The House of Representatives Committee on Justice has held a hearing with the Nigerian Copyrights Commission (NCC) to discuss the royalties of the late Afrobeat singer, Ilerioluwa Aloba, popularly known as Mohbad.
The committee assured that it will ensure Mohbad receives proper compensation and royalties for his music during the hearing on Wednesday.
The interactive session was also attended by the leadership of the Musical Copyright Society of Nigeria.
The assurance came following a motion of urgent public importance moved earlier by Rep Babajimi Benson (APC-Lagos) to secure the royalties of Mohbad’s songs.
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Olumide Osoba, the Chairman of the Committee stated that they have requested relevant information regarding the circumstances of Mohbad’s death and the measures in place to secure his royalties and other benefits.
Osoba also called for a review of the existing laws guiding royalties in the face of changes in the music industry, noting that most young artists are signing contracts without proper guidance.
He said:
“Many emerging artists face challenges when negotiating fair royalty agreements, particularly when dealing with major record labels, which often wield significant power and can impose unfavourable terms, resulting in artists receiving only a fraction of the royalties they deserve.
“It is crucial to recognise that young musicians are often not well-informed about their rights when entering into contracts.”
