What a year 2015 was. Looking back at all the music-related happenings around the country, it is clear the year provided local music fans with plenty of great things to clamor about and discuss.

The year 2015 saw an increased commitment by the Indonesian government to protect intellectual property pertaining to films, music and other art forms by enacting the Creative Economy Body (Bekraf) with Triawan Munaf elected as its chief.

Just a few months back, the press was abuzz with the news of the government shutdown of 22 illegal music downloading sites, though many questioned whether it had any affect at all.

On a similar note, 2015 also marked the end of an era with MTV'€™s Indonesian division finally folding after 20 years of on-and-off programming and a brief resurrection earlier in the year.

Below is a recap of this year'€™s concerts, albums, phenomena and other things related to rhythm and beats that defined the last almost-365 days of music.

ALBUMS

Indonesia saw the release a slew of notable albums this year. Pop band Sore and indie rock mainstays Sajama Cut respectively broke a 7-and five-year hiatus with new records called Los Skut Leboys and Hobgoblin.

The country'€™s music scene in 2015 is also defined by its artists'€™ debut records: indie rock quartet Polka Wars'€™ Axis Mundi, Sigmun'€™s Crimson Eyes, Silampukau'€™s Dosa, Kota dan Kenangan (Sins, Cities and Memories), Barasuara'€™s Taifun (Typhoon) and Isyana Sarasvati'€™s Explore!

Way beneath the media buzz, 12-year-old jazz prodigy Joey Alexander, who released a jazz record called My Favorite Things, made history by getting Grammy Award nominations in two categories: Improvised Jazz Solo and Best Jazz Instrumental Album. As well, notable experimentalists Senyawa released an album called Menjadi (To Become).

The year also saw renewed activity by Indonesian legends such as Iwan Fals, who released a collaborative album called Satu (One), and Yockie Soerjoprajogo, who held a concert commemorating the release of seminal 1970 record Lomba Cipta Lagu Remaja, the singing contest of which produced such talents like Berlian Hutauruk, Keenan Nasution, Chrisye and others talents.

GLOBAL

Some of the year'€™s most notable records include songstress Adele'€™s record-breaking (close to 5 million in worldwide sales at press time) new album 25, dreamy folksinger Sufjan Steven'€™s ultra-personal Carrie & Lowell, Kendrick Lamar'€™s cerebral rap album To Pimp a Butterfly and Justin Bieber'€™s surprisingly lauded Purpose.

Shout-outs should also be made toward less-celebrated, but equally great recordings: Edinburg hip-hop trio Young Fathers'€™ vibrantly smart White Men are Black Men Too, London band Wolf Alice'€™s ethereal rock record My Love is Cool, Grimes'€™ progressive pop Art Angels, black metal band Mgla'€™s beautifully somber Exercises in Futility, Japan-via-US ambient artist Celer'€™s immersible (and Fred Astaire-referencing) How Could You Believe Me When I Said I Loved You When You Know I'€™ve Been a Liar All My Life, ghostly singer-songwriter Lady Lamb and the Bee Keeper'€™s moody After, Battle Trance'€™s avant garde Palace of Wind and Canadian indie act Viet Cong'€™s jagged self-titled debut.

Great time: Visitors dance to the music at the Djakarta Warehouse Project festival in Jakarta.(JP/NBL)

CONCERTS

In the concerts camp, the first thing that springs to mind is alternative band Efek Rumah Kaca'€™s first official '€œsolo'€ concert.

The positivity of the concert, in which Adrian Yunan Faisal '€” their primary bassist '€” showed up after a long period of absence caused by a debilitating eye-related disease that has made him unable to perform and record (the band'€™s new album will be the first to feature him again after years of studio absence), was smudged by criticism of the band'€™s choice of cigarette brand sponsorship.

As always, Indonesia also hosted concerts by popular acts and less-familiar-yet-equally-intriguing international acts '€” from One Direction (minus Zayn), Katy Perry and Ariana Grande to Bon Jovi, whose lackluster-for-their-stature performance drew some criticism. Several concerts, like by Maroon 5 and Lenny Kravitz, were canceled.

The country also hosted concerts by Passion Pit, Holy Ghost, Neon Indian, Japanese math-rock group Toe, legendary Italian composer-DJ Giorgio Moroder, American experimentalist Arrington de Dionyso'€™s ethnic-influenced guerilla house shows and Japanese multi-member pop act AKB48.

FESTS

December also saw the biggest-ever Djakarta Warehouse Project (DWP), which presented world class musicians. The festival marked the first Asian performance of a collaborative project by famed DJs Skrillex and Diplo, grouped under Jack Ü. The festival presented Grammy-nominated trance DJ Armin van Buuren, DJ Snake, Tiesto and Kaskade.

Returning music festivals are also worthy of a mention. This year'€™s Soundrenaline in Bali featured music juggernauts like Slank, Ari Lasso, a reunited Dewa 19 and /rif and was received warmly by the press, which deemed it a '€œclassy'€ show and a return to the festival'€™s early successes. Also, the Ruang Rupa Records Festival, held in West Java town Sukabumi, returned, featuring off-kilter acts and bands.

Ariana Grande - JP/Wendra Ajistyatama

THE YEAR 2016

Looking at what'€™s ahead in 2016, there are a lot of things to be excited about. While the mainstream continues to reliably churn out the same old tripe, its independent brethren promisingly deliver fresh, original-sounding acts such as Jirapah, Senyawa, Future Collective, Bedchamber and Zzuf, under the growing number of independent labels that include Nanaba, Leeds, Anoa, and Kolibri, just to name a few.

Meanwhile, art and creative collectives such as Studiorama and Ruru (Ruang Rupa) also guarantee a constant influx of worthy shows and music-related programs.

There'€™s a lot great things ahead for Indonesian music fans (and for fans of Indonesian music) and if the past year has shown anything it is that it is always ripe with the unexpectedly-and-expectedly entertaining.