Reps pledge to secure Mohbad’s compensation, royalties

The House of Representatives on Wednesday assured the family of late Ilerioluwa Aloba, popularly known as Mohbad, of its commitment to secure proper compensation and royalties from his musical works.

Chairman of the House Committee on Justice, Olumide Osoba, representing the Abeokuta North/Odeda/Obafemi-Owode Federal Constituency of Ogun State stated this during an interactive session on the rights and royalties of the deceased rapper who passed on September 12, 2023, at the age of 27.

The resolution followed a motion of urgent public importance earlier moved by Babajimi Benson, the lawmaker representing Ikorodu Federal Constituency, Lagos State on the platform of the All Progressives Congress.

Osoba highlighted the importance of securing compensation and royalties, stressing that payments arising from the sources are part of revenue streams for artists.

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He lamented that the prevailing system in the Nigerian musical industry does not protect musicians, particularly the up-and-coming ones to make the most of their entitlements.

According to him, emerging artists face challenges when negotiating fair royalty agreements, particularly when dealing with major record labels, which often capitalise on the vulnerability of musicians to deny them a fair deal.

“It is crucial to recognise that young musicians are often not well-informed about their rights when entering into contracts”, he said.

“This inadequate awareness on the part of musical artists makes it difficult to get adequate compensation for their works, particularly during disagreements with their record labels.

“Additionally, there is a need to adapt the music industry to the digital age. While digital streaming platforms have revolutionized music consumption and distribution, young musicians often struggle to earn a substantial income due to outdated royalty structures.

“Advocating for revised royalty models that accurately reflect the value of music in the streaming era is essential,” he added.

To this end, Osoba said the committee has requested the relevant information relating to Mohbad’s death and modalities to ensure his royalties and other benefits are secured