Marcell Siahaan Affirms Street Musicians Are Not Compulsory Parties To Pay Royalties

JAKARTA - The National Collective Management Institute (LMKN) gave high appreciation for the efforts of the Street Musician Institute (IMJ) which took the initiative to manage the use of music in the public sphere.

However, LMKN explicitly stated that IMJ and the street musicians he carried, actually had no obligation to pay copyright royalties for music.

IMJ itself has long shown a strong desire for street musicians under its auspices to contribute to copyright payments through a two percent scheme. The payment is planned to be borne by the IMJ as an organization, not directly charged to individual musicians.

The chairman of the LMKN for the Owner of Related Rights, Marcell Siahaan, positively welcomed this good faith. According to him, the seriousness of the IMJ in complying with copyright regulations reflects the awareness that is worthy of being imitated by many parties.

Marcell Siahaan explained, IMJ has collaborated on governance with several regional managers such as airports, KAI, and MRT. In this model, disabled music groups are given the opportunity to appear in public spaces. Uniquely, they do not receive payments from regional managers, but rather earn income from oil palm boxes or QRIS scans from visitors.

This management model is considered attractive, because it still provides space for musicians to express themselves, including for disabled groups, without neglecting respect for copyright.

However, Marcell stressed that the obligation to pay royalties is actually on the shoulders of the regional manager, and not on musicians or IMJ.

"The point of view lies with regional managers. So, those who must follow the regulations are the management, not street musicians through IMJ who are their places of shelter," Marcell said, quoted on the LMKN official website, Tuesday, November 11.

Previously, IMJ had contacted Marcell to convey their intention regarding the payment of music royalties. In response to this, Marcell explained that street singers or buskers are categorized as marginalized groups that should receive protection and attention, instead of being given additional burdens.

They are not business actors, but street artists who support themselves through their works. LMKN certainly can't treat them the same as business actors in the eleven commercial sectors that have been regulated," he said.

Meanwhile, eleven business sectors that are required to deposit royalties include hotels, restaurants, entertainment venues, radio and television broadcasting, public transportation, shops, concert or live events organizers, as well as several other sectors that commercially use music and/or songs.

We really appreciate the good intentions of street singers who come in faith to pay royalties. But on a regulatory basis, they are not included in the category of commercial users who are required to pay, "said Marcell.

Furthermore, he added that the IMJ initiative is a reflection of positive awareness of copyright and the importance of respecting musical works.

This kind of awareness needs appreciation, but Marcell reminded that regulations must still be followed so that the music licensing system can run in an orderly and fair manner for all parties.

"The IMJ step should be a reflection for music users to appreciate the copyright and contribution of songwriters in Indonesia," he concluded.