KBRN, Jakarta: The Indonesian government is stepping up efforts to decentralize music infrastructure, responding to long-standing calls from the creative industry for more performance spaces outside the capital.

Deputy Minister of Culture Giring Ganesha Djumaryo and Tourism Deputy Minister Ni Luh Puspa announced plans to establish dedicated music venues across the archipelago, aiming to strengthen both cultural expression and regional tourism.

Speaking during a panel on the third day of the Indonesian Music Conference (KMI) in Jakarta on Friday, October 10, 2025, Giring said his office is coordinating with the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Public Works to develop cultural parks that can serve as platforms for artistic expression.

“We will move forward together,” he told reporters as reported by antaranews.com. “We’re planning a roadshow to build collaboration and hopefully create spaces where culture can thrive.”

Ni Luh Puspa echoed the sentiment, noting that the lack of music venues has become a pressing concern not only for artists but also for tourism stakeholders.

“We’ve heard the community’s suggestions,” she said. “We’re working to ensure that music venues are not limited to Jakarta but are developed in other regions as well.”

She pointed out that even Bali, despite its global reputation as a cultural hub, lacks a large-scale venue for music events. The government is also open to private sector involvement in building such facilities, recognizing music’s potential as an economic engine.

Ni Luh cited the success of major festivals like Hammersonic and Java Jazz as proof of music’s economic impact.

Hammersonic 2024, one of Southeast Asia’s largest rock and metal festivals, generated an economic turnover of IDR 250 billion (approximately USD 15.8 million), drew around 42,000 domestic and international attendees, and employed more than 21,000 tourism workers.

The event contributed IDR 4.2 trillion (USD 265 million) to Indonesia’s gross domestic product (GDP).

The 2025 Java Jazz Festival generated an economic turnover of IDR 162.48 billion (approx. USD 10.2 million), attracted over 111,000 spectators, employed 9,500 workers, and contributed an estimated IDR 147.52 billion (approx. USD 9.3 million) to the national GDP.

Held annually in Jakarta, Java Jazz is one of the world’s largest jazz festivals, known for its blend of international headliners and Indonesian talent. The event has become a cultural landmark, drawing music lovers from across the globe and showcasing Indonesia’s creative vitality.

By investing in music infrastructure beyond Jakarta, the government hopes to replicate such success stories nationwide, turning local stages into engines of cultural pride and economic growth. ***