RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesian Minister of Culture Fadli Zon said the ministry is preparing a draft bill on artists and the national music ecosystem. The proposal is expected to strengthen rights protection and create fairer governance in the music industry for all stakeholders.

He explained that the regulations under discussion must be equitable for all parties, including songwriters, singers, producers, labels, and other industry players.

“We want all parties involved in disputes to sit down together and listen to each other’s arguments, rather than communicating through the media, where interpretations can sometimes differ,” Minister Fadli said after inaugurating the National Resolution Charter of Indonesian Composers at the Ministry of Elementary and Secondary Education building in South Jakarta on Wednesday, March 4, 2026.

Minister Fadli emphasized that the government is open to all forms of input so that the resulting policies reflect common needs. At the congress forum, he noted that the composer’s position as the rightful owner of their work is already well established.

The challenge now, he said, is to formulate regulations that do not infringe on creators’ private rights while ensuring that their works can still be utilized through fair and transparent mechanisms.

Minister Fadli added that Indonesia does not need to start from scratch in reforming the system. “We can look at and adopt what has become common practice in other countries,” he said.

Among the points of concern is the establishment of a collective performance management agency to facilitate royalty management. Minister Fadli stressed that direct licensing is a basic right of creators, who in principle have full authority over their works.

“Songwriters basically have full rights over their songs. Whether they want them sung by others, not sung at all, used personally, or commercialized, that is their right,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Indonesian Composers Association (AKSI) has provided strategic input for revising the copyright law. Chairman Satriyo Yudi Wahono, also known as Piyu Padi, said any commercial use of songs in musical performances must be based on direct permission from the creator or through an explicit mandate to an institution appointed to manage performance rights.

“That is a form of respect for copyright,” Piyu said. (Gusti Panji/Lasti Martina)