Giring Ganesha Welcomes the Increasingly Recognized East Indonesian Music Phenomenon

Minister of Public Works Giring Ganesha (Ivan Two Putra/VOI)

JAKARTA - Deputy Minister of Culture (Wamenbud) Giring Ganesha welcomed the phenomenon of East Indonesian music which has recently begun to be appreciated at the national level.

The peak is clearly visible from the many East songs that won the 2025 Indonesian Music Awards (AMI) award night.

Responding to this phenomenon, Giring said the success of Eastern music indicates a significant change in time, where musicians do not need to go to Jakarta to pursue success.

"In the old days, in my time, everyone had to go to Jakarta, but now it's the digital era - there's the internet, YouTube, Spotify, and TikTok Music - our brothers from anywhere can be famous, even internationally," said Giring when he was met at Sudirman, Central Jakarta, Monday, December 15.

This phenomenon, said Giring, is called hyperlocal, which has also become the main discussion at the Indonesian Music Conference in Jakarta last October.

"A few years ago there were campursari, from Didi Kempot to now there is Denny Caknan. They now have their own community," said Giring.

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"Now, again, East Indonesia, there are from Kupang, Ambon, from Papua. And they are very solid communities," he continued.

Furthermore, Giring said, this phenomenon must be maintained and continued to be developed for the advancement of Indonesian music.

"What we see is that this potential should not be lost, it should be sustainable," said Giring.

"God willing, in January, the Minister (Fadli Zon) also asked that all these hyperlocal musicians be gathered, so that we can know whether they are sustainable or not, and if they are sustainable, how do they sustain? Yes, the government must be involved," he concluded.