Reps order BON, IBAN to suspend ban on Tuface, MI, Sammie Okposo, Banky W, WizKid, others

*Artistes threaten to boycott Rhythm Unplugged and The Headies

The House of Representatives has intervened in the ongoing conflict between COSON and BON/IBAN with a directive to the latter not to ban the air play of the songs of some Nigerian musicians.

In the wake of the ban, the long list of COSON members banned by BON and IBAN included TuFace Idibia, D’ Banj, Inyanya, Olamide, Dr Sid, Sammie Okposo, Banky W, WizKid, Olu Maintain, 9ice, Sunny Neji, Flavour, Chidinma, Rugged Man, Keffee, Midnite Crew, Eldee De Don, M I, Azeezat, Jazzman Olofin, Ice Prince, Jesse Jagz, Kcee etc.

The House of Representatives on Thursday asked the Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria and the Independent Broadcasting Association of Nigeria to withdraw the ban they placed on the air play of the songs of some Nigerian musicians.

In a resolution passed in Abuja, the House observed that the ban was planned to take effect from Sunday, December 15, 2013.

A member from Lagos State, Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, who brought the issue to the attention of the House under matters of urgent public importance, said BON/IBAN and the Copyright Society of Nigeria had been locked in a crisis revolving round payment of royalties to musicians and other unresolved disagreements.

She told the House that should the ban take effect, about 80 per cent of Nigerian artistes would not have their songs played on radio or tv stations in the country.

Part of her motion read, “The statement is banning almost 80 per cent of  music by Nigerian artistes from being played on Nigerian radio and TV from 15th of December.

“I am worried that a tussle between the organisations should not degenerate to a situation that will retard the progress made so far in our music industry. The victims will not only be the artistes but  Nigeria and Nigerians. I am aware that this crisis can be resolved through dialogue.”

She informed the House that at a time when Nigerian music was getting international recognition, particularly on the African continent, the ban would only take the country several steps backward.

“In South Africa, three hours of daily air play is given to Nigerian songs. But, here at home, we want to place a ban on the music of popular artistes like 2face, D’Banj, Wizkid and many others?,” the lawmaker added.

The House passed the motion in a unanimous voice vote and directed “BON/IBAN to withdraw the December 15 directive banning the airing of the music of several Nigerian artists on Nigerian Television and Radio stations.

The directive added, “Mandate the House committees on Information, Judiciary and Justice to intervene in the matter and report back to the House within one month.”

In a related development, most of the musicians banned by the Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria, BON, and Independent Broadcasters’ Association of Nigeria, IBAN,  met on Wednesday at Club Rumours in GRA, Ikeja, Lagos where they resolved that their unity would not be broken by the ban and asked the broadcasts stations to respect their intellectual property.

At the well attended forum, the musicians resolved that any attempt to cow them would not work as payment of royalties was a must, Banky W,Tuface Idibia, 9ice, Sound Sultan, MI, Azeezat, Ill Bliss, Wunmi Obe, Obiwon, 2Shotz, Audu Maikori, Bayo Omisore and representatives of Burna Boy, Sound Sultan, Dammy Krane, Sir Victor Uwaifo, Ice Prince, Sunny Neji, Solid Star, Eva Alordiah, were some of the artistes present at the forum.

The artistes gave 48 hours ultimatum to Rhythm Unplugged and The Headies saying if the organizers do not categorically speak out on the BON/IBAN ban, they will not be attending or performing at the two forthcoming media events.

At the end of the meeting, the musicians reached a new 10-point resolution which included;

i. That no true Nigerian artiste or right owner should sell his/her birth right to IBAN or BON or any other recalcitrant broadcasting organization or be made to be subservient to any such organization and that IBAN/BON must be made to understand that their attempt to cow Nigerian musicians will not work.

ii. That the whole world must be made to know that in their historic battle with IBAN and BON what Nigerian artistes are seeking is justice, respect for their intellectual property and fair compensation for their creativity.

iii. That the Nigerian nation must be made to understand that the extraordinary steps taken by BON/IBAN to ban Nigeria’s best music stars from the airwaves owned by all Nigerians is not just a threat to a few individuals in the music industry but a threat to the Nigerian nation itself.

iv. That Nigerian music industry stakeholders should closely monitor every IBAN/BON station and if any of them fails to comply with the broadcast of 80% Nigerian music as every station is bound under Nigeria’s Broadcast Code, Nigerian music industry stakeholders will rally the government and its appropriate agencies to withdraw or cancel the broadcast licence of any such station.

v. That key music industry stakeholders should be present at the meeting between COSON and the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) on Thursday, December 12, 2013 at the Lagos office of NBC at Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos by 10.00am.

vi. That the great disappointment of the music industry stakeholders be expressed with respect to the IBAN press release signed by Mr. Sunny Osa Adun and Mr. Guy Murray Bruce of Silverbird Communications banning the broadcast of the music of Nigeria’s best cultural assets despite the continued contribution of the Nigerian music industry to the success of Rhythm Unplugged and other events organized by Silverbird Communication, over the years.

vii. That if the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) fails to make any visible progress in resolving the music copyright royalty problem created by IBAN and BON at its meeting with COSON on Thursday, December 12, 2013, no self-respecting Nigerian artiste should henceforth perform at the events of Rhythm Unplugged and the music industry will hereafter withdraw its support for Rhythm Unplugged and similar events organized by those that continue to show disrespect for the music industry and its right owners.

viii. That henceforth as a condition for the broadcast of music on radio and television stations, every broadcasting station operating in Nigeria must maintain adequate logs and records of all music played by the stations as is the practice everywhere in the world.

ix. That the organizers of Headies Awards, if they are truly interested in the progress of the music industry, which their show seeks to promote, must show clear public solidarity for artistes and stakeholders in the Nigerian music industry at this time when the rights of the music industry in Nigeria is facing historic threat, or the industry would be left with no choice but to call for a mass boycott of the events of the Headies.

x. That all music industry stakeholders with Twitter and similar accounts should create and send out informative messages that would help educate the right owners and the general public on the issues at stake.