Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria( PMAN) President, yesterday said the process of managing royalties for Mohbad music would pose a challenge for the association because he was not a member of the association.
Okafor disclosed this when he appeared before a House of Representatives Committee on Justice investigating the death of Mohbad in controversial circumstances.
Since the death of the 27-year-old singer on September 12, 2023, several videos of alleged harassment and intimidation by his former record label, Marlian Music have gone viral.
The PMAN President, while addressing the members of the committee lamented the failure of new singers to join the association, adding that the benefits of membership are huge, including resolving contractual issues between musicians and record labels.
Okafor said, “We engage the Music Managers Association of Nigeria. We engage the record label association of Nigeria, and we also engage the artists. That is why it is difficult to manage the crisis that has erupted now.
“Some of them believe that PMAN is archaic. Some of them believe that it is only for old people. For some of them, the record labels manipulate their psyche not to make them stay under the authority of PMAN. That is why this kind of crisis has emerged.
“So, if we reach out to the record label association, they will need to reach out to their artists. They must be a member of PMAN so that we can protect their interests and also protect the interest of the record label owners because they are supposed to get certification from PMAN.”
He continued, “The structure has been that the record label association and record label owners must be registered members of the union so that they can be monitored and guided. But the younger ones or maybe their managers and record labels are not passing positive messages to them. That is why it was difficult for them to join the union.
“So when this crisis started, I wanted to interfere, but I could not. That is the main reason for being a PMAN member.”
In his remarks, the lawyer for the late Mohbad, Selzing Zingfa, said the late singer had issues with his former record label, Marlian Records, which are yet to be resolved.
Morenikeji Adedayo is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering news, business, and public affairs.
