COSON IS MAKING THE MUSIC PAY!

The Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON) held its much anticipated COSON WEEK on November 1-7, 2015. After organising a successful Nigerian Digitial Music Summit in September 2015, the organisation successfully held several events aimed at celebrating music in the community. COSON has continued to show dedication to ensuring the music pays for Nigerian artistes by combining events aimed at educating the public and stakeholders in the music industry, as well as celebrating those who continue to contribute positively to the industry. These events also create awareness about the organisation’s accomplishments and projects.

One of the major resolutions of the Nigerian Digital Music Summit was the creation of the Nigerian Digital Music Monitoring Group to ensure the establishment of ‘the basic rules of engagement in the Digital Environment’.  In addition, the group is ‘mandated to work closely with the Nigerian Copyright Commission, the Nigerian Communications Commission, the National Information Technology Development Agency, the National Assembly and other relevant bodies to develop specific methods for the implementation of the resolutions of the Summit.’ Furthermore, it is charged to monitor progress in the exploitation of music in the digital environment and report at regular intervals on the state of progress made.

The Group held its inaugural meeting on October 22, 2015 at the COSON Headquarters in Opebi, Lagos. At the meeting, Mr. Audu Maikori, The President of the Chocolate City Group, was elected as Chairman and he promised to contribute greatly to the success of the group and the Nigerian Music Industry as a whole. Other members of the group include top music industry executives, copyright experts, government agencies and representatives of telecommunications operators in Nigeria.

The COSON Week 2015 commenced with COSON at the Church which held at Kingsway International Christian Centre (KICC) Prayer Dome, Maryland, Lagos on November 1, 2015; after a successful COSON in the Mosque on October 30. The event featured several clergymen and artistes/ entertainers such as Asu Ekiye, Princess Ann Inyang, Kofi, and was hosted by Victor Oladokun of the Christian broadcast programme ‘Turning Point’. According to the organisers, the event is ‘a superlative National day of prayer and invocation to the Almighty with the most captivating gospel singers across Nigeria and the most respected ministers of the gospel.’

The next event was The COSON Lecture which held on Monday, November 2 at the Banquet Hall, Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos. It was a gathering of a large group of ‘intellectuals, social, communication and legal scholars’, discussing the theme 'Intellectual Property Rights in the Digital Economy.' The lecture was delivered by Professor Bankole Sodipo, the founding President of the Intellectual Property Law Association of Nigeria (IPLAN); and also featured panellists such as Mr. Audu Maikori, (President Chocolate City Group), Lagbaja (masked Nigerian artiste), and Mr. Raymond Mgbeokwere (Head, Legal Services, First Bank of Nigeria) to further discuss the theme.

The keynote address was given by the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Professor Yemi Osinbajo who was represented by Mr. Afam Ezekude, Director-General of the Nigerian Copyright Commission. According to Prof. Osibajo, the theme of the lecture is ‘a contemporary, relevant and appropriate issue in the current circumstances of the Nigerian nation, considering Nigeria’s growing and diversifying economy... further and rapid diversification is vital to continuing and expanding the growth of the national economy’.

In addition, he stated that ‘the adoption of the Agreement on Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (also known as the TRIPS Agreement) as part of the World Trade Organizations instruments, adopted after the Uruguay rounds of trade negotiations, underscores the connection between protection of intellectual property rights and promotion of trade across national boundaries. The general belief is that a strong intellectual property regime encourages domestic innovation, creativity and commitment to research. These are vital ingredients for societal development’.

Guest speaker, Prof. Bankole Sodipo, furthered the discussion by calling for urgent action to be taken to ensure the passage by the National Assembly of a new draft of the Nigerian Copyright Act (recently released to the public by the Nigerian Copyright Commission) which addresses issues arising from the various technological developments as they affect copyright.

Another highlight of the event was the decoration with the Copyright Grand Medal of Prince Bola Ajibola, who is an elderstateman and legal luminary and has previously served as Nigeria’s former Attorney-General, former Judge of the World Court at the Hague, former High Commissioner to the United Kingdom and former President of the Nigerian Bar Association. At 81 years of age, he joyfully expressed his appreciation to the organisers for such an honour which he was thankful to receive in his lifetime. He also recalled his experience with COSON Chairman, Chief Tony Okoroji 27 years ago, while the former was the Attorney General of the Federation that resulted in the promulgation of the present Copyright Act, just a month after promised.

COSON took it to the streets on Tuesday, November 3 with the 'nation’s musical stars cleaning the streets, controlling traffic and giving alms, while having a mobile party on the streets of Lagos'. The event flagged off at the National Theatre, Iganmu, went through Eko Bridge, Ikoyi, Victoria Island, Lekki and Ajah, where a major open air show held. This event was open to the public free of charge, unlike most others which were strictly by invitation.

On Wednesday, November 4, the COSON Green Ball held at the Shell hall of the MUSON Centre, Onikan, Lagos. It was a beautiful evening of music and fine dining in support of the COSON Music Foundation, 'the non-profit trust which supports indigent Nigerian musicians and musicians in distress.' The event started with a unique Green Carpet with attendees showing off their beautiful green outfits. The show was chaired by the celebrated Senator (Princess) Florence Ita-Giwa.

The COSON All Stars Table Tennis Blow Out held on Thursday, November 5, at the Multipurpose Hall of the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos. It was a battle between several Nigerian movie, music and comedy stars, along with their friends and fans such as Jaywon, Q Dot, Jhybo, Spydaman, Black Reverendz, YQ, Emeka Smith and Timi Dakolo who emerged as the overall winner. This event was also open to the general public.

The much anticipated COSON Song Awards held on Friday, November 6 at the New Expo Hall of Eko Hotels & Suites, Victoria Island with the aim of ‘raising the bar and setting new standards in the organization of showbiz awards in Nigeria’. Like some of the other events, it commenced with a red carpet featuring some of our celebrated stars showing off their lovely outfits.

The Master of Songs Award, which is a life time achievement award, was presented to renowned musician and composer, Chief Ebenezer Obey who is also the chairman of the Board of Trustees of the COSON Music Foundation. The event also featured celebrities and dignitaries such as Jimi Agbaje, Prince Bisi Olatilo, Chief Ebenezer Obey, Majek Fashek, Ras Kimono Azeezat, Timi Dakolo, Baba Dee, Vector, Essence, Kenny Saint Brown,and many more. 

Here are the winners:

- BEST SONG IN MELODY: KISS DANIEL (WOJU)

- BEST SONG IN LYRICS: TIMI DAKOLO (WISH ME WELL)

- BEST LOVE SONG: TIMI DAKOLO (IYAWO MI)

- BEST GOSPEL SONG: JOE PRAIZ (MOST HIGH)

- BEST DANCE SONG: MC GALAXY (SEKEM)

- BEST RAP SONG: VECTOR (KING   KONG)

- MASTER OF SONGS:  CHIEF EBENEZER OBEY

- MOST UNCOMMON SONG:   KOREDE BELLO (GODWIN)

- HOTEST SONG ON THE STREET: LIL KESH (SHOKI)

- BEST COLLABO: PATORANKING FT. TIWASAVAGE (GIRLIE O REMIX)

- SONG OF SONGS: DAVIDO (AYE)

The grand finale was COSON Storms the Beach which held on Saturday, November 7 at Atikan Beach Resort, off Abraham Adesanya Estate, Ajah, Lagos. It was ‘a spectacular open air beach concert featuring a roll call of Nigeria’s ‘A’ list stars with unbelievable fireworks’, for all classes of people and the entire family. This massive beach party is the first of its kind to be organised by COSON and was purely focused on entertainment and ending the COSON WEEK in style. It featured newly reformed Majek Fashek along with his group, Vector the Viper, Chidinma, Ras Kimono, Baba Dee, Young Grace, Adekunle Gold, Joel and others.

COSON continues to represent the interests of its members by ensuring those who publicly perform or broadcast their musical works or sound recordings to the public both home and abroad, pay royalties for same. They remit royalties to the artistes regularly, according to the frequency of the public performance of members’ works by broadcast stations, advertising agencies, hotels, nightclubs, restaurants and other parties. Although, it is not compulsory to join a collecting society as an artiste, it is a much easier way of monitoring the use of your work, and ensuring you are paid for same. It is hoped that the organisation will continue to organise such events to educate the public on the importance of respecting intellectual property rights and be ever diligent in protecting the interests of its members. 

Source of facts: www.cosonng.com