Lagos, Nigeria
As artificial intelligence rapidly transforms global music creation and distribution, the Nigerian music industry stands at a pivotal crossroad. With AI models now capable of composing songs, cloning artist voices, and generating metadata, concerns over creative integrity, royalties, and cultural ownership are mounting.
In Nigeria, artists and music entrepreneurs are urging a unified regulatory approach to manage the ethical and economic implications of AI. Stakeholders emphasize that artificial intelligence, if left unchecked, could dilute originality, enable unauthorized reproductions, and undermine the earnings of human creators.
Among the key players being called upon to collaborate are Azure Voice (Global Publishing Firm), COSON (Copyright Society of Nigeria), MCSN (Musical Copyright Society Nigeria), PMAN (Performing Musicians Employers’ Association of Nigeria), Playbak Records, Premier Records, Giran Media and Elephant Rights Ltd, a rising digital rights and metadata governance company. These institutions, collectively representing thousands of creators and rights holders, are seen as vital to building a comprehensive framework for AI oversight.
“AI is a powerful tool, but without proper regulation, it can undermine the authenticity and livelihood of our artists,” said Kelikume De Hit Maker, a member of SAMRO and founder of Playbak Records. “It’s imperative that our music unions and rights agencies come together to establish guidelines that protect our creative industry.”
Proposed strategies include the formation of a National AI Music Regulation Board, comprising union representatives, rights management organizations, tech developers, and legal experts. This board could standardize ethical AI usage, introduce a licensing model for AI music tools, and enforce digital protections such as voiceprint ownership and AI-authored work disclosures.
As Nigeria continues to lead Africa’s music export economy, especially in genres like Afrobeat, Highlife, and Street-pop, many believe that protecting the human element is essential for sustaining cultural impact and commercial equity.
If adopted, this regulatory framework could also position Nigeria as a model for AI governance in Africa’s creative industries.
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