performing music in public without license: NCC cautious DJs

payment of royalties by Deejays nationwide, based on the tariff that DJAN had negotiated
(Signed)
offence under section 44(7), punishable upon conviction by a fine of not less than
recordings in Nigeria is theMusical Copyright Society,Nigeria (Ltd./Gte.) (MCSN).
with MCSN.
or sound recording has the exclusive right to reproduce, performor communicate it to the
Under sections 9 and 12 of theCopyright Act, 2022, the owner of copyright in a musical work
gardens, or recreational faciities, constitutes both apublic performanceanda
TAKE NOTICE that the Commission will not hesitate toinvestigate, arrest, and prosecuteany
infringement under the Act.Such infringement may constitute a civil wrong or a criminal
with other relevant authorities to support the initiative of DJAN to ensure that Deejays carry
Deejay found to be in contravention of the law. To this end, the Commission will be working
Director-General
representing Deejays in Nigeria, has entered into aMemorandum of Understandingwith
Accordingly, Deejays are hereby advised toobtain appropriate licencesandpay royaltiesto
theapproved Collective Management Organisation (CMO)prior to engaging in such
The attention of the Nigerian Copyright Commissionhas been drawn to the practice of some
licencesfrom rightsholders or their approved Collective Management Organisations (CMOs).
out their trade in compliancewith the Copyright Act.
public. Engaging in any of these acts without the owner’s authorisation constitutes an
MCSN. Under thearrangement, DJAN is authorised to work with MCSN to facilitate the
₦1,000,000.00or imprisonment for a term of not less than five (5) yearsor to both.
performances. For the avoidance of doubt, the approved CMO for musical works and sound
The Commission is aware that theDeejays Association of Nigeria (DJAN),as the umbrella body
The public performance of music by a Deejay, whether at hotels, event centres, clubs,
Disc Jockeys(Deejays)who publicly perform music without obtaining the requisite copyright
For further information, please call 0901 900 1400or send emailtodg@copyright.gov.ng.
communication to the public of the musical work and sound recording, as provided for under
the Act.
Nigerian Copyright Commission