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As the world celebrates this year’s World Intellectual Property Day, the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) joined the global community in recognizing the immense value of music as the heartbeat of creativity even as it expressed commitment to fostering an environment that supports the dreams and talents of Nigerian musicians.
While noting that music is a universal language that not only entertains but also educates, motivates, and unites people across the world, the commission said the Federal government is implementing policies that nurture the growth of the industry and protect its intellectual capital.
The commission noted that Nigeria’s global music influence, particularly the infectious energy of Afrobeats, has emerged as a powerful global force as Nigerian musicians are making their mark internationally, with artists topping global charts, selling out stadiums worldwide, and forming powerful cultural connections.
According to NCC, through their music, they have become ambassadors of Nigeria’s identity, values, and resilience, demonstrating the soft power of the country’s creative economy.
Behind every melody, beat, and lyric is a creator—whether a composer, singer, sound engineer, or other key contributors who depends on intellectual property, particularly copyright, to protect their works and ensure they are fairly compensated.
NCC stressed that without strong intellectual property protections, creators would not be incentivized to produce the music that enriches lives worldwide.
Music must feel the beat of intellectual property for the full potential of creativity to be realized, the commission noted.
As the value of Nigerian music continues to rise, the Nigerian government recognized the importance of providing the legal, institutional, and technological support necessary to empower creators.
Despite the international success of Nigerian music, NCC lamented that the royalties earned by the average Nigerian artist remain alarmingly low, with digital piracy exacerbating the issue.
As parts of measures to address the issue, the Commission said it recently revised the Collective Management Regulations to promote transparency, accountability, and good governance among collective management organisations (CMOs).
These organizations play a critical role in ensuring that music royalties are negotiated, collected, and distributed fairly to right holders.
On efforts to tackle piracy and strengthen enforcement, the Commission said has also stepped up efforts to address digital piracy with the support of the Attorney-General of the Federation, who has designated the Nigerian Copyright Commission as a relevant authority under the Proceeds of Crime (Recovery and Management) Act, 2022.
With that the Commission said it is now better equipped to tackle online infringement.
Additionally, the Copyright Act, 2022, provides provisions for the takedown of infringing materials and the blocking of websites hosting illegal content.
The NCC has therefore called on all commercial users of music to obtain proper licenses from right holders or their approved representatives.
This legal obligation ensures that creators are fairly compensated for their work and contributes to the sustainable growth of the industry.
In collaboration with private sector stakeholders, the Commission disclosed that it will launch an aggressive anti-piracy campaign targeting the online environment as it committed to putting in place legally enforceable standards for transparency, digital audits, and real-time royalty reporting to safeguard the rights of creators and ensure a fair, sustainable music ecosystem.
Looking to the future as World Intellectual Property Day 2025 is celebrated, the Nigerian Copyright Commission said it will continue to champion policies that support the growth of the music industry, improve the livelihoods of Nigerian musicians, and foster a culture of creativity and respect for intellectual property.
"We envision a thriving music industry where creativity flourishes, creators are respected, and financial rewards are commensurate with their contributions to the global cultural landscape."