Reassessing the Legal Protection of Independent Music Copyrights in the Age of Digital Aggregators

The growth of digital music distribution has encouraged independent musicians to publish their works through aggregator services. Although aggregators offer broad access to global markets, the legal protection of copyright for independent musicians remains problematic. This study aims to examine the extent of copyright protection for independent music works under Indonesian law when published through aggregators. Using a normative legal approach and descriptive- analytical method, the research explores Law Number 28 of 2014 on Copyright, digital contract issues, literature, and case studies. The findings reveal significant gaps in the protection of both economic and moral rights due to unequal bargaining power and lack of regulatory oversight for foreign aggregators. Furthermore, the absence of specific regulations regarding digital contracts via aggregators contributes to the legal imbalance between musicians and digital platforms. Therefore, harmonization of digital copyright law is necessary, emphasizing the principle of fair contracts and enhancing legal literacy among independent music creators.