Veteran artist, Ruggedman, has called on the Nigerian Senate to approve the new revenue sharing formula between artists and telecommunication companies as recommended by the Honorable Ahmed Abu-led Ad-hoc Committee on Operational Activities of Telecommunication Providers.
The veteran rapper, who made this call in a series of tweet on his Twitter timeline today, claimed that Nigerian artists and telecoms content providers were often cheated by the telecoms service providers.
In the proposed sharing formula presented by the Senate Ad-hoc Committee on Operational Activities of Telecommunications, Nigerian artists would now take 70% of revenue from their contents, while the telecoms company distributing it get 30%.
Ruggedy Baba wrote on Twitter that the 70-30 proposition was one of the best Christmas gifts the artists could possibly get this year, if approved by the Nigerian Senate.
Ruggedman tweeting with the hashtag #AdHocHearingNov30, explained that telecommunication companies always disregarded the rights of artists, thereby turning them to slaves even if they were not in the corporate employ.
“Artistes are being enslaved even with their fightings by the Telcos since regulation and accountability is an issue in the country.”
He said the Ad-hoc hearing was an effort at institutionalising a reform that would change the fate of the music industry for good.
According to the artist, the telcos have repeatedly violated the “statutory act of the Nigerian law, guiding contracts and policies between the Telecoms and the Nigerian music, creative artists and content makers.”
“Telcos have been making billions off Nigerian artists music, while the owners of the content, the Musicians and Creative artists continue to languish in poverty.”
He stated further that if proper regulations were put in place content producers, song writers, singers, and other collaborators can earn a fortune from their work.
“Like it applies everywhere else in the world. This would ensure content Publishing is efficient.”
https://mobile.twitter.com/RuggedyBaba/status/943821559097118720?p=v
You can also join the advocacy for a better music industry by signing this public petition. Follow the link below:
http://citizengo.org/en/132479-check-telcos-economic-sabotage-impliment-right-royalty-sharing-ratio-70-artists-30-telcos