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The presence of cover musicians or singers in the Indonesian music industry is actually considered positive by music observers Bens Leo, as long as the musician respects the original songwriter or musician. For those of you who want to know the latest cover songs visit the zebwe.com or smsbranford.org site on this site there are many information on the most complete and most updated cover song collection.

The presence of cover musicians or singers in the Indonesian music industry is actually considered positive by music observers Bens Leo, as long as the musician respects the original songwriter or musician.

"If they sell the works that are covered, then he must ask permission to the creator," he said.

However, what happens now is that many people sing or arrange other people's songs without permission. In fact, many people do not ask permission from the original songwriter or singer, so that when the singer or musician cover becomes popular, the loser is the songwriter. Songwriters should have rights to royalties for songs that are covered.

He cited the rules for covering songs abroad that required popular cover singers to negotiate with songwriters. "But in our country it often happens that is not so," said Bens.

In fact, musical works should get royalties when they are not performed by the original songwriter or singer. The songs that are displayed in a paid venue are also like that, the creator of the song is entitled to receive royalties as much as 2% of the value of the cost of producing the show.

"If the song is held where the audience does not pay, the songwriter and singer does not receive royalties," Bens said. According to him the system of rules for singing other people's songs is quite complicated in calculations.

Also includes covers of songs that are now crowded through YouTube. Bens said that people who cover songs on YouTube and then gain popularity and commercial value from there, should pay royalties to the original songwriter and singer.

However, the calculation of royalties in the cover of songs on YouTube is still considered difficult. This happens because YouTube is a vast and open land, making it difficult to record royalty payments.

"But actually, like popular foreign singers from YouTube, they usually contact the creator of the song and pay the rights to the work," Bens said again. Unfortunately in Indonesia it is not clear yet about the regulation about covering songs on YouTube.

One of the musicians whose works are mostly covered by others is the Koes Plus music group. According to Bens, Koes Plus songs were even sung at stadium performances. However, the statement from the group member Yok Koeswoyo was quite surprising. At Bens he said that they did not need to ask for royalties from the appearance in order to help others.

"Realities like this are somewhat inappropriate when referring to the Copyright Act but they are not demanding, it is considered pride to help others," he said. However, Koes Plus will firmly demand that their songs be re-recorded and circulated.
This clearly shows that when the songs that are covered enter the commercial realm such as recordings, the cover musicians must pay royalties.

In fact, Bens assessed that not all musicians understood the copyright regulation. But musicians who have entered the recording industry should have understood it.

He criticized the cover of Via Vallen's song titled Sayang which was originally a Japanese song. The Japanese song was later given Indonesian lyrics with a mixture of Javanese, and in the end the song was popular.

"It has not yet been sued by its creator and original producer from Japan, the Via Vallen party has negotiated to pay royalties," he said. He regretted that the musician was famous for the songs of others first, but only later paid royalties. According to him cases like this do not need to happen.

"It would be cheaper to negotiate from the start rather than being sued later," Bens said.

Bens highlighted that cover musicians in terms of both singers or management who shelter should not continue to dwell on cover music.

"So it's not just covering people's songs, but working alone for the sake of pride," he said.
Cover singers who do not bring their own work are considered to continue to be under the shadow of the original singer and the label "cover musician".

According to him, recording alone with his own songs would be better because it prioritizes originality.
"Far better independent musicians who record and distribute it themselves, compared with those who re-record other people's songs," he said.