The Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) has issued a strong warning to DJs: stop playing other people’s music publicly without proper authorisation or face legal consequences.
In a statement released in Abuja, NCC Director-General Dr. John Asein said the commission is cracking down on DJs who perform music in public spaces—such as clubs, hotels, event centres, or gardens—without obtaining licenses from copyright owners or their approved Collective Management Organisations (CMOs).
Under the Copyright Act 2022, only the copyright holder has the exclusive right to reproduce, perform, or publicly communicate a musical work or sound recording. Violations are considered copyright infringement and are punishable by law.
“Any DJ caught v+olating the Act risks prosecution, a fine of at least N1 million, five years in prison, or both,” Asein warned.
He stressed that public DJ performances qualify as both a “public performance” and a “communication to the public” under the law. As such, DJs must secure the proper licenses and pay royalties before performing copyrighted material in public.
The NCC said it will not hesitate to investigate, arrest, and prosecute defaulters.
DJs are strongly advised to regularise their operations and comply with copyright regulations to avoid penalties.
