2Face rallies support for COSON

Popular musician, 2face Idibia has called on Nigerian musicians and other stakeholders to support the Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON), to make musicians receive dividends of their intellectual property.

 This is contained in a statement issued by Mayree Uket, COSON Executive New Media, in Abuja on Friday.

Idibia made the remark while presenting a paper titled "Slaying the collective rights monster" at the Nigerian Entertainment Conference at Eko Hotel & Suites, Lagos.

Idibia said that the single powerful voice provided by COSON had ensured the failure of those using divide-and-rule tactics to pauperise the music industry.

He said COSON remained the single collecting society recognised by the law of the land.

Idibia said all music stakeholders in the industry should cooperate with COSON and ensure the emergence of a more profitable sector that provided wealth for the nation and employment for Nigerians.

He said with all efforts put together and selfish interests pushed aside, collection of intellectual property dividends for creative people won’t be a challenge in Nigeria.

“A world class collective management system will not fall on our laps; all stakeholders will need to roll up their sleeves and get their hands together in a bid to grow, nurture and sustain the industry,’’ he said.

Idibia called on all public and commercial users of music to respect intellectual property rights and avoid the mindset that music was free for anyone who chose to use it.

Several artistes, including the masked singer, Bisade Ologunde (Lagbaja), expressed support for COSON Chairman, Chief Tony Okoroji, for his passion and persistence for the industry.