Emmanuel OchayiIn a virtual meeting on October 1, 2023, key players in the Nigerian music industry came together for an emergency summit. The summit, titled ‘Identification of Internal and External Regulatory Mechanisms to Smoothen the Working Relationship among Various Stakeholders and Subgroups in the Music Industry,’ aimed to identify and address critical issues plaguing the industry.
The summit, organized by the All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) in partnership with various industry bodies, featured a wide array of participants, from musicians and record label owners to entertainment lawyers and music journalists.
Mr. Mike Dada, the President of AFRIMA, expressed the organization’s commitment to finding solutions to the industry’s problems, driven in part by the tragic death of Afrobeat artist Mohbad.
READ ALSO: From Music To Politics: Unraveling The MohBad Controversy
Participants at the summit identified several challenges, including the lack of information for newcomers to the music industry, unfair contracts, inadequate compensation, and limited creative control for artists signed to record labels.
The absence of industry-specific regulations to ensure fair contracts and revenue sharing was also a concern. Additionally, the abandonment of valid contractual agreements by artists and a lack of music business knowledge were seen as factors contributing to industry strife.
A lack of a legal framework with minimum entry requirements to deter substandard practices and the absence of cooperation among industry stakeholders were other pressing issues. The summit also emphasized the importance of addressing the mental health of artists and the need for institutional support in this regard.
Resolutions and Action Plans:
The summit concluded with the adoption of significant resolutions and action plans:
- The importance of legislation was highlighted as a cornerstone for a sustainable music industry. Participants stressed the need for well-crafted laws and regulations to protect artists’ rights, promote innovation, and foster a competitive environment.
- Efforts to engage sectoral bodies not represented at the summit were endorsed for future discussions on industry evolution and growth.
- A four-man ad hoc committee of entertainment and music legal practitioners was proposed to assess the mandates of existing sectoral bodies and strengthen their legal instruments.
- The nomination of representatives from sectoral body leadership to develop an action plan addressing summit issues.
- Consideration of establishing a music institute by an act of parliament was discussed, with further engagement required on this topic.
- Encouragement for artists to join relevant organizations and a call for an umbrella body to consolidate industry structures.
- Advocacy for continuous education and engagement of sectoral bodies on their roles, responsibilities, and benefits.
- A commitment to holding another edition of the Summit Meeting of the Nigerian Music Industry within one month.
- Over 60 industry players participated in the summit, including prominent figures like Dr. Kenny Ogungbe, Mike Dada, Sunny Neji, Pretty Okafor, Olumide Mustapha, Sijuade Adedokun, Chinedu Chukwuji, and many others. The communique was signed by key representatives of AFRIMA, PMAN, AMAMN, MPAN, and RELPI.
The Nigerian music industry, through this summit, has taken a significant step towards addressing its challenges and fostering a more collaborative environment for growth and development.
Follow Us