The Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON) has declared Thursday September 1, 2011 as a ‘No Music Day’ throughout Nigeria. The declaration was made in a statement issued by COSON president Chief Tony Okoroji on Friday, August 26, 2011.
Okoroji says the day ‘will be dedicated to drawing national attention to the widespread infringement of the rights of composers, song writers, performers, music publishers and other stakeholders in the music industry in Nigeria’.
Similarly, the Nigerian Music Industry Coalition have requested that all broadcasting stations dedicate time on the same day to granting and airing interviews, debates or any other program related to artistes rights as a way of supporting the cause.
This isn’t the first time a protest of this sort would hold as it was first staged throughout the country two years ago on Tuesday, September 1, 2009.
In 2009, the compliance level was low, but the facilitators said at the time that the campaign was a success judging by the level of awareness and debate that followed the advocacy.
This also spurred the apprehension and prosecution of the notorious ‘Alaba King of Pirates’, Tony Onwujekwe and consequently the birth of COSON.
No word yet from PMAN, the umbrella body for musicians in Nigeria. And we’re yet to confirm which stations (TV and Radio) will be joining in the ‘No Music Day’ campaign…
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