PMAN, City People Push New Structure, Digital Transition

The event hosted by City People Media Group witnessed a good turnout of people both musicians, media and stakeholders in the industry.

The Interim President of the newly revamped PMAN, Mr. Pretty Okafor, took time to appreciate those who turned up to make the re-positioned trade union a success.

He highlighted the challenges that PMAN had faced since he stepped into the shoes of leadership and also how his colleagues in the industry have been very supportive in numerous ways.

He assured that youths and artistes of today will achieve more as a member of the new PMAN more than acting independently with the new structure introduced into the union.

Okafor also hinted that the union is about to have a new leadership come October 2016 with the National Executive Council meeting and elections to be held then.

Popular New Highlife crooner Sunny Neji a.k.a Mr. Fantastic, interim 1st Vice President, PMAN decried the challenges that entertainers are facing today in all areas.

He stated that it is sad that those whose works make people happy are themselves not happy owing to the disjointed structure in the entertainment industry that does not allow practitioners eat the fruit of their labor; rather, they are being exploited.

He added that the New PMAN is here to put in place the right structures and enforce the regulations that will enable intellectual property owners’ benefit from their efforts.

Another revamped PMAN Exco member, Felix Duke, in his brief speech implored artistes to stop pirating themselves by patronizing the ‘Alaba Boys’ to beg for purchase.

Popular OAP, Genie of Smooth 98.1 FM who anchored the event also advised artistes present to consider decency and morality in their songs as he assured that radio stations are ready to play any songs that is rich in sound and content, and void of vulgarity.

Asha Gangali, a renowned artiste, also made his contribution from the comparative analysis of how things are done in the developed world and how artiste benefits from union such as PMAN and the need to continue to advocate for collective involvement of people in the industry.

Later in the event, the benefits of being part of the Revamped PMAN were comprehensively analyzed by Mr. Okafor and these included:

·         Personified generated code from the moment anyone registered.

·         Biometric information that alerts the bank once registration is done

·         Automatic account opening for the registered members.

·         Customized ID card for members which shall be incorporated to his/her BVN that will allow him/her transact money in any bank.

·         The Biometric information can be used by registered confirmed members to apply for visas.

·      Registered members who need medical care have a N5-Million-naira insurance from Hogg Robinson in case they need better healthcare abroad.

·         Registered members who upload their music on PMAN platform gets alerts anytime the song is downloaded and paid for anywhere in the world.

·         Album CDs will also have Bar Codes that can monitor payments and detects fake CDs.

·         Monies generated form online downloads and sale of CD goes directly to the artiste’s account after all expenses and taxes have been considered and deducted.

Top Hip-hop artist and owner 20^th September Wears, Ruggedman who is also a PMAN EXCO member took time to encourage all especially those who are not musicians to join hands to make the newly revamped PMAN a success as the benefits of such an association goes beyond the confines of just musicians but also other creative industry practitioners.