World Music Day: NCC Emphasises the Need to Curb Exploitation of Music
Vanessa Obioha
As the world marked World Music Day, celebrated annually on June 21, the Director-General of the Nigerian Copying Commission (NCC), John Asein appealed that music be exploited in a responsible manner that guarantees the sustainable growth of the industry and benefits the musician.
In a statement, Asein noted that the current technologies that have changed the way music is made and consumed speak to the theme of this year’s celebration which is ‘Music at Intersections’
“With the possibilities offered by digital manipulation, music has also become susceptible to all forms of exploitation and raw material for other creative works. The theme for this year, “Music at Intersections” succinctly captures this delicate web,” the statement read.
Asein’s position reiterated the value of music in today’s fast-paced world. Oftentimes, society limits music worth to just another form of art or entertainment. Of course, music serves as our collective cultural identity but in Asein’s words, it is an economic commodity that should benefit the right owners as much as it gives pleasure to its listeners.
But in a situation where the creators are poorly enlightened on the value of their works, exploitation of their creativity will continue to grow.
Therefore, with bodies like the NCC, armed by the law to curb copyright crimes, musicians can also increase the return on the physical and intellectual investments that go into the creation of good music.
In this regard, Asein expressed delight in the recent passage by the Senate of a new Copyright Bill which should “help troubleshoot some of the problems identified at the intersections, such as the new technologies, digital manipulations, unconventional business models, regulatory issues and the imperatives for better collective management of rights, effective sanctions against infringements and appropriate support structures.”
He added that “the copyright system remains a veritable tool for easing friction on the tracks on which music runs. For music to play seamlessly and adequately reward investors at every intersection, it is important to have a functional, responsive and supportive copyright system that not only protects rights but also promotes licensing and the secondary exploitation of rights in a fair and equitable manner.”
Marking this year’s celebration, the body reiterated its commitment to continually work with various intersections of music, particularly the CMOs to help bridge the gaps between the volume of usage and royalty collections.
