Political Contestation and Interest Attainment in Cultural Policymaking: The Rise and Fall of Indonesia’s Music Bill

Abstract

The Indonesian Music Bill (Rancangan Undang-Undang Permusikan) emerged as one of the most contested cultural policy debates in contemporary Indonesia, generating intense conflict between actors supporting and opposing its legislative advancement. This study analyzes the modes of interest attainment employed by actors during the proposal, revision, and eventual cancellation of the bill. Using a qualitative case study approach, data were collected through document analysis, media analysis, and in-depth interviews with key actors involved in the legislative process. The findings reveal two major competing coalitions: the pro-deliberation coalition and the pro-cancellation coalition. The pro-deliberation coalition relied on open direct lobbying, closed elite lobbying, and symbolic legitimacy-building to advance the bill into the National Legislative Program. In contrast, the pro-cancellation coalition utilized counter-framing, negative propaganda, and public mobilization to delegitimize the legislative process. The study finds that while institutional access initially benefited the pro-deliberation coalition, the pro-cancellation coalition ultimately gained discursive dominance by framing the bill as a threat to artistic freedom and democratic participation. The study concludes that legislative success in cultural policymaking depends not only on institutional support but also on public legitimacy, transparency, and inclusive participation.