COSON/IBAN/BON war will soon be over – Okoroji

The Copyright Society of Nigeria on Thursday said that the crisis that had engulfed the broadcast industry over the non-payment of copyright royalties would soon be over.
The body’s Chairman, Tony Okoroji, made the remark at a press briefing at the headquarters of COSON in Lagos.
Okoroji said that a great deal of progress had been made in the negotiations to break the deadlock between COSON and the broadcasting organisations (radio and television stations).
The former musician added that the negotiations were being moderated by the National Broadcasting Commission and the Nigeria Copyright Commission.
He said: “Not for one minute have we forgotten that we represent the music industry and that we must represent the industry forcefully.
“What we say or do will have far reaching impact on the music industry in Nigeria for years to come.
“On the other hand, we are citizens of Nigeria and must search for that which is best for our country over the long run.
“We do not want to kill the broadcast industry but to work with it.
“We have therefore kept searching for areas of compromise, without hurting the music industry which we represent.”
Speaking further, Okoroji said: “What erupted as a major crisis may indeed turn out to be the proverbial blessing in disguise for our country.
“For many years, Nigeria had shied away from addressing this problem, which had frustrated many and driven important investment out of our nation.
“There are many who had given up, believing that this problem will never be solved.
“Finally, we are sitting on the same table with the broadcast industry and important issues that affect both our music and broadcast industries are being ironed out.
“It appears like a miracle but it is happening.
“I give kudos to the leaderships of both the NBC and the NCC for what we have achieved so far.”
On the status of the progress made in the ongoing negotiations, the COSON helmsman said: “Contrary to the propaganda in some quarters, COSON is and has always been open to negotiations.
“Anybody who deals with us will tell you that we are not that hydra-headed monster we have been painted to be.
“We are very responsible and sensitive to the challenges faced by users of music.
“We put all of that into consideration when negotiating copyright royalty fees.
“The case is not different with the broadcast industry.
“We are still involved in a series of negotiations and I am certain that at the end of the day, all parties involved will be satisfied, that we have solved a huge problem that had bedevilled our country.”
Okoroji also commended COSON members across the length and breadth of the country for their unflinching support and encouragement.
He said: “I am particularly thankful to all those in the music industry who lent their voices in support of the stand of COSON, when the crisis with BON and IBAN became public.
“I am grateful to those who took part in this fight to bring sanity to our industry and to ensure return on the investments made in the music industry.
“There are those who believed that this crisis would break COSON.
“It has not.
“We are responsible for the future of creativity in Nigeria and we cannot afford to fail ourselves and generations to come.”
COSON had instituted a suit against some of the nation’s biggest broadcast stations in 2013, over the non-payment of royalties for their materials.
The AIT, Ray Power, STV, Rhythm FM, Beat FM, Classic FM, Naija FM, Smooth FM and Brila FM are some of the stations that COSON took to court.
In response, the Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria and the Independent Broadcasting Association of Nigeria announced the suspension of the broadcast of the music of nearly all the topmost musicians in the country,
All the affected artists are members of COSON.
The development resulted in a massive public outrage across the country, followed by an all-out media war between the entertainment and broadcast industries.
It took the intervention of the NBC through the inauguration of the COSON/BON/IBAN/NBC/NCC Joint Committee for tempers to cool, before the commencement of the ongoing negotiations.