Agnez Mo Considered Negligent About Royalty, Ari Bias Launches Rp1.5 Billion In Summons And Lawsuits

Agnez Mo (Instagram @agnezmo)

JAKARTA - The songwriter Ari Bias sent an open subpoena to Agnez Mo. The 37-year-old singer was considered negligent and irresponsible for not paying royalties on performance rights when performing the song Bilang Saja in three concerts held by HW Event (now HW Group) last year.

Meanwhile, Ari Bias as the songwriter Bilang Saja said that Agnez Mo did not pay royalties when performing the song. In fact, he has confirmed it by looking at the data held by the National Collective Management Institute (LMKN).

Not only Agnez Mo, but Ari Bias also sent the subpoena to the HW Group which is under the auspices of PT Aneka Bintang Gading as the organizer of the concert. The summons demands compensation of Rp. 1.5 billion or Rp. 500 million per concert.

"Our subpoena material is that they are responsible for the use of the song without permission they did almost a year ago, in May 2023," said Minola Sebayang, Ari Bias' attorney at a press conference in Kuningan, Thursday, May 2.

Agnez Mo became the party who was also summoned because he was considered negligent and did not remind the organizers to pay royalties for performing rights in accordance with applicable regulations. Minola said the 'Overdose' singer did not have good faith.

"If you look at it, it's Agnez who sang it, not HW Group, not the promoter. Agnez should have reminded the promoter, 'You pay obligations for the use of this song'. Agnes should have good faith like that," said Minola.

"So, we consider Agnez to have also committed negligence. Let this be the responsibility of both of them, so learning is also for both of them, so that next time if you want to do another concert, it will be more orderly in respecting copyright," he continued.

Regarding the amount of compensation of Rp. 1.5 billion requested, Ari Bias felt that this value was appropriate. The reason is, Ari Bias said that he never received royalties for performing rights when Agnez Mo performed his songs.

Therefore, Ari Bias even forbade Agnez Mo to perform his songs. Communication with the management to closed subpoenas had also been sent to Agnez and the organizers some time ago, but no response was received.