West Java Clarifies Music Royalty Payments, Funds Go Directly to Songwriters

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta – The West Java Regional Office of the Indonesian Ministry of Law has emphasized that royalties for the commercial use of songs are not state revenue but are distributed directly to creators through Collective Management Institution (LMK).

The clarification was delivered by West Java office head Asep Sutandar, addressing confusion among hotel, restaurant, and entertainment business owners in the province over the legality and mechanism of royalty payments.

“This is not a payment to the government, but to the creators, managed by LMK so it is coordinated. That is why we are holding this event, to ensure better understanding among those who use other people’s works,” Asep said after a socialization program in Bandung Regency on Thursday, October 1, 2026, as quoted by Antara.

The event, titled Harmony of West Java Works: Synergy of Music Royalties to Build Cross-Sector Trust Through Creative Economy Empowerment, was officially opened by Director General of Intellectual Property (DJKI), Hermansyah Siregar.

It marked the first gathering in West Java to bring together 500 stakeholders, including Indonesian Hotels and Restaurants Association (PHRI) business operators, songwriters, LMK representatives, and law enforcement officials.

At the same occasion, DJKI’s Director of Law Enforcement, Inspector General Arie Ardian, reminded venue owners to comply with Law No. 28/2014 on Copyright, warning that using songs for business without paying royalties could lead to civil and criminal consequences.

Meanwhile, Chair of the National Collective Management Organization (LMKN), Marcell Siahaan, highlighted the significant contribution of royalty payments from West Java’s hotel, restaurant, and karaoke sectors. He urged centralized data integration to ensure transparent and accurate distribution of economic rights to local songwriters.

To further support creators, Hermansyah announced a breakthrough policy: a zero‑tariff fee for registering song copyrights, now integrated directly with the national Song and Music Data Center. ***