The Transformation of Indonesia Music Industry

by - 4:17 PM

Music industry in Indonesia is being so interesting these days, a lot of "unknown" musician can appears on a quite big gig events. There is no more border between big major label and an indie musicians, the main music industry is changing, the big label and singers/musician from the TV talent shows is no longer on the main spot of music industry.  The indie musicians who rarely shown in TV or radio they have a same or maybe higher demand for the off-air shows, because their have their own huge market.

I think 2016 is been the start of indie music scene in Indonesia to start rising up. From Majalah Hai (2017)  they have mentioned 10 big names for indie music scenes. likes Seringai, Superman Is Dead, Burger Kill, Mocca, Payung Teduh, Hivi, etc. they have earned more less 3 Billion Rupiah a year. Now in 2020 there is huge name who take the top highlight on Indonesia music industry  Weird Genius, Hindia, Feast, Diskoria, Reality Club, Ardhito Pramono, Barasuara. Those name has a huge demand for a school events, or gig events. Maybe the peoples from the "old" industries or TV still can't admit this situations.

Not it has been like 2 or 3 years that Indonesia didn't have acara musk pagi like Inbox and Dahsyat, Back than these shows was a musicians spots to get the highlight from everyone, but man the internet has beaten those shows ass down. it's like TV's culture has made the industry stuck for a while, back then like the musician in the TV was like their had a same way to perform and same way to sell their music. 2010-2012 Indonesia music industries is full of girls bands and boy bands. and after that the girl band and boy band stuff is really dead, there is no survivor from that era, except JKT48 is been a Last Man Standing for that era. 

I made up an Indonesia  music industries phases for the last decade, i made these from what i experienced and from what i saw from these industries. 

2010- 2012 : Boy Bands and Girl Bands Era

I've mentioned these before. But i can say this era is so memorable and have a really good musics. I still listening to JKT48's, Cherrybelle's songs until know, because the experienced when I listened to the music is so nostalgic, and i felt so happy. And I made a Spotify playlist for songs from this era. Such a great era but they can't stay long in the music industries like Korea music Industries does, maybe because it's boring to seeing bunch of girls/boys dancing and singing everyday. but JKT48 has their own concept like JKT48's Theater so JKT48 it isn't really dead, They Rapsodi  is so really good tho. (*p.s : i think the present JKT48 members is better then before, bcz they are like seumuran  for my age, hehe)

2013-2015 : Near Death Era

Oh my god, the music from this era are pieces of shit, I want you to mention 1 good Indonesian songs from this era except Tulus's and Raisa's songs. I just searched the top billboard in 2014, the top 2 was Cita Citata - Sakitnya Tuh Disini, and Juwita Bahar - Oplosan. other than those dangdut things, the spotlight is dominated with the old bands like Noah, Geisha, Nidji, etc. I like them but it's so boring tho. Meanwhile in the outside of Indonesia, in these years is been the greatest era for Electronic Dance Music, but majority of Indonesia didn't enjoy it, there is one music show in 2015 The Remix from NET. who has being the fresh touch for Indonesia musics trends. But in late 2015 The top charts is taken by a new names, like Isyana Sarasvati, Hivi, and Kunto Aji. that leads the music industries to the next step era.

2016-2020 : The Empire Strikes Back Era

A bunch of new names come up from nowhere, bunch of events and gigs line-up is filled up with those new comers names, in the early years Barasuara, Danila Riyadi, Stars and Rabbit, etc was on a top name and had a high demand for the off-air shows. while Indonesia social media users in these years starts to rising up, and the social media is being the power for the musician to be known. There is no more border between each genres, there are people who listening to dangdut koplo, there are who listening to Seringai., but we are not bothering each other. Gigs like Synchronize Fest, is been a evidence that Indonesia music Industries in these years is so great. the Synchronize Fest  Line-up is bringing all of genres in Indonesia, and the events is going so well it was a huge success. 

There are successful musicians in these years. Reality Club has been success to step to the state and perform at such globally famous events SXSW 2020, Rich Brian who made a global breakthrough for the first Indonesian Rapper who can be on the top Billboard list, SIHK who played a DJ Set on Tomorrowland 2019, The huge viral songs from Weird Genius, Lathi has been bringing the Indonesian music industries to be known to all people around the world.


Music is like a media to express myself, and to experienced other people experienced delivered in the beautiful chords progression and the breathtaking lyrics. Honestly i really want to express my self in music industries hehe, Back then i started to make an EDM or Rap Beat, and lately i just start to re-enforce my DJ-ing skills. in high school i joined on choir, and tried to "ngotak-ngatik" music while preparing for class project. 

I can say that i have a really good taste of music, but my music talents is so sucks lmao, but listening to the music that i like and just humming to it or expressing what i felt from the songs I listen really help me to feels more better and music really can made my day better. 

So just being a music audience is enough for me, but still if i can be a music performer, is still on my bucket list.  Hopefully Indonesia music Industries can be better forward and can make more huge name to the International scene. And for all my friends who really good at music right now don't stop man, keep it up, maybe you can be a new hope for the Indonesia music industry.

the inspiration to write these was come to me after reading this tweet.


"Music can change the world."
-Beethoven
Tags :

You May Also Like

0 comments

featured posts

Designed By