Women in Indonesia’s Music Industry
Highlighting the flawed system of Indonesia’s music industry & the obstacles it has made for women.
TW: Sexual Exploitation, Rape
Due to the 2020 lockdown, Indonesia’s music industry is experiencing a high increase in revenue growth from the streaming industry. The industry has risen by 38.3% in revenue making 181 million dollars (Statista). Every industry is somehow flawed, in the music industry, that flaw is sexism. Sexism is an ongoing issue that remains present in almost every industry whether it is male, or female-dominated, and we continue to support this industry while turning a blind eye to the harsh reality behind it. Through research and interviews with singer-songwriter Stephanie Poetri and student writer Nicole Imania, this article will examine gender discrimination in Indonesia’s music industry.
According to Stephanie Poetri, a lot of it has to do with an unethical and outdated system of marketing. Today’s mainstream media is marked by an emphasis on physical beauty and sexual appeal. Poetri states that the general public wants to listen to artists they find most desirable. Thus, there is extra pressure on women to look or behave a certain way in order to attract more listeners. Indonesia’s music industry pays more attention to visuals rather than talent. In reality, people care more about the music and how it makes them feel, rather than surface-level visuals.
Poetri expresses during meetings where she pitches her ideas, executives would much rather talk about how pretty she was. The music industry and media are highly critical of a woman’s appearance. Indonesia is no stranger to body-shaming culture. Danilla Riyadi, is one of many female singers that face constant backlash regarding her physical appearance. Riyadi constantly receives backlash regarding her body and weight after posting on social media (Imania). Her experience is a small glimpse of the struggles of women in the music industry. The normalization of body shaming within our society poses a threat to how they perceive themselves.
The industry is also highly critical of the message a song presents. Said best by Taylor Swift,
“a man can react, a woman can only overreact”.
When a man writes a song that expresses his innermost feelings, they are considered raw and sensitive. But when a woman does the same thing, they are considered irrational and overemotional. The music industry remains narrow-minded about the way that women are supposed to present themselves. This double standard is present in many other issues in the industry (Imania).
There is a big misconception about wage gaps between men and women. In the music industry, artists are paid per project. This means they earn income from shows, touring, merchandise, brand deals, recording and writing sessions, etc. (Duncan). Consequentially, when an artist is denied of any of these opportunities, their earnings are immediately reduced. In a scenario when a woman’s song is denied by a label simply because it is ‘too personal’, they are denied of a song, therefore their income is automatically decreased.
Apart from women feeling obliged to follow outdated gender norms, unfortunately, sexual harassment is common within all aspects of the music industry. Indonesia does not yet have set laws to protect victims. Stephanie Poetri recalls a fellow singer’s experiences within the interview; where an executive told her to wear provocative clothes to show her assets so she would be more successful.
This is a form of silent sexual exploitation that continues to be unacknowledged by the media. Unfortunately, Indonesia’s Criminal Code (KUHP) only identifies rape and fornication as justified forms of sexual violence (The Jakarta Post).
In the music industry, music labels hold great control over an artist’s self-expression and image. Many female artists lose themselves in this industry and their stories are ignored (Peirson-Hagger)
The music itself is losing its meaning “Music has become background noise, it is secondary”. Imania suggests, if you prioritize self-expression over anything else, be independent. Technology has made it possible to write, produce and release songs from our bedrooms.
It is safe to say that right now the music industry is more inclusive than it is exclusive.
Sexism is a prevalent issue and will continue to exist in the future. The issue may not be progressing well, it is simply being recorded and exposed. Both Imania and Poetri agree it takes a new and open-minded generation to slowly reshape culture and abolish sexism in Indonesia’s music industry.
Works Cited
Duncan, Liam. “How Do Singers Make Money? Here Are 8 Ways.” Music Industry How To, 29 Dec. 2020, www.musicindustryhowto.com/how-do-singers-make-money-here-are-8-ways/. Accessed 25 Jan. 2021.
“Gender Identity & Roles | Feminine Traits & Stereotypes.” Planned Parenthood | Official Site, www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/gender-identity/sex-gender-identity/what-are-gender-roles-and-stereotypes. Accessed 27 Jan. 2021.
Imania, Nicole. Zoom Interview. 10 Dec. 2020.
The Jakarta Post. “‘Difficulties’ Surrounding Sexual Violence Eradication Bill.” The Jakarta Post, 4 July 2020, www.thejakartapost.com/academia/2020/07/04/difficulties-surrounding-sexual-violence-eradication-bill.html. Accessed 25 Jan. 2021.
“Music Streaming — Indonesia | Statista Market Forecast.” Statista, www.statista.com/outlook/209/120/music-streaming/indonesia. Accessed 25 Jan. 2021.
Peirson-Hagger, Ellen. “I Lost My Identity”: The Artists Who Left Major Record Deals to Form Their Own Indie Labels.” Global Current Affairs, Politics & Culture, 8 July 2020, www.newstatesman.com/culture/music-theatre/2020/07/i-lost-my-identity-artists-who-left-major-record-deals-form-their-own. Accessed 25 Jan. 2021.
Poetri, Stephanie. Email Interview. 12 Dec. 2020.
