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View all search resultsPlan to charge royalties for music at weddings, religious events sparks backlash
Experts have warned that overly restrictive royalty regulations could discourage the public use of copyrighted music altogether, potentially harming artists and songwriters.
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A creative illustration depicting music copyright law. (Shutterstock/Gecko Studio)
C
ontroversy over music royalties in Indonesia has intensified after a Collective Management Agency (LMK) stated that music played at weddings, birthday parties and religious events should also be subject to royalty payments, further fueling public confusion and criticism over existing royalty regulations.
Wahana Musik Indonesia (WAMI), one of several LMKs authorized to manage music licensing and collect royalties on behalf of composers and songwriters, stated that any public use of music, regardless of the nature of the event, is subject to royalty fees.
“For live music performances at non-ticketed events such as weddings, birthday parties or religious gatherings, organizers are required to pay a royalty fee equal to 2 percent of the total music production cost,” said WAMI Head of Corporate Communications and Membership, Robert Mulyarahardja, on Wednesday, as quoted by Tempo.co.
“This cost includes expenses such as sound system rental, equipment and fees for singers and other performers,” he added.
The statement has sparked a flurry of public criticism, not only from netizens but also from members of the House of Representatives (DPR).
Umbu Rudi Kabunang, a member of Commission III overseeing legal and human rights affairs, warned that imposing royalties on private wedding events could create unnecessary problems and potentially trigger public resistance to royalty regulations.
“I fully support the rights of singers and songwriters to receive royalties for their work, but the implementation must be appropriate and fair. Imposing royalties on music played at wedding events is problematic,” Umbu said on Thursday, as quoted by Kompas.com.
