Professional Documents
Culture Documents
“This book dissects the laws that hold the Nigerian music industry together.
It is a crucially needed guide for building mutually beneficial and sustainable
relationships.”
—Mai Atafo, Lagos, Nigeria
“Dr. Gani explores the reality of creative freedoms for music artists in Nigeria
from a fresh and critical author-centric perspective. This is an important book, as
it identifies necessary changes in copyright law and business practices which would
foster fair and just protection for artists, and sustainability for music industries.”
—Gaetano Dimita, Queen Mary University of London, UK
“This is a very interesting book. There is neither much writing available on the
Nigerian popular music industry, nor on Nigerian copyright law. On the question
of creativity in this particular cultural context, creativity and creative autonomy are
usually discussed in relation to European or North American music industries, so
this book covers a new and important field.”
—Bankole Sodipo, Babcock University, Nigeria
“This is an important and quite timely book, particularly in light of the recog-
nition that African music has gained globally in recent years. This book presents
well-thought-out arguments and is indeed a contribution to the body of knowl-
edge in the area of copyright law and cultural industries. The book is elegantly
constructed and addresses the pre-existing issues of creative autonomy, which are
explored in detail, in chapters six, seven and eight. This book is essential for anyone
who is interested in reading about the Nigerian popular music industry, especially in
relation to creative autonomy, and is also interested in the framework of how copy-
right policies may be cultivated to address other issues which impact the Nigerian
economy.”
—Folashade Adeyemo, University of Reading, UK
Mary W. Gani
Creative Autonomy,
Copyright
and Popular Music
in Nigeria
Mary W. Gani
Independent Scholar
London, UK
© The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer
Nature Switzerland AG 2020
This work is subject to copyright. All rights are solely and exclusively licensed by the
Publisher, whether the whole or part of the material is concerned, specifically the rights
of translation, reprinting, reuse of illustrations, recitation, broadcasting, reproduction on
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retrieval, electronic adaptation, computer software, or by similar or dissimilar methodology
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The use of general descriptive names, registered names, trademarks, service marks, etc.
in this publication does not imply, even in the absence of a specific statement, that such
names are exempt from the relevant protective laws and regulations and therefore free for
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The publisher, the authors and the editors are safe to assume that the advice and informa-
tion in this book are believed to be true and accurate at the date of publication. Neither
the publisher nor the authors or the editors give a warranty, expressed or implied, with
respect to the material contained herein or for any errors or omissions that may have been
made. The publisher remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps
and institutional affiliations.
This Palgrave Macmillan imprint is published by the registered company Springer Nature
Switzerland AG
The registered company address is: Gewerbestrasse 11, 6330 Cham, Switzerland
For my mother, Taiwo, and the memory of my father, Bitrus… for their
unwavering love and support, and for teaching me to think.
Foreword
Many works have discussed the notion of creativity within the music
industry, as well as the contours of copyright law within that industry.
There is a dearth of works, however, which draw upon empirical find-
ings emanating from field work undertaken within the industry; and less
so on detailed analysis of one of the most popular world music indus-
tries, namely the Nigerian popular music industry, which has been fore-
front in the international growth of the Afro-Pop or Afrobeats genre.
Dr. Mary Gani’s work fills this lacuna by offering a well-analysed critical
account of the concept of creative autonomy and its effect on copyright
law. The work offers a fresh perspective on music industries as a whole
and a rare glimpse into the modern Nigerian popular music industry that
was hitherto unavailable.
The book explores the theoretical foundations of copyright law and
weaves these concepts in support of the concept of “creative autonomy”
as a means of measuring the creativity of authors. The link between copy-
right and creativity has been discussed in many previous works by several
scholars. Dr. Gani’s work goes further and escalates the notion of creative
autonomy into a tool—using it to gauge the efficacy of copyright law in
incentivising musical creativity, and to determine how existing recording
and business practices can be changed to allow more authentic creative
expression.
This work is a tour de force, combining philosophical theory with copy-
right law, within the dynamic context of the contractual practices in the
vii
viii FOREWORD
ix
x ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I have been, in no small way, enabled and enthused by the love, cheer
and kindness of my family: Mum, Grace, Margaret and Peter!!!! Very
importantly too, Uncle Chris and Auntie Kehinde Umane, Uncle Sam
and Auntie Lande Akinluyi, Christine Atafo, Ayo Akinluyi (!), Tolu Akin-
luyi, Uncle Bishop and Auntie Gloria Kwashi, Auntie Remi Iseko, Auntie
Rebecca Ogunbiyi, Uncle Reuben and Auntie Hajara Danladi, Uncle
Charles and Auntie Uche Ononiwu, and Eyza Anga, among many
others…. It would be impossible to enumerate the innumerable times
they have called, encouraged and given of themselves and their resources
towards the progress of this book.
I am indebted to my friends; Antoinette Kwegan, Dr. Monique
Charles, Dr. Tendayi Bloom, Nicole Nwasike, Matthew and Hannatu
Gabriel, Olohi Omidiji, Dolly Fagbemide, Maryam Olusola-Sowoolu,
Kemi Saleh, Shanu Omole, Dr. Muyiwa Oyinlola, Aibe Dangana and
John and Danni Trombi, among many others, who were supportive and
encouraging even when my schedule was overwhelming. Regular chats
with my Y.W.A.P. family, C.A. family, and my classmates from Air Force
(Girls’) Military Schools, have kept me sane and sociable despite the pres-
sure of writing deadlines. The bonds are old, deep and precious, and I am
grateful for them. To my many relatives and friends who have patiently
understood and forgiven the unreturned phone calls, and endured the
“so happy to see you, but I’ve got to leave” moments of my life in the
last few years; I am grateful for their understanding and steadfast love.
To You, Rohi! Thank You for being there at the beginning and for
being here now at this end.
Contents
xi
xii CONTENTS
Bibliography 275
Index 305
Abbreviations
xvii
List of Statutes, Conventions,
Directives, Decrees and Regulations
xix
xx LIST OF STATUTES, CONVENTIONS, DIRECTIVES, DECREES …
Hansard
HC Deb 05 February 1841, vol 56, col 341–360
US Congressional Reports
HH Rep No 94-1476, 94th Cong, 2nd Sess 56 (1976)
List of Figures
xxiii
List of Tables
xxv
CHAPTER 1
1 Bez is an alternative soul singer in Nigeria, who reportedly had this view,
“Nigerian Music Industry or Nigerian Music Scene, Which One Exists?” (2012),
available at http://www.nigeriamusicnetwork.com/articles/read-nigerian-music-industry-
or-nigerian-music-scene-which-one-exists_136.html (accessed 8 May 2013); the same view
was held by Clarence Peters, a renowned music video director, Agunanna, C, “There’s
Nothing Like a Nigerian Music Industry!—Clarence Peters” (2009), available at http://
chileik.wordpress.com/2009/11/08/ (accessed 9 May 2013); Steve Rhodes was a widely
respected veteran musician and broadcaster in Nigeria, who argued that the industry
featured minimal division of labour and no specialised departments for various business
skills, Rhodes, S, “Reflections on Nigerian Music Industry”, available at http://www.
livingprojectslimited.com/steverhodes/biography-music-industry.htm (accessed 10 May
2013); http://stampedecora.blogspot.com/2008/06/steve-rhodes-art-stampede-sunday-
june.html (accessed 28 November 2019); Onuoha, F, “‘There Is No Music Industry
in Nigeria’—Ade Bantu” (2011), available at http://www.businesseyenigeria.com/
business-news/entertainment/there-is-no-music-industry-in-nigeria-ade-bantu (accessed 8
May 2013).
There is no structure. People are just getting shows and getting paid but
it’s temporal. We all know that. Everybody is getting paid by the corporate
and they are always looking for the next best thing. As soon as they find
it, they carry their money and move there…. Until we can find recording
artists that are true to what they are doing no matter the kind of music
it is and there is a market that will pay you for your work; a market that
will respect your intellectual property, then we cannot lay any claims to a
music industry.3
2 Nwokocha, U and Aluko, S, “Nigeria: A Case for Multiple Collecting Societies for
the Nigerian Entertainment Industry” (2010), available at http://www.mondaq.com/x/
102580/Copyright/A+Case+For+Multiple+Collecting+Societies+For+The+Nigerian+Ent
ertainment+Industry (accessed 3 May 2013).
3 Agunanna, C, “There’s Nothing Like a Nigerian Music Industry!—Clarence Peters”,
op. cit.
4 Frith, S, Music for Pleasure (Routledge, New York, 1988), p 12.
5 Wikstrom, P, The Music Industry: Music in the Cloud (Polity Press, Cambridge and
Malden, 2009), p 49.
6 Agunanna, C, “There’s Nothing Like a Nigerian Music Industry!—Clarence Peters”,
op. cit.
1 THE SIGNIFICANCE OF MEASURING CREATIVE AUTONOMY … 3
7 Infra, Sect. 1.2.2; the term “singer-songwriters” is often used in pop-culture parlance,
to refer to individuals in the music industry who function in the dual roles of performer
and author; (authors are often referred to as composers).
8 Record label executives represent the capital and technical aspects of popular music
production, Frith, S, Music for Pleasure, op. cit., p 12.
9 Infra, Sect. 4.5.1.
4 M. W. GANI
10 The research questions for this book are discussed subsequently in this chapter, infra,
Sect. 1.5.
11 Negus, K, and Pickering, M, Creativity, Communication and Cultural Value (Sage,
London, Thousand Oaks, et al., 2004), p 47.
12 Infra, Sect. 4.5.1.
1 THE SIGNIFICANCE OF MEASURING CREATIVE AUTONOMY … 5
uniform sound and creative approach.13 In the earlier part of this decade,
trends in music creativity were criticised thus-
Save for a few Urban musical artists like 2Face, MI… amongst a few others
that have found a way of making music that’s both critically and commer-
cially acclaimed, the rest of the artists are caught up in the loop of having
to choose between compromising their standards and cashing in, or staying
true to the art and wallowing in penury. The third option which is not so
much an option since only a select few can function in this regard, is
balancing the act by making music that can serve both purposes.14
In the same vein, it has been asserted that the beats and backing tracks
for many Nigerian popular songs also sound the same,15 and the lyrics of
13 In discussing the music scene in 2012, Inienger argues that ‘it became monotonous
and stale, fans complained about loss of excitement towards “Nigerian Music” and
at some point it began to look like music coming out of Nigeria was about to
peak out due to this stagnation’, Inienger, V, “Progress: 13 Things Nigerian Artists
and the Nigerian Music Industry Need to Improve on in 2013” (2013), available
at http://www.jaguda.com/2013/01/07/progress-13-things-nigerian-artists-and-the-nig
erian-music-industry-need-to-improve-on-in-2013/ (accessed 3 April 2013). Around the
same time, Yomi Black observed that ‘they all sound alike and hide under auto tune and
sample beats’; he responded to the problem by initiating a radio and online show intended
at objectively reviewing Nigerian popular songs, “A Letter from Yomi Black: Why I
Do Radio Hit Show” (2012), available at http://radiohitshow.tumblr.com/post/329590
30825/a-letter-from-yomi-black-why-i-do-radiohit-show#disqus_thread (accessed 3 April
2013). The same concern has been expressed on Nigerian chat forums, “Nigerian Music
Is Sounding the Same: Same Beat!” (2010) Nairaland Forum, available at http://www.
nairaland.com/474824/nigerian-music-sounding-same-same#6342740 (accessed 3 April
2013); Ewoma, U, “The Industry: Problems with the Nigerian Music Industry”
(2013), available at http://www.lumeviews.com/2013/03/20/the-industry-problems-
with-the-nigerian-music-industry/ (accessed 3 April 2013).
14 Layode, D, “Bring Back the Listening Habit” (October 12, 2012) Nigerian
Sounds Editorial, available at http://nigeriansounds.com/archives/10708 (accessed 9
April 2013).
15 However, Ewoma does not consider this phenomenon problematic as reference is
made in his article to a similar phenomenon in the Jamaican music industry. The difficulty
with accepting the rationalization of this writer is that this assessment of the Jamaican
music scene is made without any analysis of the veracity of this trend in Jamaica, or its
effects on the economics of the Jamaican music industry. It also does not include any
scholarly references on the Jamaican music industry, Ewoma, U, “The Industry: Problems
with the Nigerian Music Industry”, op. cit.
6 M. W. GANI
what they independently want to sing and portray, many others may be
engaged in creative directions that they have been pressured to adopt.
Comments about the industry thus suggest the presence of an interplay
between creative and commercial elements that appear to be embroiled in
a form of rivalry. It is the effect of this rivalry on the creative autonomy of
artists that forms the motivation for this book. It may be surmised that the
rivalry between creative and commercial elements in the determination of
songs to release as part of an artist’s music career is primarily played out in
the authorial process. This dilemma may be more acutely experienced by
authors who also perform their original works as popular artists. The next
subsection will therefore consider the intersection between creating and
performing a musical work, as it may be necessary to define the central
role in the authorial exercise that results in popular music.
there is only one real deprivation, I decided this morning, and that is not
to be able to give one’s gift to those one loves most… The gift turned
inward, unable to be given, becomes a heavy burden, even sometimes a
kind of poison. It is as though the flow of life were backed up.26
of the combination of these rights with particular emphasis on performing rights, may
constitute the description of a “performing author”-
6. General nature of copyright
(1) Subject to the exceptions specified in the Second Schedule to this Act, copyright
in a work shall be the exclusive right to control the doing in Nigeria of any of the
following acts, that is-
(a) in the case of a literary or musical work, to do and authorise the doing of any
of the following acts-
(i) reproduce the work in any material form;
(ii) publish the work;
(iii) perform the work in public;
(iv) produce, reproduce, perform or publish any translation of the work;
(v) make any cinematograph film or a record in respect of the work;
(vi) distribute to the public, for commercial purposes, copies of the work, by
way of rental, lease, hire, loan or similar arrangement;
(vii) broadcast or communicate the work to the public by a loudspeaker or
any other similar device;
(viii) make any adaptation of the work;
(ix) do in relation to a translation or an adaptation of the work, any of the
acts specified in relation to the work in sub-paragraphs (i)–(vii) of this
paragraph.
The rights of authors under copyright law are further elucidated, infra, Sect. 1.8.2.
24 The ability of such persons to execute musical performances of their works is assumed
and is not questioned in this book.
25 Hyde, LW, The Gift: How the Creative Spirit Transforms the World (Canongate,
Edinburgh, New York, et al., 2006), p 148.
26 Sarton, M, Journal of Solitude, cited in Hyde, LW, The Gift: How the Creative Spirit
Transforms the World, op. cit., p 148.
1 THE SIGNIFICANCE OF MEASURING CREATIVE AUTONOMY … 9
authors in the course of contractual relations with record labels. This book
analyses this question through the lens and experiences of performing
authors in the Nigerian popular music industry.
This book’s investigation of copyright’s applied effects on creative
autonomy is conducted in an argument of three sequences. Firstly, it
queries the level to which executive decisions of record labels are influ-
enced by commercial factors. Analysing the data collected for this book,30
it also questions the influence of record label executives on the creative
processes of performing authors. Secondly, considering the realities of the
Nigerian music industry, the book explores copyright justification theories
to highlight the primacy of creative autonomy within copyright theory. In
the process, it questions the sufficiency of competing author-centric deon-
tology and economic consequentialism, and the practicality of a fused,
middle-line approach will be emphasised.31
Thirdly, the book explores elements of copyright law and contract
terms that record labels typically utilise, which may stifle the creative
autonomy of performing authors. The positive link in each of the three
sequences confirms that in practical terms, copyright law can have a causal
influence on the creative autonomy of performing authors. In this way,
this book thus establishes the need to prioritise creative autonomy for
performing authors in copyright law and rhetoric.
this book. Deontological theories are centred on a sense of sanctity in authorial expres-
sion and imply the primacy of creative autonomy, while consequentialist theories arrive
at their conclusions on the basis of economic analysis of competing interests, Dutfield, G
and Suthersanen, U, Global Intellectual Property Law (2nd ed, Edward Elgar, Cheltenham
and Northampton, 2020), p 27; be that as it may, consequentialist theories also feature
references to the importance of creative autonomy, in a way that may easily be overlooked
by proponents of consequentialism, infra, Sect. 5.4.3.3.
30 Infra, Chapter 4.
31 Jaszi, P, “Toward a Theory of Copyright: The Metamorphosis of ‘Authorship’”, op.
cit., p 502; infra, Sect. 5.4.
1 THE SIGNIFICANCE OF MEASURING CREATIVE AUTONOMY … 11
music in the period between the mid-1990s and 2014.32 The develop-
ments in this period are the basis on which the arguments in this book
are made, and this is because the era appears to have served as a defining
moment for the industry’s structure as well as its creative style and values.
With reference to the developments in creative style, the earlier part of
this era was characterised by the rise of certain Afro-Pop sensations such
as Junior and Pretty.33 The genre of music they created was initially called
‘Fufu Flavour’,34 but appears to have now become known as ‘Afro-Pop’,
‘Nigerian Hip Hop’, or ‘Naija Hip Hop’.35 Afro-Pop has been described
32 Since 2014, the internationalisation of Nigerian Afro-Pop has become more apparent.
In 2019, there appeared to be a trend of foreign recording companies signing on Nigerian
talent, and exploring inroads to Nigerian markets, Abumere, PI, “Eyeing Big Money in
Nigerian Music” (2018) BBC News, available at https://www.pwc.co.za/en/assets/pdf/
entertainment-and-media-outlook-2018-2022.pdf (accessed 29 November 2019).
33 Junior and Pretty are generally believed to have been ‘the first Nigerians to rap
in pidgin [broken English] and make the music local’. Music projects of this nature
were not popular prior to the group’s debut, and having received critical and commer-
cial acclaim from the mid 1990s until Junior’s death in 2005, they have been described
as the first Afro- Hip Hop group in Nigeria, http://www.storm360degrees.com/abo
ut-us/ (accessed 3 May 2013); Augoye, J, “Flashback: Junior and Pretty” (10 August
2012) Punch, available at http://www.punchng.com/entertainment/e-punch/flashback-
junior-and-pretty/ (accessed 3 May 2013); by 1994, songs like their Monica, had become
nationally popular, Shonekan, S, “Nigerian Hip Hop: Exploring a Black World Hybrid”,
in Charry, E (ed), Hip Hop Africa: New African Music in a Globalizing World (Indiana
University Press, Indiana, 2012); according to Obi Asika who is the CEO of Storm
360, a West African entertainment company, his Company discovered the duo of Junior
and Pretty on their television show “Clapperboard Weekend Raps” in 1992, Oduok, U,
“Ladybrille Exclusive: Interview with Storm Records’ Music Mogul, Obi Asika”, avail-
able at http://www.evancarmichael.com/African-Accounts/1508/Ladybrille-ExclusiveInt
erview-with-Storm-Records-Music-Mogul-Obi-Asika.html (accessed 3 May 2013); Other
Nigerian artists and bands whose music defined the era include the Remedies, Planta-
tion Boys, Alex O and Alex Zitto, Nwonwu, FC, “Nigeria Music Conquers Africa: Eyes
the World” (2011), available at http://www.nigeriavillagesquare.com/guest-articles/nig
eria-music-conquers-africa-eyes-the-world.html (accessed 3 May 2013); Abiola, A, “The
Power and Glory of Naija Music” (2011), available at http://www.africanews.com/site/
The_Power_and_Glory_of_Naija_Music/list_messages/37685 (accessed 4 May 2013).
34 The name Fufu Flavour was significant of the ease with which the beats in this genre
appealed to the common Nigerian on the streets, Ademola, O, “Pioneers of Naija Hip
Hop Music” (2011), available at http://www.nigerianbestforum.com/index.php?topic=
146431.0 (accessed 4 May 2013).
35 “Naija” is a word that is colloquially used in reference to “Nigeria” among Nigerians.
12 M. W. GANI
36 Shonekan, S, “Nigerian Hip Hop: Exploring a Black World Hybrid”, op. cit.;
Ademola, O, “Pioneers of Naija Hip Hop Music”, op. cit.
37 Ademola, O, “Pioneers of Naija Hip Hop Music”, op. cit.
38 Larkin, B, Signal and Noise; Media, Infrastructure, and Urban Culture in Nigeria,
op. cit., p 218; the use of local marketers appears to have now become the norm, and it
has been asserted that they are the kings of the music business, Ademola, O, “Pioneers
of Naija Hip Hop Music”, op. cit.
39 Oduok, U, “Ladybrille Exclusive: Interview with Storm Records’ Music Mogul,
Obi Asika”, op. cit.; “Why Nigerian Artists Dominate BET’s ‘Best Interna-
tional Act’ List”, available at http://www.thisisafrica.me/music/detail/1700/Why-Nig
erian-artists-dominate-BET’s-%22Best-International-Act%22-list (accessed 8 May 2013);
“Nigerian Artists Dominate MTV African Music Awards [MAMA]” (2010), avail-
able at http://www.gistexpress.com/2010/12/12/nigerian-artists-dominate-mtv-african-
music-awards-mama/ (accessed 8 May 2013); “Nigeria Dominates Channel O Music
Video Awards” (2012), available at http://allafrica.com/view/group/main/main/id/000
21037.html (accessed 8 May 2013).
40 Abumere, PI, “Eyeing Big Money in Nigerian Music”, op. cit.; in terms of Nige-
ria’s international efforts, African bloggers have observed that Nigerian artists appear to
dominate the awardees and the list of nominees of the Black Entertainment Television’s
awards for the “Best International Act”, “Why Nigerian artists dominate BET’s ‘Best
International Act’ list”, op. cit.; “Total Recall: Why Naija Musicians are Dominating Bet
Awards?” (2012), available at http://ebuzzafrica.com/news/total-recall-why-naija-musici
ans-are-dominating-bet-awards/267 (accessed 8 May 2013); Tucker, B, “Africa is a Cate-
gory” (2012), available at http://africasacountry.com/2012/05/30/africa-is-a-category/
(accessed 8 May 2013).
1 THE SIGNIFICANCE OF MEASURING CREATIVE AUTONOMY … 13
the USA and many in the UK already have reasonably defined administra-
tive structures,41 and have a history of commercial success in international
markets.42 This may be due to the technological advancements respon-
sible for the genesis of the music industry that were first made or
introduced in these economies.43 Moreover, with regard to the inter-
national markets for UK popular music, the international commercial
success of the UK popular music industry may be traced to the foot-
prints of colonialism during which period certain aspects of British culture
gained popularity in the former colonies.44
45 The plummeting of CD sales and the rise of internet and mobile consumption of
music has necessitated new business models, “Music Industry Structure”, available at
http://www.generator.org.uk/node/58 (accessed 9 May 2013); UK Music, “Response
to: Path to Strong, Sustainable and Balanced Growth”, op. cit.; Smith, T, “A Brief History
of the Music Industry”, op. cit.
46 Asein, JO, Nigerian Copyright Law and Practice (2nd ed, Books and Gavel Ltd.,
2012), p 35 and p 38; (11 July 2013) Interview with Bankole Sodipo, Professor of Law,
Babcock University, Nigeria, and Partner, G.O. Sodipo & Co. Nigeria.
47 The sources and materials used in this study will be discussed, infra, Sect. 1.6 of this
book.
1 THE SIGNIFICANCE OF MEASURING CREATIVE AUTONOMY … 15
48 “IFPI Digital Music Report 2014: Lighting Up New Markets”, op. cit., p 38.
49 Ibid., p 39.
50 “IFPI Global Music Report 2019: State of the Industry”, op. cit., p 23.
51 Ayeni, A, “Nigerian Entertainment Conference 2014: To Hell with Cliques and
Camps” (23 April 2014) Nigerian Entertainment Today, available at http://thenet.ng/
2014/04/nigerian-entertainment-conference-2014-to-hell-with-cliques-and-camps/com
ment-page-1/#comment-265522 (accessed 9 May 2014); Ihidero, C, “Chris Ihidero
Unedited: #NECLive 2014…Here We Go Again” (23 April 2014) Nigerian Entertain-
ment Today, available at http://thenet.ng/2014/04/chris-ihidero-unedited-neclive-201
4here-we-go-again/ (accessed 9 May 2014).
16 M. W. GANI
can negatively affect competition in the music industry and can hinder
diversity in a way that results in the proliferation of homogenous music.52
It has even been argued that record labels and recording companies
do not engage in artistic or authorial activity as described in copyright
law, but function in more of a manufacturing capacity, producing and
distributing the authorial works of authors and performers.53
Local efforts in music production, and the creative autonomy of
performing authors are thus essential elements for a diversified music
industry that seeks to safeguard sustainable development.
a. Who determines what songs are released to the public? And does the
process of such determination serve as an external influence on the
authorial process?54
This book discusses the traditional structure of the popular music industry
and highlights the unique development of the Nigerian structure. It then
conducts and analyses empirical research by sampling the opinions of
performing authors. By contrasting the data from performing authors
against data recorded from record label executives and other stakeholders
in the music industry, the book identifies corroborations in the contextual
analysis of data from all three subject groups that is revealing and instruc-
tive. In this way, this book will identify the ways in which performing
authors’ creative autonomy may be jeopardised. Addressing this question
52 Alexander, PJ, “New Technology and Market Structure: Evidence from the Music
Recording Industry”, op. cit., p 121.
53 Thomas, D, Copyright and the Creative Artist (Institute of Economic Affairs,
London, 1967), p 34.
54 Infra, Chapter 4.
1 THE SIGNIFICANCE OF MEASURING CREATIVE AUTONOMY … 17
In this regard, the book will consider the deontological and consequen-
tialist theories upon which justificatory arguments for copyright law have
been made. The book will identify the concept of creative autonomy that
is latent in deontological theories, and will then lean on a consequentialist
framework in order to recommend creative autonomy as an additional
dimension to the economic analysis of copyright law. The book will thus
introduce a fused approach to the theory of copyright law. One of the
concerns of this book is to provide a framework through which copyright
policies may be tailored specifically for the developmental needs of the
Nigerian popular music industry and by extension, the Nigerian economy.
This is with particular regard to ensuring increased variety and volume in
the cultural output of the Nigerian popular music industry. It has been
noted earlier in this introductory chapter that legal and social parallels
may be observed between the Nigerian situation and the popular music
industries of other countries.57 To that extent, the arguments in this book
may be deemed relevant for such countries.
59 Some of these other genres such as Nigerian folk and traditional music are often
folkloric in nature, and the identification of an author or a group of authors may be diffi-
cult. As a result, copyright analysis of such genres may entail distinct methods from the
methods adopted in this book, Seeger, A, “Traditional Music Ownership in a Commodi-
fied World”, in Frith, S and Marshall, L (eds), Music and Copyright (2nd ed, Edinburgh
University Press, Edinburgh, 2004), p 158.
1 THE SIGNIFICANCE OF MEASURING CREATIVE AUTONOMY … 19
60 The assumption that the popular music industries in the UK and the USA are more
developed than the Nigerian popular music industry is based on established industrial
structures and market size; supra, Sect. 1.3.
61 The discussion on contracts will be with essentially centred on common law notions,
infra, Chapter 8.
62 Infra, Sects. 1.8.2 and 5.3.4.
63 Infra, Sect. 4.2.5; the level of musical skill expressed in the performances of authors
who perform their works is not questioned in this book.
64 Infra, Sect. 1.8.4.
65 Infra, Sect. 1.8.2.
66 The problem of homogenous cultural output in the Nigerian popular music industry
is discussed above, supra, Sect. 1.1.
20 M. W. GANI
There are some issues in copyright law to which this book will refer,
but will not analyse in detail. For instance, it will discuss certain aspects
of moral rights, particularly with reference to the practical effects of the
purported restriction of its transmission under Nigerian copyright law.67
However, moral rights in themselves are not considered within the main
ambit of this book. Furthermore, in the section of this book which
discusses the requirement of fixation under copyright law and its possible
effects on performing authors, it is observed that copyright does not exist
in ideas, but in their fixed format.68 While it may be argued that trade
secrets are an example of intellectual property existing in ideas,69 this
book will not attempt a consideration of trade secrets, or a verification of
this notion.
It is significant to note that the effect of the internet and digitisation on
the business of music are issues that have generated significant concern,
and academic and industrial attention.70 As a result, new business models
and modified legal regulations have been explored in order to secure
the economic contributions of the music industry.71 It may be argued
that the digitisation of music has implications for the ability of copy-
right owners to protect their works from unauthorised users, and their
ability to secure compensation for their efforts. With further regard to the
impact of digitisation on music business, the availability of internet access
in Nigeria has vastly increased and this may have contributed positively to
the emerging development of the Nigerian popular music industry. The
strategic enforcement of copyright law for the purpose of safeguarding
the commercial dealings in digital music may therefore be an important
72 In Chapter 7 of this work, this book will question whether the business practice
of scouting for new talent via the internet has any effects on the creative autonomy of
performing authors, Pitt, IL, Economic Analysis of Music Copyright: Income, Media and
Performances (Springer, New York, et al., 2010), p 82; specifically, it will question whether
this practice involves commercial undertones that go beyond the scope of musical talent.
The bane is whether record labels scout purely for new musical talent, or are keen to cash
in on the popularity of individuals who successfully build an internet followership. It may
also be a combination of both factors with emphasis on either, infra, Sect. 7.3.
73 “Without Reliable Statistics, No Development” (2011), available at http://pmnews
nigeria.com/2011/09/21/without-reliable-statistics-no-development/ (accessed 15 May
2013).
74 Nigeria’s legal tradition is derived from the British common law system, Babafemi,
FO, Intellectual Property; the Law and Practice of Copyright, Trademarks, Patents and
Industrial Designs in Nigeria (Justinian Books Limited, Ibadan, 2006), p vi and p 1.
75 Section 32 (1) Interpretation Act C123, LFN 2004 (Nigeria).
22 M. W. GANI
The statutory application of English case law thus has the year 1900 as a
cut off mark. Despite what appears to be relatively active legislative and
regulatory activity on copyright issues in Nigeria in the period since inde-
pendence in 1960,76 it has been argued that litigation of disputes in this
area and the resultant case laws are needed to lend further credence to
copyright jurisprudence in Nigeria.77 Be that as it may, it has been noted
that the use of foreign case law in copyright litigation in Nigeria is not
unusual,78 although it has been established that recourse to foreign cases
should be made only in the absence of local authorities.79
Accordingly, this book makes primary reference to Nigerian copyright
law in its legal analysis, but also relies to some extent on Anglo-American
academic resources for economic and philosophical arguments, and the
discussions on the traditional structure of the music industry. It uses
76 Nigeria’s current law on Copyright was initially promulgated as the Copyright Decree
of 1988. It was amended in 1992 by the by the Copyright (Amendment) Decree No.
98 of 1992, and in 1999 by the Copyright (Amendment) Decree No. 42 of 1999. The
use of Decrees in the legislative history of Nigerian copyright law is characteristic of
military rule that pervaded the Country until 1999. It is currently codified and referred
to as Copyright Act, Chapter 28, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004. For the
purpose of distinguishing between the copyright laws of other countries which will be
referred to in this work, it will be referred to as the “Copyright Act C28, LFN 2004
(Nigeria)”. Subsidiary regulations and orders made under Section 37 (5), Section 39 (7)
and Section 41 of the Copyright Act (Nigeria) are as follows-
i. Copyright (Reciprocal Extension) Order 1972
ii. Customs and Excise (Copyright) Regulations 1973
iii. Nigerian Copyright Commission (Appointment of Copyright Inspectors) Notice
1977
iv. Copyright (Video Rental) Regulations 1999
v. Copyright (Security Devices) Regulations 1999
vi. Copyright (Optical Discs Plants) Regulations 2006
vii. Copyright (Collective Management Organizations) Regulations 2007
viii. Copyright (Dispute Resolution Panel) Rules 2007; Asein, JO, Nigerian Copyright
Law and Practice (2nd ed, Books and Gavel Ltd., 2012), p 37.
77 Asein, JO, Nigerian Copyright Law and Practice, op. cit., p 35.
78 Ibid.; Plateau Publishing Co Ltd v Adophy (1986) 34 (4) NWLR 295; American
Motion Picture Export Co (Nig) Ltd v Minnesota (Nig) Ltd (Suit No FHC/L/83/1979)
Unreported; Yemitan v Daily Times (Nig) Ltd (1980) FHCLR 186.
79 Ajomale v Yaduat (No 2) (1991) 5 NWLR 266; Kolawole v Alberto (1989) 1 NWLR
382.
1 THE SIGNIFICANCE OF MEASURING CREATIVE AUTONOMY … 23
1.7 Methodology
Although the major concern of this book is creative autonomy rather than
creativity per se, this section will identify some of the methodological diffi-
culties that have been encountered in earlier investigations of creativity,
and will attempt to establish the reason for the focus of this book on
the subject of creative autonomy, as distinct from creativity. The method-
ology that this book adopts in the investigation of the effect of copyright
on performing authors’ creative autonomy will then be highlighted.
80 Demers argues that intellectual property laws such as copyright and trademarks can
hinder or stimulate creativity, depending on the way individual creators of musical works
respond to the creative practice of transformative appropriation, Demers, J, Steal This
Music: How Intellectual Property Law Affects Musical Creativity (University of Georgia
Press, Athens, Georgia, 2006), p 10; there also appears to be a significant body of
economic arguments analysing whether or not copyright incentivises creativity, Breyer,
S, “The Uneasy Case for Copyright: A Study of Copyright in Books, Photocopies and
Computer Programs” (1970) 84 (2) Harvard Law Review, pp 281–351; Plant, A, “The
Economic Aspects of Copyright in Books” (1934) 2 Economica, pp 167–195; Hurt, RM
and Schuchman, RM, “The Economic Rationale of Copyright” (1966) 56 (1/2) The
American Economic Review, pp 421–432; Boldrin, M and Levine, DK, “Does Intellectual
Monopoly Help Innovation?” (2009) 5 (3) Review of Law and Economics, pp 991–1025.
81 Demsetz argues that the custom by which economists seem to touch only lightly on
the subject of creativity is not recent and that the issue of creativity has been of bigger
concern to sociologists and psychologists, Demsetz, H, “Creativity and the Economics
of the Copyright Controversy” (2009) 6 (2) Review of Economic Research on Copyright
Issues, pp 5–12, pp 5–7; similarly, it has been argued that standard economics of copy-
right, in its concern with incentivizing creative activity, does not include consideration
for certain aspects of the arts which may be considerably pertinent for artists and for
24 M. W. GANI
cultural production as a whole. Towse asserts that standard economics of copyright does
not take particular cognisance of the arguments that copyright regimes may increase the
cost of authoring new works and lessen their supply. For the purposes of cultural policy
formulation, she also argues that it is pertinent to identify and establish whether copyright
actually benefits creators of copyright works, Towse, R, “Copyrights and Artists: A View
from Cultural Economics”, op. cit., pp 567–569.
82 Demsetz, H, “Creativity and the Economics of the Copyright Controversy”, op. cit.,
p 7.
83 Demsetz, H, “Creativity and the Economics of the Copyright Controversy”, op. cit.,
p 7; Cohen asserts that the challenge for the analysis of creativity in copyright scholarship
raises methodological problems and is threefold. First, there is the question of whether to
assess creativity on the basis of deontological, rights- based arguments or on the basis of
consequential analysis which would consider ‘broader societal patterns’. Secondly, deter-
mining ‘the appropriate metric for evaluating creative output’ may be problematic. Thirdly,
she asserts that such studies would entail ‘a required pre- commitment to abstraction- to
the paramount importance of the idea’, Cohen, JE, “Creativity and Culture in Copyright
Theory” (2007) 40 (3) UC Davis Law Review, pp 1151–1206, p 1152.
84 Demsetz, H, “Creativity and the Economics of the Copyright Controversy”, op. cit.,
p 8.
85 Ibid.
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excess of chlorophyll, clover, alfalfa, acrid vegetables, bacterial infection secondary,
acrid insects in food; symptomatic of gastritis, pharyngitis, diseased teeth, specific
fevers. Symptoms: Congestion and tumefaction of buccal mucosa, lips and salivary
glands; Epithelial desquamation; fœtor; salivation; froth; papules; vesicles.
Prognosis. Treatment: Cool soft food; antiseptics; wet applications to skin;
derivatives.
This is much more common in the adult than in suckling domestic
animals. None of the domestic mammals or birds can be considered
immune from it, but as its causes and manifestations differ
somewhat it seems well to consider it separately in the different
genera.
GENERAL CATARRHAL STOMATITIS IN
SOLIPEDS.