JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com — Indonesian singer-songwriter Nazril Irham, famously known as Ariel NOAH, has expressed his reservations regarding the implementation of a direct license system within the country’s music industry. This system has recently become a hot topic of debate amongst music professionals.
For context, a direct license refers to a licensing and royalty payment model where songwriters deal directly with those who use their copyrighted works, bypassing intermediary organizations like Collecting Societies (Lembaga Manajemen Kolektif or LMK).
Ariel believes that he still needs the support of an LMK to effectively manage his royalty rights, particularly concerning performing rights.
“Personally, as a songwriter, I don’t feel equipped to handle direct licensing as it’s currently being discussed,” Ariel stated in an Instagram post on Monday, March 24, 2025.
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“I still need an LMK to obtain and manage my rights, specifically an LMK that is credible and trustworthy,” he added, emphasizing the importance of reliable organizations in the process.
Addressing the issue of obtaining permission to perform his songs, Ariel affirmed that his initial motivation for making music was to entertain others. Therefore, he wants to make it as easy as possible for anyone who wishes to sing his songs.
“As a songwriter, I want to make it easy for others to sing my songs, because that aligns with my initial intention when creating a song, which is to entertain everyone who can be entertained by it,” Ariel explained.
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Ariel also mentioned that he currently adheres to the government’s regulations regarding royalty payments.
He voiced his hope that a resolution to this issue will be reached soon, especially with the planned revision of the Copyright Law.
“In my opinion, the most important thing now is for the state to step in and regulate things temporarily until the new law is revised, and LMKs need to quickly improve their performance,” Ariel urged.
Previously, Ariel had suggested that the direct license concept arose from songwriters’ disappointment and distrust towards LMKs or the National Collective Management Organization (Lembaga Manajemen Kolektif Nasional or LMKN). He believes this lack of confidence is driving the conversation surrounding alternative royalty collection methods.
Ringkasan
Ariel NOAH has voiced his concerns about the direct license system in Indonesia’s music industry, believing it’s too complex for individual songwriters to manage effectively. He emphasizes the continued need for credible and trustworthy Collecting Societies (LMK) to handle royalty rights, particularly performing rights, on behalf of artists.
Ariel highlights his desire to make his songs accessible for performance, aligning with his initial intention to entertain. He hopes for government intervention to regulate the situation until the Copyright Law is revised and urges LMKs to improve their performance. Ariel suggests that the push for direct licensing stems from disappointment and distrust towards existing LMKs and the National Collective Management Organization (LMKN).