In an unexpected move, owners of a significant portion of earning catalogues for COSON have started to withdraw their rights from COSON for international representation, showing support for the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC)’s decision to initiate a forensic audit of Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON) under the leadership of Chief Tony Okoroji.
Over the past two years, there have been calls from former COSON board members for the NCC to conduct an audit of COSON under Chief Okoroji. Recently, the Music Publishers Association (MPAN), consisting of owners of interests in copyright catalogues from the 1960s to the present, joined the call and garnered support from several music industry heavyweights for a petition to the NCC.
After the NCC commissioned the accounting firm Messrs. KPMG to conduct a forensic audit of all collecting societies including COSON, Chief Tony Okoroji led COSON in a standoff with the NCC and publicly criticized the NCC’s actions.
Expressing frustration with COSON’s resistance to the audit, Mr. Ajayi, a former member of COSON’s finance committee, questioned the organization’s motives and stated his disappointment.
Several individuals and corporate members, including Omawumi, Sound Sultan, Baba Dee, 2Baba, and music publishing organizations like Ivory Music and Premier Music Publishing, have decided to withdraw their rights for international representation from COSON due to its refusal to open its books for the forensic audit.
The list of members withdrawing their international representation rights includes Ill Bliss, Terry G, Chocolate City, and other significant entities. More members are expected to follow suit in the coming days, while some, like Olamide and The Plug, have terminated their membership entirely.
Signed:
Omawumi
Olumide Mustapha (Chairman, MPAN)