Amid Efforts To Improve Music Royalty, There Are Still Singers Who Get Subpoenas

Illustration of copyright (Freepic)

JAKARTA - Ariel NOAH revealed the pressure the singers got in the midst of the problem of copyrighting songs or music, especially royalties, in the national music industry.

As is known, the chaotic music royalties have caused many singers to receive subpoenas from songwriters in recent years.

The case between Agnez Mo and Ari Bias which ended in the cassation stage became one of the most prominent among many other problems.

Although the intensity of the 'singer vs songwriter' feud has subsided in recent months' since the discussion on the revision of the Copyright Law in the DPR, in fact there are still subpoenas obtained by the singers.

Ariel as a member of the Indonesian Voice Vibration (Visi) said that an unnamed legendary singer recently received a subpoena from the songwriter he performed his work.

"A professional singer is still being summoned, two weeks ago, another legendary singer, whose song we already know that he has always been the one singing the song," Ariel told the media crew in Senayan, Central Jakarta, Tuesday, November 11.

With a statement from the All-Indonesian Composter Association (AKSI) saying the obligation to pay royalties from music performances is borne by the organizers, Ariel hopes that no one will try to use the grid of royalties to pressure the singers.

"We are happy that there is a direct statement from the ACTION office which states that it is not the singer who has to pay (royalti) for the performance rights," said Ariel.

"So, because the statement came directly from ACTION, hopefully it could be more assertive to people, especially individuals," he added. Don't let it happen again. Because even though there was a moratorium from the Minister, two weeks ago there were still singers who were summoned.

Ariel also confirmed that Vision, even though its members are currently singers who are known to the wider public, does not mean they are not thinking about the fate of the singers who are still pioneering.

"We are here defending the rights of singers, not only professional singers, but everyone who wants to sing in Indonesia, so that they get calm and clarity, what if you want to be a professional singer," said the 44-year-old musician.

"It must be started before it is professional. And to do that, they can get clarity that they will not be summoned. That's what we are fighting for now," he added.

Reflecting on the number of well-known singers who are afraid of being isolated amid the chaos of royalties, Ariel said what Vision has voiced so far is also to defend those who are far from exposure to the music industry.

"We don't know if it's in the regions, that's what we're fighting for, singers who are not visible on radar, because no one expects him to be complained to the police. That's what we really defend," concluded Ariel.