The House of Reps has disclosed plans to secure the compensation and royalties from the musical works of late Afrobeats star, Ilerioluwa Aloba, popularly known as Mohbad.
Chairman of the House Committee on Justice, Olumide Osoba, representing the Abeokuta North/Odeda/Obafemi-Owode Federal Constituency of Ogun State, stated this on Wednesday, during an interactive session on the rights and royalties of the 27-year-old rapper.
Recall that Mohbad passed on September 12, 2023, and was buried the next day.
The singer’s corpse was exhumed on September 21 by the Lagos Police for autopsy due to circumstances surrounding the death.
Speaking during the interactive session, the lawmaker representing Ikorodu Federal Constituency, Lagos State, Babajimi Benson, of the All Progressives Congress (APC) platform, raised a motion of urgent public importance on Mohbad’s case.
Osoba highlighted the importance of securing compensation and royalties, stressing that payments from the sources are part of revenue streams for artistes.
He lamented that the prevailing system in the Nigerian musical industry does not protect musicians, particularly the up-and-coming artistes, to make the most of their entitlements, particularly during disagreements with record labels.
It also said it is crucial to recognise that young musicians are often not well-informed about their rights when entering into contracts.
To this end, Osoba noted that the committee has requested the relevant information relating to Mohbad’s death and modalities to ensure his royalties and other benefits are secured.
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 revolutionised music consumption and distribution, young musicians often struggle to earn a substantial income due to outdated royalty structures.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.”
