Nigerian government meets music industry stakeholders over royalty crisis

The Federal Government has taken a major step toward addressing long-standing concerns around royalty distribution and collective management in Nigeria’s music industry, following a high-level meeting with key industry stakeholders in Abuja.

The meeting, held on Tuesday, January 27, was convened amid growing backlash over the handling of royalties by the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) and increasing calls for reform within the country’s collective management framework.

 For many stakeholders, the engagement marked the first serious attempt by government to confront what they describe as a broken system that has failed to prioritise creators and rightsholders.

The session was jointly led by the Minister of Arts, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, alongside the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Olasunkanmi Fagbemi, SAN. Also present were the Director-General of the NCC, Dr John Assien, and the Director-General of the National Council for Arts and Culture, Mr Obi Asika.

Industry representation came from major music sector bodies, including the Record Label Proprietors’ Initiative Ltd/Gte (ReLPI), represented by Mr Kizito Ahams, Senior Licensing and Publishing Manager at Mavin Records, and the Music Publishers Association of Nigeria (MPAN), led by its chairman and Premier Records CEO, Mr Michael Odiong. 

The discussions centred on deep-seated concerns about Nigeria’s collective management architecture, particularly its impact on musicians, publishers, and other rights holders.

Participants raised issues around opaque governance structures, weak accountability, poor reporting standards, and a lack of transparency in how royalties are collected and distributed. 

The meeting followed heightened public scrutiny of the NCC’s recent attempt to disburse private copying levies through a Collective Management Organisation (CMO), a move that previously drew criticism from ReLPI over questions of representation and beneficiary legitimacy.

Attention during the discussions inevitably turned to the Musical Copyright Society of Nigeria (MCSN), currently the only NCC-approved music CMO in the country. 

According to those present, urgent questions were raised around custodianship of funds, distribution processes, and clarity over who ultimately benefits from collected royalties.

Sources familiar with the meeting said the core objective was to review and interrogate Nigeria’s entire collective management framework, with the possibility of restructuring it to restore confidence in the system. 

The emphasis, they noted, was on building a transparent, credible model that places creators and rightsholders at the centre, while ensuring proper oversight and accountability.

Seun Kuti blasts Wizkid over Fela tattoo, calls him “the biggest clout chaser”

Seun Kuti disses Wizkid

Seun Kuti has launched a blistering attack on Wizkid, accusing the global superstar of hypocrisy for carrying a tattoo of Fela Anikulapo-Kuti while allegedly disrespecting the late Afrobeat icon through his actions and the behaviour of his fanbase.

The Afrobeat musician, who is Fela’s son, made the remarks in a video that has since circulated widely on social media, as tensions between the two artists continue to escalate. 

Seun questioned Wizkid’s motives, arguing that it is contradictory to permanently ink Fela’s image on one’s body while allowing fans to insult the legend online.

According to Seun, Wizkid’s tribute to his father is hollow and driven by attention rather than genuine respect. 

He went as far as demanding that the singer remove the tattoo if he cannot truly honour Fela’s legacy.

“You cannot claim to love Fela while your fans insult him,” Seun said. “Wizkid is the biggest clout chaser in the world. That tattoo is an infiltrator, a childish way to enter and destroy from the inside.”

Seun further suggested that Wizkid’s admiration has crossed into something more troubling, accusing him of trying to replace Fela in the hearts of fans rather than celebrating his influence. 

He warned that such behaviour risks weakening the foundations of Afrobeat and what his father stood for.

“What you have is not enough unless other people cannot have it. All the cars, women, houses and fame will never be enough because someone else has something," he added. 

The comments sparked a strong response online, with fans split over the feud. 

While some agreed with Seun’s stance and echoed his concerns about preserving Fela’s legacy, others defended Wizkid, pointing to his role in introducing Fela’s music to a new generation and questioning Seun’s approach.

Wizkid did not stay silent for long. 

In a series of posts on X, the Ojuelegba singer fired back at Seun, repeatedly referring to him as “Auntie Seun” and accusing him of clout-chasing. 

He also alleged that Seun’s recent behaviour was influenced by substance use and mocked his appearance.

In one post, Wizkid described Seun as a “hungry bird” and made it clear that, while he respects Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, he does not extend the same regard to his son. 

His fanbase quickly rallied behind him, amplifying the jabs and flooding Seun’s mentions with similar remarks.

As the exchange continues to dominate conversations online, the clash has reignited broader debates about legacy, respect and who gets to speak for Afrobeat’s past and future.

Oxlade warns artists against skipping sound checks after disastrous London show

Oxlade

Nigerian singer Oxlade has shared a candid warning with fellow performing artists, urging them to never take the stage without a proper sound check, following what he described as one of the worst performances of his career.

Taking to X, the hitmaker addressed performers directly, acknowledging that while event organisers often fall short, artists must still protect their craft. 

“I know organizers can do better with the gadgets required to run a show,” he wrote. “But please, don’t perform anywhere without running a proper sound check.”

Oxlade revealed that the advice was drawn from personal experience, recounting a disappointing headline show in London that left him frustrated and disappointed. 

The event marked his first-ever headline concert in the city, which he co-headlined with fellow Nigerian artist Bella Shmurda, making the experience even more painful.

“Na from sound check you go don know your fate,” he added, explaining that the lack of preparation ultimately set the tone for the night. 

According to the singer, the organisers failed to allow a sound check at the venue before the show, leading to major technical issues once the performance began.

He went on to explain that while the monitor speakers on stage sounded acceptable, the audio quality reaching the audience was poor.

 “The monitor speakers… sounded fair, but the speakers feeding the audience were terrible,” Oxlade wrote, describing the situation as chaotic and unacceptable for a headline event.

Visibly frustrated, the singer did not hold back in his assessment of the show.

 “That gotta be the worst event I performed at,” he said, before ending his message with a blunt reminder to fellow artists: “A word is enough for the wise.”