http://questionmarkmag.com/2010/07/mtv-chief-alex-okosi-on-royalty-for-african-artiste-the-industry-is-not-generating-enough-cash/

Before the launch of MTV Base in February 2005, Music commentators, industry insiders and entertainment writers raised issues of royalty to African artiste for music video that would be aired on the channel as is the practice the world over. The channel that is viewed in countries like United Kingdom, France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Republic of Ireland, Kenya and South Africa is headed and overseen by Alex Okosi.

While some local artiste still see this as ripping off as every foreign video aired on the channel get rewarded, others are not complaining and see it as the perfect promotion platform and premiere their works on the cable network.

In a conversation with Encomium Weekly writer Chilee Agunanna, Alex spoke on MTV Base inability to reward or pay royalties to Nigerian and Africa artistes for using their works.

He informed that there is a move to pay the artiste but ” The challenges with Nigeria is that there is no Collecting Rights Society; the industry is not generating enough cash. ” He said.

He further went on to say: “There are no advertisers paying for their products to be shown within a music video.MTV Base is a platform, a business and in a broadcast business, it is advertising that sustains you. When Nigeria gets a Collecting Rights Society, we would get to that.”

“Even the biggest artists in the U.S are no longer waiting for their royalty cheques because music videos are no longer played that much in the U.S because there’s no stickness to it. The internet has also come up and many videos could be watched online for free.” He concluded.

With the institutionalizing of COSON as the sole collecting society by Nigerian Copyright Commission, does a Nigerian artiste see cheque from MTV Betwork Africa soon? or would have to wait till advertisers begin to pay for their products shown in a video?