Should a highly controversial bill on music currently being debated in Indonesia pass into law, there may soon come a day when the creation of provocative songs, foreign-influenced music, or even the playing of non-traditional music at a bar could result in criminal sanctions.
RUU Permusikan (Draft Bill on Music) has been the subject of intense criticism by Indonesian musicians and the general public recently, with many accusing it of potentially and needlessly regulating artistic expression.
The bill was first proposed in the House of Parliament (DPR) Commission X (which oversees national matters related to sports, education, and history) in 2017 and was drafted on August 15, 2018. It has become a widely discussed topic this month after reports that the bill was included among the first priority bills to be discussed during the 2019 National Legislative Program (Prolegnas), meaning there is a good chance it will be passed into law by the DPR this year.
Below are some of the specific articles included in RUU Permusikan that have musicians all over Indonesia (most of them — we’ll get to that) singing the same song of defiance against it possible passage.
Article 5
Musicians are forbidden to promote violence and law breaking to the public, create pornographic content, provoke inter-community conflict, blaspheme, adopt negative influences from foreign culture and indignify others.
This points in this article are pretty self-explanatory. Basically, Indonesia won’t be able to have its own Eminem, and, under subjective interpretation of the article, the song below would breach at least a couple of its points.
Article 50, which outlines the punishments for violation of Article 5, does not yet contain specific prison sentences or fines.
Article 18
Music shows must involve music promoters and/or event organizers that are officially licensed and have business permits related to music shows as regulated by law.
This article presents a conundrum for up-and-coming independent musicians — some may not be able to book shows because they’re not signed to a promoter/label, but they can’t sign with a promoter/label because they can’t book shows to showcase their music.
Article 19
Music promoters or music event organizers who are organizing music shows involving foreign musicians must be accompanied by an Indonesian musician.
John Mayer featuring Superman is Dead’s Jerinx on drums, anyone?
Article 32
To be recognized as a professional, musicians who are either taught or self-trained must take competency tests.
Won’t somebody think of the button-pushing DJs?
Article 42
Businesses in the hotel, restaurant and other entertainment industries are required to play traditional music in their place of business.
It’s not clear how far-reaching “other entertainment industries” is at this point, but hopefully this would paves the way for more EDM-infused gamelan at nightclubs (unless of course EDM is classified as another negative foreign influence).
The resistance
At least 262 professional musicians in Indonesia united to form the National Coalition to Reject RUU Permusikan soon after the bill became public news this month. Representing the coalition, singer Danilla Riyadi launched a petition on Change.org in which she outlined that there are at least 19 problematic provisions in the bill that would suppress musicians’ artistic integrity, or worse.
“One of the articles we highlighted was Article 5, which contains language that is multi-interpretative and biased, such as to blaspheme, insult, stain, and provoke. This elastic law is very dangerous and could be the gateway for certain people (those in power, or whoever else) to persecute creative processes that they do not like,” Danilla wrote in the petition.
Since the petition was launched two days ago, it has been signed by over 190,000 people as of Wednesday afternoon. You can sign it here.
Will the bill pass?
The fact that the bill was included among the priority for this year’s Prolegnas means that the chances of it being ratified is quite high. But Commission X member Anang Hermansyah, whose own music career launched him to stardom and, consequently, his position in the DPR, says he’s open to amending the bill with suggestions and criticisms from fellow musicians in mind.
“If they want Article 5 to be dropped then we can drop it, but there are other good articles [in the bill]. The hopes of artists are many, professional musicians in other regions, like in Eastern Indonesia, are hoping that the profession can sustain their livelihoods. This is what other musicians must consider, that’s why we need to sit down together with cool heads and discuss [the bill],” Anang said during a discussion with musicians in Jakarta on Monday, as quoted by CNN Indonesia.
In several interviews with the media about RUU Permusikan, Anang has repeatedly asserted that the bill needs to be ratified in order to protect the Indonesian music industry. He says the industry currently contributes very little to Indonesia’s economy despite its enormous size, and he believes the bill, if passed into law, would ensure larger royalty payments and enforcement of copyright laws for professional musicians.
Anang’s argument aside, it is quite regrettable that the DPR is spending so much time and effort trying to regulate an art form that needs no additional regulation, whereas other more pressing matters like the Elimination of Sexual Violence Bill have remained in limbo for several years.
Well, just in case RUU Permusikan does pass into law as is, you might want to enjoy the ridiculous extraness of Indonesia’s homegrown music industry, while you still can.
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