We will secure Mohbad’s compensation, royalties – Res assures

By Christiana Ekpa

The House of Representatives has assured that they will ensure the late Ilerioluwa Aloba, popularly known as Mohbad, receives proper compensation and royalties from his music.
Reps Olumide Osoba, Chairman of the House Committee on Justice, made this commitment during an interactive session with Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) on the rights and royalties related to Mohbad’s music
This is sequel to a motion of urgent public importance earlier moved by Rep Babajimi Benson (APC-Lagos) to secure the royalties of Mohbad’s song.
Osoba emphasised the significance of securing compensation and royalties, acknowledging that these payments are essential sources of income for musicians.
He said that such will 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, which often wield significant power and can impose unfavorable terms, resulting in artists receiving only a fraction of the royalties they deserve.
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 knowledge gap places them at a disadvantage, as they may not fully grasp the complex legal intricacies surrounding royalty rights.