PMAN urges Nigerian musicians to register for the copyright levy to ensure fair distribution and inclusion of grassroots creators

The President of the Performing Musicians Employers Association of Nigeria (PMAN), Pretty Okafor, has urged musicians nationwide, particularly grassroots performers, to register on PMAN’s national database and participate in the Copy Levy Beneficiary Verification process.

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The announcement was made during a media briefing at PMAN headquarters in Lagos on Friday.

Okafor emphasised that the initiative is aimed at ensuring equitable distribution of the recently activated Copyright Levy, positioning the funds to benefit all Nigerian creators regardless of location.

He commended President Bola Tinubu for the administrative clarity and political will that facilitated the release of the first tranche under Section 89 of the Copyright Act 2022.

Okafor also thanked the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, the Director-General of the Nigeria Copyright Commission, Dr. John Asein, and Mayowa Ayilaran, CEO of MCSN, for their roles in the process.

“This is not merely a policy announcement; it signals Nigeria’s readiness to move the creative economy from sentiment to structure from applause to accountability,” Okafor stated.

Clarifying the levy’s legal foundation, the PMAN president said the Copyright Levy is a statutory mechanism distinct from standard royalties.

While the concept has existed since 1988, it was largely dormant until recently.

Okafor reiterated that the levy aims to include grassroots musicians and every Nigerian creator.

He encouraged artists to register with MCSN as their Collective Management Organization. PMAN will collate verified entries to support a credible and auditable disbursement process.

PMAN Vice President Olamuyiwa Aralola, popularly known as Ara, also called on musicians to register, while rapper Vector urged industry stakeholders to take a proactive interest in the Copyright Levy framework.

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The appeal is seen as a pivotal step toward transparency and fairness, ensuring that the long-awaited levy system finally reaches the creative professionals it was designed to support.