The House of Representatives on Wednesday assured the family of Mohbad of its commitment to secure proper compensation and royalties from his musical works.
Olumide Osoba, Chairman, House Committee on Justice, said this when the Copy Rights Commission appeared before it and the Musical Copyright Society of Nigeria in Abuja.
The appearance was an interactive session on the rights and royalties related to the late singer’s music.
This is sequel to a motion of urgent public importance earlier moved by Babajimi Benson (APC-Lagos) to secure the royalties of Mohbad’s songs and lyrics.
Mr Osoba emphasised the significance of securing compensation and royalties, acknowledging that these payments were essential sources of income for musicians.
He said such would enable artists to sustain their careers, create new music, and build a future within the industry.
He, however, said that the current system often falls short in adequately protecting and providing for young musicians concerning their royalty rights.
He said many emerging artists face challenges when negotiating fair royalty agreements, particularly when dealing with major record labels.
He said this often wields significant power and could impose unfavourable terms, resulting in artists receiving only a fraction of the royalties they deserved.
He said, “It is crucial to recognise that young musicians are often not well-informed about their rights when entering into contracts.”
He said such a knowledge gap placed them at a disadvantage, as they might not fully grasp the complex legal intricacies surrounding royalty rights.
He said the responsibility was on society to bridge this gap and ensure that young musicians are aware of their rights and have access to legal support to protect their interests.
He said the committee had requested relevant information regarding the circumstances of Mohbad’s death and the measures in place to secure his royalties and other benefits.
This he said is with a deadline of next week to expedite their action on this assignment.
He said the committee also welcomes any other information or challenges hindering the implementation of the rights and royalties of musicians.
It would be recalled that Mohbad passed away on September 12 under mysterious circumstances.
(NAN)
