MCSN paid out over ₦300 Million in 2022, set to open the new year with more

Nigerian-based Collecting Management Organization; MCSN (Musical Copyright Society Nigeria Ltd/Gte) distributed over 300 Million naira in 2022 to its members; and set to open the new year, 2023, with more. 

 

Royalties are paid to MCSN for Musical Composition and Sound Recording usage which in turn pays directly to; songwriters, composers, music publishers, performers, producers, and record label members in Nigeria and worldwide when their music is streamed, downloaded, broadcast, performed live and played in public.

Are you a Member of MCSN and did not get Royalty in 2022?

If you’ve been a member of MCSN before 2020 and did not receive your Royalty or payments in 2022, your information needs to be updated to enable us process your payment. 

 

Please update your information to enable you get your unpaid Royalty.

How to become MCSN Member

If you are not yet a MCSN member, you can join for free. Affiliating yourself with MCSN and registering your musical works and sound recordings with us allows you to receive performing and mechanical rights (as applicable) from the use of your works and sound recordings in public.

 

You’ll need to match one or more of the following criteria to join MCSN:

– Your music is being streamed or downloaded.

– Your music is broadcasted on TV, Radio, or Online.

– Your music is performed live.

– Your music is played in a public space (e.g. shop, parks, venues, restaurant).

– Your music is used in film.

– Your music is released by a record company on a CD or vinyl.

– Your music is recorded and used for an audiovisual or multimedia production.

– You (or your business, partnership, organization, etc.) are actively engaged in the music publishing business or Record Label.

MCSN Membership Requirements

Requirements for Music Publishers and Record Labels

– Basic company info.

– Contact info e.g Email, Phone, Address.

– For a Limited Company: Copy of Memorandum and Articles of Association & Certificate of Incorporation.

– For a Partnership Firm: Copy of Partnership Agreement, and certificate of registration.

– For a Sole proprietor: a copy of the proprietor’s ID, and certificate of registration.

– Bank account for Royalty payments.

– Submit atleast three Musical works by atleast 2 Composers or Performers you own the rights to.

Requirements for Composers, Songwriters, Performers, and Producers.

– Basic info e.g Name, Stage name, age, etc.
– Contact info e.g Email, Phone, Address, Next of Kin, etc.
– Copy of your Identification card (e.g National  ID Card, International Passport, NiN, or other ID.)
– Copy of your recent passport-sized photograph clearly showing your face and edges (not a full photoshoot photo).
– Bank account for Royalty payments.
– Submit atleast one Musical work you own the rights to.

Join MCSN

If you are not yet  MCSN member, you can join for free. Click on any of the Membership Category below to begin your registration.

Composer / Songwriter

Join as a Composer, Songwriter, or Lyricist of musical compositions.

Performer / Producer

Join as a Producer, Performing Artiste, Session Musician, or Contributor of sound recordings.

Publisher / Label

Join as a Music Publisher (Musical Composition) or Record Label (Sound Recording).

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

You will receive information from MCSN regarding your online application almost immediately upon submission.

After a successful application, one is required to wait for not more than 2 months for the approval process to be done and a membership number is issued through an official confirmation letter.

MCSN represents songwriters and publishers. The songwriter creates and owns the composition of a song.

The publisher acts on behalf of the songwriter, and they have the right to reproduce and distribute the recording (or any derivatives) of the song.

It would be impossible for the individual composer, lyricist, songwriter or publisher to monitor the public performances and broadcasts by thousands of users of their music across Nigeria and the rest of the world, to issue licenses and collect royalties due.

Similarly if the music of a composer, lyricist, songwriter or publisher is being recorded by another person it would be difficult for the copyright owner to keep track of such recordings. MCSN monitors the use of music, issues licenses, collects license fees and distributes such fees to its members and reciprocal affiliated societies.

Yes, most definitely. Musical Copyright Society Nigeria (MCSN) collects licence fees from broadcasters, webcasters and businesses & organisations that play music in public. We then distribute these royalties amongst Master Rights Holders and Recording Artists based on the recordings registered in our database. If you do not register, we can’t pay you. We also cannot distribute royalties retrospectively, so it’s important to keep track registrations up to date.

The amount which you may receive is determined by your reported airplay/usage for that distribution year against the total amount of the airplay/usage received by all other recordings registered. These funds are collected from Recorded Music MCSN licensees such as broadcasters, public performance venues or special use compilers and production houses.

After you have registered your music with MCSN and have had some success getting your music out there, you will get paid! Most of the time you will have to wait 6-9 months to receive first royalty payment. Then, every quarter subsequently.  International royalties take even longer because of the different pay schedules. Be patient, and watch the royalties slowly increase as you become more established.

You can join MCSN from anywhere in the world – it doesn’t matter where you’re based. Simply follow the application process and we’ll let you know of any extra documentation we might need as you complete the form.

You can join MCSN to represent your rights for certain territories (e.g Nigeria), while your current society represents you elsewhere. As part of our joining process you can choose which countries to exclude from our agreement. So you would simply need to select the countries covered by your existing society. MCSN is the sole approved CMO in Nigeria.

Benefits of registering for MCSN Membership

It is free to Join MCSN

We are a non-profit organization, we do not retain a profit for our services, helping to maximise the royalties paid to members.

Diverse in Membership

Our Members range from session Composers, Musicians and emerging artists to independent and major record labels, and publishers.

Regular Royalty Payments

MCSN issues royalty payments to its members on a regular basis.

We are global

We have direct agreements with over 100 international PROs & CMOs, covering over 90% of total global performance royalty value.

Member support

Our dedicated Member Services team is available to provide you with account support and assistance.

We'll do the heavy lifting

We provide an efficient and effective service by managing your rights with other collective management organisations, saving you time and resource.

Team of experts

Our expert International team has developed strong and trusted relationships across the globe and is constantly delivering a first class, industry-leading service to our members.

Cutting edge technology

Our advanced Repertoire Database enables us to quickly and accurately identify your repertoire data and increase your global payment potential.

Regular Royalty Payments

MCSN issues royalty payments to its members on a quarterly basis.

About MCSN

Musical Copyright Society Nigeria (MCSN) is the Nigerian not-for-profit Collective Management Organization representing the rights of our members locally and internationally. Our members receive royalties for usage of their works across the world, not just in Nigeria.

 

MCSN is governed by the Copyrights Acts (Cap C.28 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (LFN 2004)) and an approved collecting management organization (CMO) on the statutory authority of the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) as directed by the Hon. Attorney General of the Federation and as adjudicated upon by the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

 

Membership is free and open to anyone who Composes, writes, publishes, produces, or Performs on, or owns the rights to, recorded music. Our Members comprise – Songwriters, Composers, Music Publishers, Record Labels, Performers, Producers, and proprietors of musical works.