JAKARTA – The tension between Indonesia’s Lembaga Manajemen Kolektif /LMK (Collective Management Organizations/ CMOs) and the Lembaga Manajemen Kolektif Nasional /LMKN (National Collective Management Organization/ NCMO) has reached a breaking point. Representatives from major organizations including WAMI, RAI, ARDI, and AKSI gathered in Jakarta this Tuesday to voice their growing trust issues. These stakeholders officially question LMKN’s current performance under the mandate of Law No. 28 of 2014.
The collective group claims that LMKN has failed to distribute the 2025 royalties in full. Unclaimed funds continue to accumulate while rightful owners wait for their payments. Legendary musician Rhoma Irama emphasized that all royalty distribution must strictly follow existing laws. The groups maintain that the current administration must uphold the transparency standards established by previous leadership cycles.
Disputed Revenues and the Digital Divide
Financial discrepancies form the core of this heated debate between the music creators and the regulators. The CMOs highlight that the previous administration secured Rp 55 billion in analog royalties between January and August 2025. They also point out that WAMI generated Rp 220 billion in digital royalties under the coordination of the former LMKN board.
Critics now accuse the current LMKN “Volume IV” board of withholding crucial collection data for the July–December 2025 period. The CMOs demand immediate access to these financial reports to ensure fair distribution among their members. They argue that secretiveness regarding collection totals undermines the entire music ecosystem.
Technical Failures and the Proxy System Struggle
The implementation of a new “proxy” distribution system based on usage data has sparked widespread frustration. CMOs argue that LMKN changed these collection methods unilaterally without obtaining consent from the member organizations. They believe the current system fails to represent the diverse elements of the Indonesian music industry.
Technical glitches further complicate the submission of member data into the new LMKN portal. Staff members frequently encounter double claims and data rejections despite following all official instructions. These system failures directly harm individual rights holders who rely on accurate data processing for their income.
A Call for Restoration of Rights
The gathered organizations now demand a return to the original royalty distribution formula agreed upon in early 2025. They insist that LMKN honor the joint decrees and distribution minutes previously signed by all parties. This restoration seeks to protect the financial interests of singers, composers, and musicians across the nation.
The CMOs also call for the Directorate General of Intellectual Property of Indonesia to revoke recent circulars that weaken their functional roles. Singer Ikke Nurjanah noted that while the previous LMKN acted as a true representation of all organizations, the current board lacks that essential transparency. Every LMK now stands united in their goal to reclaim their rightful authority in collecting and distributing royalties through a unified, honest gateway.
As reported by Pingkan Anggraini on detikpop
