The Musical Copyright Society Nigeria Ltd/Gte (MCSN) has announced plans to phase out its general distribution of royalties to members beginning next year.
In a communication sent to members, the Society said that from 2026 it will discontinue the general distribution scheme under which most members received the same amount during royalty exercises.
In a circular dated November 27 and signed by the Chief Executive Officer of the Society, Mayowa Ayilaran, while announcing the royalty distribution for the year ended December 31, 2023, the MCSN explained that “though the sum which is far short of our projection from collectable royalties from users of musical works and sound recordings, many of which are still not responding to our invoices, but it is clear evidence of massive growth of the membership of the Society within the last circle of distribution and the current one.”
MCSN also informed its members that its goal is to “move from analogue and general distributions schemes to a more equitable, scientifically and technologically powered distribution exercises in the very near future.”
The Society strongly advised members to make it a priority to notify and register their works on its appropriate platforms by logging into its website or contacting the membership department.
It added that it is working towards replacing what is popularly known as “general distribution” with work-and-use-based “specific distribution” informed by logs and reports from licensees.
In a brief chat, Mr Ayilaran explained the difference between general and specific distribution. He said: “Over the years, MCSN due to lack of necessary technology and program or broadcast logs from users of music, distribution of royalties have generally been based on the best of judgment and perception of the management, but with the acquisition of the required technology for gathering, keeping and analyzing data of used musical works and sound recordings, general distribution will have to give way to a technologically powered scheme that will be equitable, transparent and beyond dispute.”
Meanwhile, at the 30th anniversary celebration of the Artistes Managers Association of Nigeria (AMAN) held at Eko Hotels on Wednesday, November 26, MCSN was recognised with an award as a Creative Industry Builder for its positive impact on the development of the music industry.
