Copyright Society of Nigeria

COSON (Copyright Society of Nigeria) is Nigeria's approved collective management organisation for musical works and sound recordings, representing over 5,406 members across the federation. Founded in 2010 and headquartered at COSON House in Ikeja, Lagos, it administers both performing and mechanical rights on behalf of songwriters, composers, publishers, and sound recording owners. It is best suited for Nigerian music creators who need a domestic society to license their works and collect royalties from radio, television, streaming, live venues, and commercial establishments.

How COSON Works

COSON licenses music users in Nigeria, including television and radio broadcasters, live music venues, retailers, restaurants, promoters, and shopping centres. It collects license fees from these users and distributes them as royalties to members based on usage reports and monitoring data.

The organisation distributes royalties annually at its Annual General Meeting. In December 2024, COSON distributed N465.5 million to its members, the highest amount in its history and a 123% increase from 2023. Members received bank alerts during the AGM itself, with payments beginning immediately after approval. The 14th AGM was held at COSON House in Lagos.

COSON is led by Chairman Tony Okoroji and General Manager Bernice Eriemeghe Ashibuogwu. The organisation has faced significant legal and regulatory challenges. In February 2026, COSON publicly called on the federal government to dismantle what it described as a fraudulent scheme imposed on the Nigerian music industry by the immediate past Attorney-General, Abubakar Malami. COSON has litigated extensively to protect its operating authority, retaining four senior advocates and multiple lawyers.

Membership is open to songwriters, composers, publishers, and sound recording owners. COSON also licenses music users and provides educational resources on copyright compliance.

Real-World Example

A Nigerian Afrobeats songwriter registers 20 songs with COSON. A Lagos radio station plays 8 of those songs regularly, a streaming platform reports 500,000 streams, and three venues in Abuja hold blanket licenses covering live performances. COSON collects royalties from all three sources.

At the annual distribution, the songwriter receives a proportional share based on the radio airplay logs, streaming usage data, and venue license fees. If the same songs are played on radio in Ghana, COSON's reciprocal agreements with international societies mean the Ghanaian society collects those royalties and remits them to COSON, which then pays the songwriter.

Based on the 2024 distribution of N465.5 million across 5,406 members, the average member received approximately N86,000. However, distributions are not equal. Top-earning members with heavy radio rotation and streaming numbers receive significantly more than those with limited airplay.

Drawbacks / Things to Consider

COSON distributes royalties annually, not quarterly or monthly like many larger PROs. This means members wait up to a year between distributions. If you need regular cash flow from performance royalties, this schedule may not work for you.

The organisation has been embroiled in prolonged legal battles with the Nigerian Copyright Commission and other entities. While COSON has won many of these cases, the disputes have at times disrupted operations and delayed distributions. In 2023, COSON resumed royalty distributions after a period of interruption.

Nigeria's music market has significant licensing compliance challenges. Many businesses do not pay for music licenses, which reduces the royalty pool. COSON has acknowledged this issue publicly and continues to pursue enforcement.

The average annual distribution per member (approximately N86,000, or roughly $55 USD) is modest compared to what members of ASCAP, BMI, or PRS typically receive. This reflects the size of the Nigerian licensing market and compliance levels.

Why It Matters for Independent Artists

If you are a Nigerian songwriter, composer, or publisher, COSON is the primary domestic society for collecting performance and mechanical royalties. Without COSON membership, you would need to individually license every radio station, venue, and streaming platform that plays your music, which is not practical.

Register every composition with COSON as soon as it is commercially released. Include correct split shares, ISRC codes, and publisher information so your works can be matched to usage data. Unregistered works earn zero royalties.

If your music is played internationally, COSON's reciprocal agreements with foreign societies mean those royalties can be collected on your behalf. However, international collections may take longer to process due to reporting cycles.

For non-Nigerian artists whose music is played in Nigeria, your home PRO collects from COSON through reciprocal agreements. Verify that your PRO has a direct reciprocal agreement with COSON to ensure collections are routed correctly.

Related Resources

• Performing Rights Organizations (PRO) - What a PRO is and how it functions
• Performance Royalties - How performance royalties are generated and collected
• Mechanical Royalties - Understanding the difference between performance and mechanical royalties
• PRO Comparison Guide - Detailed comparison of PROs worldwide
• COSON Official Website - Visit COSON for membership and licensing information
• Use our Streaming Royalty Calculator to estimate your digital earnings