon. John E. Udegbunam said, “September 1 reminds the music industry and the entire entertainment industry in Nigeria of the continuous struggle by Nigeria Music Industry Coalition to fight and rebuild the music industry which has been massively devastated by different forms and levels of piracy. MORAN will continue to support the activities of the Nigerian Music Industry Coalition and COSON to see that those who invest in the Nigerian music industry get the deserved compensation for their investments. We are appealing to all users of music in the offline and online environment to make sure that they obtain the appropriate license from COSON for the music they use. We will not rest until the music industry takes its rightful place and musicians’ rights are fully restored.”
It will be recalled that the first ‘No Music Day’ was held on September 1, 2009 marking the climax of a week of demonstrations and a hunger strike campaign mounted by Nigerian artistes from across the country in condemnation of the debilitating music piracy in the country.
Source: Music Industry Network
