The Nigerian music landscape is currently navigating a pivotal shift in how creators are paid, following the Federal Government's activation of Section 89 of the Copyright Act 2022—often called the "Levy on Copyright Materials". While the Record Label Proprietors’ Initiative (ReLPI) supports this move to strengthen the creative economy, they have issued a sharp clarification regarding who actually has the right to manage the money.
The Line in the Sand: Compositions vs. Recordings
The heart of the dispute lies in a legal distinction. ReLPI points out in a public statement that the Musical Copyright Society Nigeria (MCSN) is currently authorized to manage musical compositions (the writing and notes), but that authority does not extend to sound recordings (the actual produced tracks).
Under Nigerian law, these are two separate categories with different owners and modes of administration. ReLPI argues that just because there is currently a "gap" in the collective management framework for sound recordings, it doesn't give existing organizations like MCSN an automatic right to step in without a clear mandate from the owners.
A Heavyweight Mandate
To understand why ReLPI's voice carries so much weight, one only needs to look at their roster. Though their membership is selective, they collectively control over 55% of Nigeria’s recorded music market. Their members own and finance the works of some Nigerian most prominent cultural exports like Davido, Wizkid, Burna Boy, Tems, Rema, Ayra Starr, Tems, Simi, Blaqbonez, Omah Lay, Adekunle Gold, Crayon, ODUMODUBLVCK, Victor Uwaifo, Bobby Benson, Osita Osadebe and many others.
ReLPI emphasizes that these are Nigerian-owned assets that drive local employment, tax revenue, and foreign exchange. They also pushed back against claims that they are "foreign-interest dominated," noting that their members—including local subsidiaries of international labels—are lawfully operating Nigerian entities that invest heavily in local talent.
The Demand for a New Architecture
ReLPI isn't trying to block the levy; they are demanding a better way to distribute it. They are calling for a system built on three pillars:
- Transparency & Accountability: Revenues must be distributed through mechanisms that are strictly auditable and accountable to the owners.
- Explicit Authority: Any arrangement for sound recording revenue must be grounded in the express permission of the rights owners.
- Structural Separation: Following international best practices, different types of rights should be managed by separate, specialized structures
ReLPI remains open to working with regulators and the government. Their goal is to ensure Nigeria’s copyright system is not just active, but globally credible and fair to every category of rightsholder. As they put it, the ability to ask "hard questions" about governance is the only way to ensure the industry's long-term sustainability.