RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta – Deputy Minister of Creative Economy and Deputy Head of the Creative Economy Agency Irene Umar met with Spotify on Friday, February 13, 2026, to strengthen communication between the government and digital industry players in advancing the national music sector.

Irene said the government serves as a bridge among industry stakeholders, both in expanding promotional opportunities and in addressing existing obstacles. She described the meeting with Spotify, one of the world’s largest music streaming platforms, as a strategic step.

“We appreciate the role of digital platforms such as Spotify, which not only serve as music distribution channels but also support artist promotion through creative features, short video content and training programs and masterclasses for Indonesian musicians,” Irene said at Autograph Tower in Jakarta, as quoted on Saturday, February 14, 2026.

She said the meeting provided a forum for dialogue to convey policies and priorities in creative economy development, as well as to explore collaboration opportunities aimed at strengthening the position of local musicians and enhancing their competitiveness in the global market.

Imad Mesdoua, Spotify’s Regional Director for Government Affairs for MEA and JAPAC, expressed the company’s commitment to strengthening strategic cooperation with the government.

Spotify also presented a policy roadmap focused on increasing overall music industry revenue while improving the royalty payment system. The roadmap seeks to make royalty flows more efficient and transparent to ensure creators’ rights are optimally protected.

“Spotify wants to be a partner to governments and music rights holders to strengthen the music sector while increasing transparency. We openly report the amount of royalties paid and show how artists can grow through our platform,” Imad said.

Over the past decade, streaming services have significantly transformed the music industry landscape. The shift from piracy to legal subscription services has driven growth in paid listeners and created new economic opportunities for creators.

In 2025, Spotify paid more than USD 11 billion in royalties to global music rights holders. However, the payment system continues to face complex challenges, including differing regulations across countries.

These differences can lead to payment delays, reduce copyright visibility and, in some cases, hinder creators’ income. Improving the system to make it more organized and transparent remains a shared priority. ***

This article is adapted from an Indonesian-language report written by Tomo Hakim and edited by Rini Hairani for RRI.