ENFORCEMENT OF THE COSON-BON /IBAN AGREEMENT BEGINS IMMEDIATELY – COSON GM
The music industry in Nigeria will not wait for the profound excitement generated by the recently signed COSON-BON/IBAN agreement on music royalty to die down before commencing the enforcement of the agreement. So says the General Manager of Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON), Mr. Chinedu Chukwuji.
According to Mr. Chukwuji who was speaking to some journalists in his office early in the week, the terms and conditions of the agreement are clear. The rates are specific and the times and modes of payment are clearly stated so that no broadcasting organization in Nigeria can claim not to know what to do.
Stated Mr. Chukwuji, “at the signing of the historic agreement, the Chairman of BON, Mallam Abubakar Jijiwa pledged that every broadcasting station in Nigeria will respect the agreement. Similarly, Mr. Kenny Ogungbe who signed on behalf of IBAN was clear that no station in Nigeria will go against the agreement. Both the NBC and NCC are watching them closely. I see little obstacle in the enforcement considering that COSON has bent over backwards to ensure that we start moving”.
“Please let all the stations know that COSON is ready. Our bills made in accordance with the agreement are ready. Any station which receives a COSON bill should endeavour to honour it promptly. We want to make sure that our industry begins to benefit from the new relationship we have forged with the broadcast industry in Nigeria. It is a win-win situation for all”.