Ministry launches project to counter foreign music<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): For many, the country's traditional music is
\nbeing forgotten, losing the battle against invasions of foreign
\nmusic. Now, even children tend to watch MTV instead of
\ntraditional performances aired on television.<\/p>\n
More people keep records of Madonna, Pearl Jam, or Spice
\nGirls, rather than those of traditional music.<\/p>\n
Take note of the line up of trendy youngsters waiting to be
\nlet into a packed well-known cafe in the center of the city,
\nwilling to pay a large amount of money just to watch a visiting
\nforeign artist perform.<\/p>\n
Then compared this with the empty seats at local playhouses,
\nwhich continuously hold various traditional shows for the sake of
\npreserving the culture; not to mention the low entrance fees.<\/p>\n
Still, there is no such phrase as \"giving up\" in preserving
\nthe local culture, including its music.<\/p>\n
This is what the Ministry of Education and Culture and the
\nAssociation of Indonesian Recording Companies is trying to do by
\nreleasing CDs and cassettes, Tradisi Musik Nusantara (The
\nCountry's Musical Tradition), of musical performances from each
\nof the country's 27 provinces.<\/p>\n
\"The effort is intended to preserve the country's culture in
\nthe face of stiff competition with foreign cultures,\" the
\nministry's director general of culture, Edi Sedyawati, told
\nreporters recently.<\/p>\n
\"Sometimes, the values of foreign cultures don't fit ours,\"
\nEdi said.<\/p>\n
Even with a strong commitment to preserve the country's
\nculture, the ministry acknowledged the possibilities that the CDs
\nand cassettes would not be very successful in the market.<\/p>\n
\"It's not easy to popularize the country's musical tradition
\nbecause it means we have to change attitudes toward traditional
\nmusic,\" Edi said.<\/p>\n
But, no matter what the market's response is, the ministry's
\nofficials throughout the country will not be involved in selling
\nthe CDs and cassettes, she said.<\/p>\n
\"The CDs and cassettes will be offered (voluntarily) for sale
\nto the public,\" Edi said.<\/p>\n
And once the CDs and cassettes gained profit, the artists and
\nmusicians whose voices and works were recorded, will be given
\nroyalty, she added.<\/p>\n
At present, CDs cost between Rp 45,000 and Rp 70,000 each,
\ndepend on the \"value\" of the Indonesian or foreign artists.
\nCassettes of Indonesian artists now retail for between Rp 10,000
\nand Rp 15,000 each, while those of international artists sell
\nfrom Rp 13,000 to Rp 17,000.<\/p>\n
A strong commitment alone is not enough. Real action must be
\ntaken. It is necessary to have a well-planed professional
\nmarketing strategy. And the first thing to do is to make sure the
\nCDs and cassettes are distributed to the stores.<\/p>\n
Two large stores, Disc Tara in Pondok Indah Mall, South
\nJakarta, and Duta Suara in Sabang, Central Jakarta, said that, as
\nof the end of March, they have still not received Tradisi Musik
\nNusantara CDs or cassettes.<\/p>\n
\"No, we don't have it yet,\" said Deni, Disc Tara's attendant.
\n(ste)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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