By Our Reporter
October 16, 2015 – Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON) has concluded plans to inaugurate the Nigerian Digital Music Monitoring Group on Thursday, October 22, 2015 at its Headquarters in Opebi, Lagos.
The setting up of the Nigerian Digital Music Monitoring Group was one of the major resolutions adopted at the just concluded Nigerian Digital Music Summit. Members of the Group include top music industry executives, copyright experts, government agencies and representatives of telecommunications operators in Nigeria.
By the resolutions, 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. The Group is also charged to monitor progress in the exploitation of music in the digital environment and report at regular intervals on the state of progress made.
Speaking on the development, CEO of NowMuzik, Mr. Efe Omorogbe said the development is coming at a time the music industry needs it the most.
“ I am particularly excited at what the future holds for our industry. I want to urge all with interests in Nigerian music to forge closer and work for the growth of our industry while we still have the chance to”, he said.
Also speaking, General Manager of COSON Mr. Chinedu Chukwuji every member of the monitoring group was carefully selected by the summit because of the enormous task ahead.
“The monitoring group has been given a time frame of 12 months with which to implement the resolutions adopted at the summit. At the end of the 12 months, work done will be evaluated and the next phase will kick off. It is our belief that this group which has some of the best brains in the creative sector will bring about the revolution our industry craves for”, he said.
Also speaking, Chief Operating Officer, BeyondBoarders, Mr. Simon Aderinlola said the quality of the 2015 Summit and the composition of the group give reason for optimism.
“ The concerns around IP ownership and appropriate music revenue allocation are global concerns, so win-win positions need to be sought, difficult conversations need to be had and the journey towards that noble objective has begun”, he said.
It will be recalled that in September COSON hosted the Nigerian Digital Music Summit in collaboration with the Growth & Employment Project (GEM) (funded by the World Bank and domiciled in the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment). The summit had the theme: “Establishing the Basic Rules of Engagement in the Digital Environment”. At the end of the 2-day summit resolutions were adopted for immediate execution.
