Cafes Go Silent as Fear of Royalty Fees Stifles Music in Jakarta

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - A growing number of cafes and restaurants across Jakarta are turning off their music. Not out of preference, but out of fear.

Amid tighter enforcement of Indonesia’s copyright regulations, businesses playing music in public spaces now face mandatory royalty payments. The result: an increasingly hushed dining experience.

At a small noodle shop on Jalan Tebet Raya in South Jakarta, customers eat in near silence. Gusti, a 23 year old staff member (not his real name), said the restaurant hasn’t played music in months.

“We stopped playing music from the beginning. It’s just not allowed anymore,” he told Kompas.com on Sunday, August 3.

Without background music, he says, the atmosphere has become “empty and dull.” The only sounds are the clattering of pots and pans from the kitchen.

“Music doesn’t just cheer up the customers -it also lifts the mood of the workers,” Gusti said. Now, he and his coworkers are adjusting to the quiet.

“It’s completely lifeless,” he added.

Gusti believes the absence of music could hurt business. Previously, the shop played popular Indonesian hits, often prompting customers to quietly sing along while waiting for their orders.

“Sure, the royalty issue is real, but it depends on the songwriters. Without music, cafes and restaurants lose part of their appeal,” he explained.

Not all venues are going completely silent. A nearby café on Jalan Tebet Barat has opted for a workaround: playing only Western songs.

“We’re following the rules here , just using Western music instead,” said Ririn, a 28-year-old café worker (also not her real name).

According to Ririn, management specifically banned Indonesian songs to avoid legal risks. “They don’t want to take any chances,” she said.

The café also leans heavily on instrumental music. While it helps create a calm environment, it also changes the overall vibe.

“People end up just staring at their phones or laptops. Some talk quietly. Others just sit there,” she observed.

Jeni, a 29 year old customer, put it more bluntly: “Now that they’ve switched to instrumental music, it’s quieter for sure but it makes me sleepy. The vibe just isn’t the same.”