As from next year, the Musical Copyright Society Nigeria Lt/Gte (MCSN) will phase out general distribution of royalties to members.
A circular dated November 27, 2025 and signed by the Society’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Mayo Ayilaran, indicated that the general distribution schemes in which most members received same amount of money would be phased out in 2026.
Ayilaran explained further that “though the sum which is far short of our projection from collectable royalties from users of musical works and sound recordings, many of which are still not responding to our invoices, it is clear evidence of massive growth of the membership of the Society within the last circle of distribution and the current one.
“Our desire is to move from analogue and general distribution schemes to a more equitable, scientifically and technologically powered distribution exercises in the near future.”
MCSN strongly advised that members should make it a top priority to notify and register their works on its appropriate platforms by logging into its website or reaching out to the Membership Department.
The collection society also informed its members that it is working towards moving away from what is popularly known as “general distribution” to work-and-use “specific distribution” informed by logs and reports from licensees.
“Over the years, due to lack of necessary technology and programme or broadcast logs from users of music, distribution of royalties have generally been based on the best of judgment and perception of the management, but with the acquisition of the required technology for gathering, keeping and analyzing data of used musical works and sound recordings, general distribution will have to give way to a technologically powered scheme that will be equitable, transparent and beyond dispute,” Ayilaran declared.
Meanwhile, MCSN has received an award for its contributions to the development of the Nigerian music industry. The honour came during the 30th anniversary of Artistes Managers Association of Nigeria (AMAN) held at Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos on Wednesday, November 26. A member of MCSN’s Board of Directors, Dr. Victor Okhai, received the award on behalf of the Society.