Indonesia Strengthens Music Archives With Vinyl Releases

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta – The Ministry of Culture is supporting efforts to preserve and archive contemporary Indonesian classical music by releasing works by national composers on vinyl.

One example is the publication of three compositions by Tony Prabowo in a set of three vinyl records. The government views this format as a way to strengthen documentation and preserve a record of the development of contemporary music in Indonesia.

“The best archive is vinyl because it has a long lifespan if well‑maintained,” Minister of Culture Fadli Zon said in a statement in Jakarta on Friday, September 11, 2026, as quoted by Antara.

He said the ministry provides support through the Dana IndonesiaRaya program, which aims to strengthen the sustainability of Indonesian arts and culture, including contemporary classical music.

“These works are part of the evolution of Indonesian music creation that has been well‑recorded and archived,” Minister Fadli said.

The Ministry emphasizes that archiving is not limited to storing physical works. Documentation also preserves the creative process, the composers’ journeys, the evolution of recording technology, and the history of Indonesian music, ensuring it can be passed on to future generations.

Tony Prabowo has contributed to the development of new and contemporary music in Indonesia for about 40 years. He also formed an ensemble of around 16 members that specializes in performing new and contemporary music.

“The project, which will be recorded and released soon, requires an adequate storage format due to the long duration of the music. Therefore, vinyl is the appropriate choice,” Tony explained. ***