Anji Criticizes Royalty Distribution From Cafes And Restaurants

JAKARTA - Anji voiced his opinion regarding royalty payments by cafes and restaurants which have recently been in the spotlight after the Mie Gacoan case in Bali emerged to the public.

Through his Instagram account, the former Drive vocalist actually questioned the transparency behind the process of withdrawing and distributing royalties from users to songwriters.

"In my opinion, what must be clarified is the system of withdrawal and distribution of royalties," Anji wrote, citing a description of the upload, Thursday, August 7.

Anji felt that when royalties from cafes and restaurants were successfully withdrawn by the National Collective Management Institute (LMKN), the distribution by the Collective Management Institute (LMK) would not be right on target to copyright owners and related rights from the songs that were played.

If there is a tool that can detect the use of songs specifically, of course it can be fairer and clearer. "Al (artificial intelligence - artificial intelligence) definitely can. But from whom?" said Anji.

"If the system is not also available, songwriters must still have NO CONFIDENCE ON the royalties they receive," he continued. Coffee, restaurant, etc. also always have a question whether if they pay then the songwriter whose song they play will definitely get?

Furthermore, the application of tariffs based on the calculation of the number of seats is deemed inappropriate. Anji sees that royalty calculations should be based on the use of songs.

LMK makes the rules for paying royalties by calculating the number of rooms, per seat and the like. Not based on the use of songs. So how do you share them with songwriters? Does LMK know what songs are played? Will it be fair according to its use?" he said.

"If the sound of birds or ambience (often in hospitals, Salons, spa) of which royalties are paid to whom?" concluded Anji.