The Copy Right Society of Nigeria (COSON) says this year’s “no music day” will hold across Nigeria on September 1 2017. This is part of the strategy adopted to bring the attention of Nigerian to plight that songwriters, composers, performers, music publishers, record labels face in Nigeria.
A statement from the organization says, it will dedicate this year’s edition, themed Music for National Stability, to drawing the attention of Nigerians and government to the widespread infringement of the rights of songwriters, composers, performers, music publishers, record labels and other stakeholders in the music industry.
The group has also decided to appeal to radio stations across Nigeria not to broadcast music between the hours of 8.am and 10am on Friday, September 1, 2017 as a mark of solidarity with the nation’s creative industry whose potential has become diminished by large-scale copyright infringement.
Instead of playing music, the statement says, the stations should dedicate the time belt to interviews, documentaries, debates and discussions that focus on the rights of members of the creative community in Nigeria and the potential contributions of creative activities to the national economy.
The practice of no music was originated by Scottish musician, Bill Drummond, who was anxious to draw public attention to what he perceived as the cheapening of music around the world.
The artiste, according to reports, had at one point in his career become worried that music was gradually losing its essence as an art form due to the thoughtless attitude of users in contemporary society. Then fed up with this and with the fact that music was no longer being used properly, he had decided to set aside a date to “listen to no music whatsoever”.
