Nigerian artistes call BON/IBAN bluff

Press release from Efe Omorogbe on the ban of Nigerian artistes by the Broadcasting Organization of Nigeria (BON) and Independent Broadcasters Association (IBAN)

Less than 48 hours after the Independent Broadcasters Association (IBAN) and Broadcasting Organization of Nigeria (BON) issued a statement banning the broadcast of the music of nearly all of Nigeria’s topmost musicians on the radio and TV stations run by affiliate stations, a group of star musicians and top players in the music industry have fired back. Continue...

The group comprising the likes of 2 Face Idibia, 9ice, MI, Azeezat, Ill Bliss, WunmiObe, Dizzy K. Falola and representatives of Burna Boy, Sound Sultan, DammyKrane, Sir Victor Uwaifo, Ice Prince, Sunny Neji, etc met at Whitehouse Hotel, GRA, Ikeja on  Wednesday, December 4. One after the other, the music industry stars expressed outrage by the decision of BON and IBAN and their attempt to manipulate the music industry so that they can run away from their responsibility of paying copyright royalties for music broadcast by them.

They rose from the meeting with the following resolutions:

1.   That all authors, composers, songwriters, artistes, performers, publishers, record label executives, owners of sound recordings, publicists, managers, etc should ignore the IBAN email and no right owner should send any message to the email provided by IBAN.

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2. That no self-respecting right owner of the Nigerian music industry should sell his/her birth right by sending an email to BON or IBAN to request that they play his/her music.
3. That the music industry will consider the stations that comply with their copyright obligations and advice all right owners to move their works to the stations and encourage their fans and followers to support such stations.
 4. That a delegation of the music industry is to meet with appropriate political office holders within the shortest possible time on this matter.
 5. That all IBAN/BON stations not licensed for the use of music should take note that with immediate effect they should cease to broadcast music whether local or foreign on their stations - These stations must also suspend the use of music whether wholly or in part by way of sampling, interpolation, remixing or outright jacking pending the resolution of this matter.
 6. That this movement is a historic fight for the recognition of the fundamental human rights of all creative people in the Federal Republic of Nigeria and no creative person should sell out or allow himself/herself to be made a saboteur in this historic battle.
7. That all important stakeholders in the music industry should make themselves available for a full briefing and Q/A session at a follow up meeting to be held on Tuesday, December 10, 2013 at Rumors Night Club, 15a, Oduduwa Way, GRA, Ikeja, Lagos by 10.00am.

 The long list of COSON members said by BON and IBAN to have been banned with immediate effect include TuFaceIdibia, D’ Banj, Inyanya, Olamide, Dr Sid, Sammie Okposo, Banky W, Wiz Kid, Olu Maintain, 9ice, Sunny Neji, Flavour, Chidinma, Rugged Man, Keffee, Midnite Crew, Eldee De Don, M I, Azeezat, Jazzman Olofin, Ice Prince, Jesse Jagz, KC Presh, X Project, Asha, Konga, African China, Owen Gee, Dekunle Fuji, Lord of Ajasa, Zoolezoo, Ekwe Original Stereoman, Danfo Drivers, Rhymzo, DJ Jimmy Jatt, Kofi, Jedee, Muma Gee, AY. Com, ID Cabassa, Klever J, ZidonPoperella, Eva, Terry G, Nomoreloss, Mike Okri, Weird MC, Mode 9, Timaya, Sound Sultan, Waje, Mo’Cheddah, Jay Martins, Slam, Djinee, Solid Star, Omawunmi, TWO, W4, OmotolaJeladeEkehinde, YinkaAyefele, DJ Stramborella, Ebenezer Obey, Victor Uwaifo, Onyeka Onwenu, Dan Maraya Jos, Tony Okoroji, Stella Monye, Floxxy Bee, Funmi Adams, MajekFashek, Daniel Wilson, Alex Zitto, Sir Shina Peters, Ras Kimono, Wale Thompson, KollingtonAyinla, AdewaleAyuba, Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, , Chris Ajilo, Emmanuel Ntia, Orlando Julius, Eddy Remedy, Mr. Kool, 2 Shotz, Baba Dee, Bouqui, Rooftop MCs, Kenny Saint Brown, Klever J, OJB Jezreel, Danny Young, Dipp, Frank D’ Nnero, Ojo, Tim Godfrey, etc.

 Efe Omorogbe

President Jonathan has declared three days of national mourning for former South African President

This was released yesterday presidential spokesman, Dr.Reuben Abati

President Jonathan has declared three days of national mourning for former South African President, Dr. Nelson Mandela.Flags are to be flown at half-mast across Nigeria during the period.President Jonathan urges all Nigerians to unite in solidarity with the brotherly people of South Africa as they mourn the Madiba..
 

President Jonathan describes the late President Mandela as the great liberator, freedom fighter and hero of the black race.The President also calls for special prayers in mosques and churches in Nigeria during the period of mourning which begins today.A special inter-denominational memorial service for Dr. Mandela will be held at the State House Chapel on Sunday.

Genevieve Nnaji adding on in years gracefully

                                             Her recent photo....................You like?

2face, D'banj, Iyanya, etc BON ban these artistes because of COSON

Which of the artiste is left really by the time this action takes immediate effect? Anyways,this is how its been reported

For quite some time now, the Copyrights Society of Nigeria (COSON), has been harassing the Broadcasting Society of Nigeria (BON) and the Independent Broadcasting Association of Nigeria, IBAN, insisting that they pay royalties for playing the songs of Nigerian artists. COSON has dragged several radio and TV stations to court, demanding millions, sometimes billions of Naira in royalty.

Well, it seems IBAN and BON have had enough. Two days ago, they announced the ban of all Nigerian artists registered with COSON. Meaning that they ordered the immediate stop to the airing of songs of artists who are COSON members.

The artists include 2face Idibia, D'banj, Onyeka Onwenu, Iyanya, Banky W, Flavour, Ice Prince, Dr Sid, Olamide, 9ice, M.I, eLDee, Ruggedman, Wizkid, Asa, Waje, Omawumi and several others.

In a statement released and signed jointly by the President and Secretary of IBAN, Sonny Adun and Guy Murray Bruce, the need for such a drastic step was due to "the antagonism and harassment under the leadership of Tony Okoroji (COSON Chairman)”.

The statement in part reads "No person or organisation, particularly a collection society such as COSON has a monopoly of authority over any other…IBAN and BON have the utmost respect for Nigerian artistes in their individual and collective capacities and have indeed contributed more than any known institution to the promotion of Nigerian music and the development of the entertainment industry as a whole."

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They are accusing COSON of arbitrarily imposing and concocting fees which are not based on any agreeable and verifiable tariff and standards. However Mr Okoroji while reacting to the decision of the broadcasting bodies says the issue here is the strict stand COSON has on the royalties of artist works used on any of the broadcast stations. He says some stations have this attitude of "we can handle COSON" and goes on airing the works of the artist without paying them their due royalty which COSON is strongly against. Meanwhile the Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria interim president has released a statement on the ban on airplay of Nigerian artists by BON.

PMAN Speaks on the current ban of airplay of Nigerian artists by BON & IBAN 

The Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria is appalled by the recent development spearheaded by the Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BON) and Independent Broadcasters’ Association of Nigeria (IBAN) via an official press release yesterday, calling for the immediate airplay ban on all media platforms on content from Nigerian artistes, the association which was created with the sole mission to PROTECT, PRESERVE, and PROMOTE Nigerian musicianshas decided to react on the ban and on-going feud between the Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria(BON), Independent Broadcasters’ Association of Nigeria (IBAN) and Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON) calling for an immediate reversal of the ban in the interest of these artistes whom we know that all the above mentioned organisations have their best interests at heart.

The ban on airplay of these Nigerian artistes and their music on various Nigerian media platforms is from our standpointvery unfair, demeaning and discouraging. Weall knowwithout a doubt that these same artistes who have persevered and assisted us to build, today what is known as the Nigerian music industry, Africa’s biggest entertainment export to the world are the same people that are now being victimised. With this action, the association foresees a situation where this ban will, rather than encourage well meaning members of the society, with musical talent to hone their craft and join the success story of the entertainment industry, reverse will be the case. We also foresee a situation where the bulk of the material that will be circulated on nigerian airwaves will be foreign materials, celebrating alien artistes instead of embracing, home grown talent and ourcultural heritage.
 COSON  in it’s own right by a mandate given to the organisation acts as a collecting society for these artistes, helping to monitor and collect royalties entitled to them. As a collecting society, they have since inception acted as a shield to these artistes protecting their intellectual rights. BON& IBAN are arguing that the tariffs and standards presented to them by COSON should be defended and agreeable with them, but we know that the ban is not the best invitation to the negotiating table. Article 3.13.2.2 of the Broadcast code issued by NBC says: ‘For the purpose of free-to-air broadcast, Nigerian music shall constitute 80 per cent of all music broadcast’.

If this ban is sustained, and 80% of the music played on the various media platforms are foreign material, we should ask ourselves as guardians of the music industry, if these media houses are paying the royalties owed to these foreign artistes, and thereby sidelining Nigerian music by Nigerian artistes, are we supporting them or failing them?We should also ask ourselves, if this ban which will invariably affect the rising profile of the Nigerian music industry in the world, economically and in relevance is good for us. With these ongoing conflicts, lets not forget the owners of this intellectual properties, the music owners, record label owners, recording artistes, the instrumentalists, composers, who have spent time and money producing and packaging, what we know, enjoy and call music, their interests should be siginifcant in these agreements.

 In light of all that has been mentioned above we ask again that the ban be reversed and that all the affected parties and major stakeholders in the entertainment industry sit down for a dialogue and reach a favourable agreement, beneficial to everyone involved.

The live& death of Nelson Mandela

              The great hero passed away at 95years yesterday.
Cry Mama Africa, for you have lost a GREAT Son....Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela ,as Nigerians we are deeply Proud of you! For the exemplary life you lived. We just hope that most African Leaders will Learn from the way you conducted yourself! Even in grave illness, you never left South Africa, to be treated else where.

You went into office as the First Black President of South Africa and came out with Dignity; not allowing the influence of power intoxicate you, and seeking to remain in office. With your death today, the world, not just South Africa or Africa, has become a slightly dimmer place. Your legacy of principled struggle, intellectual rigor and moral dignity will stand as a rebuke to many African "leaders," especially the contemptible lot in Nigeria, who make the ruination of their people their primary business. May this towering giant of a man inspire youngsters in Africa and elsewhere to pursue dreams that are larger than their mere pockets.
Nelson Mandela Died at the age of 95! He was South Africa's First Black President in 1994. He Won a Nobel Prize 4 Peace in 1993.

He will be greatly missed,may his soul rest in peace

Crying widow Adam Oshiomhole told " Go & Die " has been appointed as Special Assistant to the Governor

"You're a widow, go and die!" That's what Governor Adams Oshiomhole said to widow during a sanitation exercise of Benin City with some state officials recently. The woman was hawking on the road side which is illegal in the state but to tell her to go and die after she knelt in front of him, crying and begging him not to seize her little means of livelihood, is just cold-hearted. Few days later after this was made public,Governor Oshiomhole donated N2million to the widow, Mrs Joy Ifije, who was invited to the Edo State Government House and offered automatic employment,with a public apology, scholarship for her son and now a Special Assistant on Environmental matters to the Governor of Edo State.

Really? Toke Makinwa gets paid to make appearance for every event she attends

                                                          Really?