Menkum Affirms Non-Tax Music Royalties For The State

Minister of Law Supratman Andi Agtas (right) in a special interview with ANTARA in Jakarta, Monday (4/8/2025). ANTARA/Agatha Olivia Victoria

JAKARTA - Minister of Law Supratman Andi Agtas emphasized that music royalties are not taxes or excise collected for the state, but rights that must be accepted by creators, singers, and song owners for their work.

In a special interview with ANTARA, Supratman explained that music royalties were not withdrawn by the government, but were collected by the National Collective Management Institute (LMKN).

Although it was formed based on the Decree of the Minister of Law and Human Rights as mandated by Law Number 28 of 2014 concerning Copyright, the Minister of Law and Human Rights said that LMKN is a non-governmental organization.

In addition, LMKN also consists of parties from the community of creators, singers, and musicians, so that those who collect, regulate, and distribute music royalties come from the community.

"One hundred percent if there are music royalties collected, they are not for the state and those who collect are not the state. Not the Ministry of Law, not the Ministry of Finance," said Supratman, Monday, August 4.

If it is proven that there are elements from the Ministry of Law and Human Rights who interfere or joke in matters of music royalties, Supratman stated that he immediately dismissed it.

Therefore, the Minister of Law and Human Rights hopes that all parties can obey the payment of music royalties, including entrepreneurs who play musical works for commercial purposes.

The Minister of Law and Human Rights said that the rules for music royalties, including for commercial use in public spaces, have actually been running for a long time since the Copyright Law.

However, at the beginning of LMKN collecting it, continued Supratman, the value of music royalties collected and distributed to related rights owners was only around Rp. 400 million per year.

Currently, LMKN reports music royalties that have been obtained from the application of regulations amounting to Rp200 billion.

"The game is good, but still small, so we encourage them to continue to fight for the rights of the creators," he said.