Rhoma Irama Invites All Dangdut Singers To Perform Their Songs Without Paying Royalties

Rhoma Irama (Instagram @rhoma_official)

JAKARTA - In the midst of the chaos regarding music royalties in Indonesia, the living legend of dangdut music Rhoma Irama chose a very different path from the many narratives that have developed recently.

When many songwriters interpret creators' exclusive rights as 'full control' to their creations by permission to perform songs and pay royalties Rhoma chose to release all dangdut singers to bring their works.

"For me, I'm sorry, copyright is an exclusive right. exclusively, if I'm private, oh dangdut singers around the world, I can sing my song, I don't collect (licenses and royalties)," said Rhoma Irama in the latest episode of the Bisikan Rhoma podcast on the YouTube channel Rhoma Irama Official.

"Please sing my songs as much as possible, until it's hoarse. You don't have to pay me. This is my exclusive right, right? Is that right? " he added.

The King of Dangdut had his own reasons until he finally made the statement. In the midst of the legal case between the songwriter and the singer (performer) recently, he said there was fear among singers to perform songs composed by others.

"What I mean is like this, with this case, there are singers, especially dangdut, he is afraid to sing," he said.

"This is an announcement, who wants to sing, just sing, please," he said.

Furthermore, Rhoma also feels that he will be a waste if he blocks the singers who want to bring their copyrighted works.

In addition, if his song can bring blessings to other people, he sees it as a good thing in itself.

"Because my principle is like this, if my work is not sung by people, it looks like a waste of songs," he said. People don't just give alms with material. If we can benefit people from our work, that's a reward too.

However, Rhoma stated that this principle was only intended for himself as the holder of exclusive copyrights for copyrights, and was not required to be a principle for other songwriters.

"This is my principle, not a creator having to be like that, no, this is an exclusive right. Anda demands that your rights are also true, not wrong. Demanding that rights be true, because there is a law," he said.

Regarding the copyright problems that occur in the Indonesian music industry today, Rhoma also advised that the solution be carried out in a pleasant way for all parties.

The name is art, art is fun, not something that is danger (dangerous) and horror. So, just fun, solving art problems must also be fun, slowly, and well," he said.