Playing music without licence could lead to 5-year jail term — NCC

The Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) has issued a stern warning to disc jockeys (DJs) across the country, cautioning that playing music publicly without proper licensing could result in severe legal consequences, including imprisonment.

In an official advisory released on Wednesday in Abuja, NCC Director-General John Asein expressed concern over the increasing number of DJs performing music in public spaces without obtaining the necessary copyright licences from authorised collective management organisations (CMOs).

According to Asein, sections 9 and 12 of the Copyright Act, 2022, grant only the copyright owner of a musical work or sound recording the exclusive rights to reproduce, perform, or publicly communicate their content. Any unauthorised use of such works amounts to copyright infringement.

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“Infringement of these rights, whether civil or criminal, is punishable under section 44 (7) of the Act,” Asein stated.

“Offenders risk a fine of at least N1 million, imprisonment for a minimum of five years, or both upon conviction.”

He urged DJs to regularise their operations by obtaining the required licences and paying royalties to the approved CMO before performing copyrighted music in public.

The NCC confirmed that the Musical Copyright Society Nigeria (MCSN) is the only approved CMO for musical works and sound recordings in the country.

The commission also acknowledged that the Disc Jockey’s Association of Nigeria (DJAN) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with MCSN to streamline the licensing process.

Under the agreement, DJAN is responsible for working with MCSN to ensure DJs across Nigeria comply with royalty payments based on an agreed tariff.

Asein concluded by reaffirming the NCC’s commitment to enforcing copyright laws, warning that defaulters will be arrested and prosecuted in accordance with the law.