Entertainment

Overview Of Media, Entertainment Laws In Nigeria

Published

5 years ago

March 5, 2021

Media and entertainment law are concerned with legal services rendered by the entertainment industry. This involves the legal and business issues in the entertainment industry that arise from the application and interpretation of laws relating to matters such as negotiations of contracts, representation of artistes, immigration, protection of intellectual property, finance, corporate, employment, tax, insurance etc.
Media law covers legislations that regulate the media such as TV, music, art, internet etc. However, it is important to state that there is no definite legal frame work on media and entertainments in Nigeria however, there are other laws supplementary to the activities connected to entertainment and media which will be briefly discussed hereunder
Copyright Act Cap C28 LFN, 2004
Copyright is an exclusive right granted to an originator of creative work to use, publish, produce and reproduce the work for a given period. The copyright Act provides for the protection, transfer, infringement, penalty, the remedy of the creative works of authors and artistic works, song writers, music publishers, cinematograph films, photographers and all sound creative in the media and entertainment industry.
This protection grants the creator the exclusive right to control the use of his creative works and prevent unauthorised person from copying, adapting or passing off a creative work as theirs.
Section 1 of the Act provides that the following listed works in the media and entertainment are eligible for copyright
– Literary works.
– Musical works.
– Artistic works.
– Cinematography films.
– Sound recording.
– Broadcast.
National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) Act 1992.
The Act regulates and governs the broadcasting sector such as Radio and Television of the media industry in Nigeria. The Act establishes the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) in section 1 and empowers the commission to regulate and control the broadcasting industry, among others
It also provides that to operate a radio, sound, Television, cable, satellite station, a license is to be issued and granted by the NBC as empowered by section 9 of the Act.
Trademarks Act 1967
The registration of intellectual property of a trademark seeks to protect a sign, word, mark, logo symbol, pattern or colour that distinguishes one’s brand of goods or services from that of others to make it easily recognisable and relatable to a brand in a commercial market in Nigeria.
A trademark once registered is valid for an initial period of 7 years but is subject to renewal for a subsequent period of 14years from time to time following the provisions of the Act as provided in section 23(1)
Trademark registration is one of the important means of protecting identities of authors and creators in the entertainment industry.
Companies And Allied Matters Act 2020
To commence business operations such as record labels, film production, companies management, etc, in the entertainment industry in Nigeria, one must register a business name, company or partnership with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC). The Act establishes the Corporate Affairs Commission which is the government agency established for the purpose of registration and regulation of companies in Nigeria.
The laws that regulate and govern intellectual property in Nigeria form the foundation of the legal frame work for the media and entertainment industry.
The majority of media and entertainment activities are intellectual property related. The media and entertainment industry is one of the fast rising industry in Nigeria which has generated huge revenue for the industry operators and government.

By: Jacob Obinna

Entertainment

Funke Akindele’s Behind The Scenes Crosses ?1.77bn

Published

9 hours ago

January 9, 2026

The Tide

Funke Akindele’s Behind The Scenes becomes Nollywood’s highest-grossing film of 2025, earning ?1.77bn in under four weeks.

Multi-award-winning actress and producer Funke Akindele has done it again, and this time, the numbers speak louder than applause.

Her latest film, Behind The Scenes, has officially emerged as the highest-grossing Nollywood film of 2025, pulling in an astonishing ?1.767 billion in less than four weeks.

The Tide Entertainment reports that Funke Akindele Makes Box Office History as Behind The Scenes Crosses ?1.77bn
Earlier in its release cycle, the film’s distributor, FilmOne Entertainment, revealed that Behind The Scenes smashed five opening-weekend records, including the highest single-day gross ever recorded on Boxing Day, with ?129.5 million in one day. That announcement already hinted that something unusual was unfolding.

Reacting to the milestone, FilmOne described the moment as both surreal and communal, crediting audience loyalty for pushing the film to the top spot once again as the number-one movie of the weekend. And that sentiment feels accurate. This wasn’t just ticket sales; it was momentum.

What makes this achievement even more striking is that Behind The Scenes is Funke Akindele’s third film to cross the ?1 billion mark. Before now, there was A Tribe Called Judah, and then Everybody Loves Jenifa, a film that didn’t just open big, but went on to become the highest-grossing Nollywood film of all time. At this point, it’s no longer a fluke. It’s a pattern.

Part of Behind The Scenes’ success lies in strategy. The film enjoyed advanced screenings on December 10 and 11, quietly building curiosity and conversation before its nationwide release on December 12. By the time it officially hit cinemas, audiences already felt like they needed to see it.

Then there’s the cast. The film brings together a lineup that feels deliberately stacked: Scarlet Gomez, Iyabo Ojo, Destiny Etiko, Tobi Bakre, Uche Montana, and several others. Familiar faces, strong fan bases, and performances that kept word-of-mouth alive long after opening weekend.

Still, beyond timing and casting, there’s something else at work here. Funke Akindele understands Nigerian audiences. Their humour, their pacing, their emotional buttons. She doesn’t guess, she calculates, experiments, listens, and refines. That understanding has slowly turned into box-office dominance.

Behind The Scenes crossing ?1.77 billion isn’t just another headline; it’s confirmation. Funke Akindele has moved from being a successful actress to becoming one of the most reliable commercial forces Nollywood has ever produced. Three-billion-naira films don’t happen by luck. They happen when storytelling, business sense, and audience trust align.

And right now, that alignment seems firmly in her hands.

Entertainment

Adekunle Gold, Simi Welcome Twin Babies

Published

9 hours ago

January 9, 2026

The Tide

Popular Nigerian music stars, Adekunle Kosoko, widely known as Adekunle Gold, and his wife, Simi, have become parents again this time to twins.

The award-winning singer shared the joyful update on his Snapchat story on Wednesday, confirming the expansion of their family.

“Asked God for another child and he blessed me double,” she wrote.

While the couple has not yet disclosed the gender of the newborns, the announcement has sparked an outpouring of warm wishes from admirers, fellow celebrities, and industry colleagues.

Speculation had intensified in December when Simi posted a video on Instagram accompanied by the caption, “From my baby, for my babies.”

The clip showed her with a growing baby bump, fueling anticipation that another child was on the way.

Their latest blessings arrive just weeks after Simi highlighted a scene from Adekunle Gold’s newly released music video, “My Love is the Same,” further stirring excitement among fans.

The Tide Entertainment reports that Adekunle Gold and Simi who tied the knot in 2019 after a long history of friendship and musical synergy remain one of Nigeria’s most admired entertainment power couples. Both artistes were once signed to X3M Music before soaring into mainstream acclaim.

The pair welcomed their first child, Adejare Kosoko, fondly called Deja, in May 2020.

Entertainment

Jesse Flames Opens 2026 With ‘Praise The Lord’ Featuring Magnito

Published

9 hours ago

January 9, 2026

The Tide

After closing out 2025 with the release of “Praise the Lord” featuring Magnito, Jesse Flames enters the new year with renewed clarity and purpose, continuing to build a body of work rooted in intention rather than noise. In a moment where Afrobeats is moving faster and louder than ever, his approach remains measured and deliberate, prioritizing meaning, craft, and longevity over momentary attention. The official music video arrives January 10.

Following the momentum of his breakout single “FLEX,” “Praise the Lord” represents a shift from celebration to grounding. Reflective and soulful, the record centers gratitude, growth, and perspective, capturing a quieter confidence that resonates beyond a single moment.

“This song is about recognizing the full picture,” Jesse shares. “The work people see and the work they don’t. The lessons, the setbacks, the growth.”

The collaboration with Magnito, a respected voice in Nigerian hip hop known for his sharp lyricism and cultural authenticity, adds depth and weight to the record, reinforcing its themes of resilience, faith, and self reflection.

Released in December at the height of Detty December, “Praise the Lord” became a natural soundtrack for both celebration and reflection as the year came to a close. With the video arriving in January, the record takes on new meaning, opening the year as a tone setter rather than a reset.

Born in the United States, raised in Festac, Lagos, and now based in London, Jesse Flames brings a global perspective to his sound, blending Afrobeats, hip hop, and melodic soul into something sleek and intentional. His music reflects lived experience and cultural nuance rather than trend chasing.

The Tide Entertainment reports that with over 11 million streams, performances at O2 Brixton Academy and OVO Arena Wembley, and coverage from The Guardian and Business Post Nigeria, Jesse’s rise has been steady and self made. Looking ahead to 2026 and 2027, he is preparing for collaborations with Ice Prince, M.I Abaga, and Smurlee.

“Praise the Lord” ft. Magnito is available now on all streaming platforms.