BON, IBAN Ban 2face, D'banj, Iyanya, BankyW, 9ice & Others Because Of COSON

These artiste face a difficult situation as the Broadcasting
Organisation of Nigeria, BON, and the Independent
Broadcasting Association of Nigeria, IBAN, have stopped
airing musical productions belonging to the following
musicians; Chief Ebenezer Obey, 2Face Idibia, Onyeka
Onwenu, Banky W,Iyanya, Azizat, D'Banj, Olamide, Dr.
SID, Sammy Okposo, Olu Maintain, Sunny Neji, Rugged
Man, Jasman Olofin, X-Project, Asa, African China, Terry G,
Waje, Omawumi, Sound Sultan and J Martins.

The two bodies (IBAN & BON) said they were constrained
to take this step principally as "a result of COSON's attitude
of antagonism and harassment under the leadership of Tony
Okoroji (COSON Chairman)"."No person or organisation,
particularly a collection society such as COSON has a
monopoly of authority over any other…IBAN and BON
have the utmost respect for Nigerian artistes in their
individual and collective capacities and have indeed
contributed more than any known institution to the
promotion of Nigerian music and the development of the
entertainment industry as a whole," the statement reads.

But in a swift reaction, Okoroji, COSON boss, said his
organisation has read with amusement the empty threat by
the leadership of BON that its affiliate stations would no
longer play the music of Nigerian citizens on Nigerian
stations because Nigerian musicians are asking for their
right to be paid copyright royalties for the exploitation of
their music as is done in every country in the world. IBAN
and BON also said their members are ready and willing to
pay royalties for works used but will not be railroaded into
arbitrarily imposed and concocted fees which are not based
on any agreeable and verifiable tariff and standards.

The NBC boss is said to have called for a negotiated
settlement, wondering how the stations can do away with
works of the affected artistes who are the best in Nigeria
and still meet up with requirement of NBC.