Minister Riefky Urges Spotify to Accelerate Local Musicians

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesia's Minister of Creative Economy/Head of the Creative Economy Agency, Teuku Riefky Harsya, attended the Spotify Loud & Clear Indonesia event. He commended Spotify’s active role in strengthening the nation's music ecosystem through an inclusive and transparent streaming platform, while simultaneously opening up global market access for Indonesian musical talent.

"When Indonesian songs are played in Malaysia, the United States, and various other countries, music does more than just entertain; it introduces Indonesia's stories, culture, and identity to the world. This demonstrates the power of the creative economy to expand Indonesia's influence on the global stage," the Minister conveyed in Jakarta, on Thursday, June 25.

'Loud & Clear' is Spotify's annual transparency initiative that provides insights into how streaming royalties are generated and distributed. The initiative also highlights how streaming services help musicians expand their reach into global markets, build listener bases, and develop sustainable careers.

Minister of Creative Economy emphasized the Ministry's vision of elevating local talent so they can compete in regional and global markets. The creative economy sector currently employs 27.4 million workers, with over 50 percent belonging to Generation Z and the millennial generation.

This growth reflects strong confidence in Indonesia's creative industry regarding its ability to create jobs, attract investment, and expand Indonesia's presence on global platforms. According to the Minister, the advent of streaming platforms has broadened access to the music industry while providing more equitable opportunities for musicians from various regions to gain wider recognition.

"Streaming platforms have democratized access to the music industry. Now, musicians from all corners of Indonesia have equal opportunities to gain broader recognition. Therefore, collaboration among the government, the creative industry, and creators is key to building a music ecosystem that is fair, sustainable, and delivers economic value to those involved," Teuku Riefky said.

According to a release received by RRI Voice of Indonesia on Thursday, June 25, 2026, Managing Director of Spotify Southeast Asia, Gustav Back, revealed that throughout 2025, music by Indonesian artists was discovered more than 6.3 billion times by new listeners on Spotify.

Royalties generated by Indonesian musicians on the platform also rose by over 16 percent compared to the previous year, with 60 percent of that revenue coming from international listeners. "Indonesian music continues to demonstrate remarkable growth among listeners both at home and abroad—spanning markets such as the United States, Germany, Japan, Malaysia, and the United Kingdom. Spotify is committed to creating opportunities for musicians to be discovered by new listeners and to build fan communities," Gustav Back.

Spotify’s data also highlights the dominance of local music in the domestic market, with Indonesian artists accounting for 80 percent of the songs on the 'Spotify Indonesia Daily Top 50' chart in 2025. This achievement serves as a strong indicator of the high level of public acceptance for the country's creative output, both domestically and internationally.