Indonesia has two main author CMOs. Here's a clear comparison and a practical walkthrough of joining one — including the paperwork foreign writers often miss.

Indonesia has two principal author CMOs — WAMI (Wahana Musik Indonesia) and KCI (Karya Cipta Indonesia). Membership in one is a prerequisite for collecting performing-rights royalties in Indonesia.

WAMI vs KCI

  • KCI — Indonesia's oldest author CMO (since 1990); large legacy catalogue.
  • WAMI — modern operational focus on performing & mechanical; widely used by 2000s+ catalogues and publishers.

You may belong to only one author CMO at a time for the same right type. Switching is permitted at year-end (GR 56/2021 art. 13).

Documents typically required

  • Government ID (passport for non-residents).
  • NPWP or equivalent tax ID number.
  • Bank account details capable of receiving IDR (or USD wire for non-residents).
  • Catalogue of works with collaborator information.
  • For corporate publishers: certificate of incorporation + tax ID.
  • For non-resident applicants: Form DGT-1 (Indonesian tax-treaty certificate).

The standard registration flow

  1. Open an applicant account

    Via the CMO's online portal: wami.co.id or kci.or.id. Submit personal/entity details and choose the membership type (Author, Composer, Author/Composer, or Publisher).

  2. Sign the mandate / deed of assignment

    Read carefully — it defines: scope of rights mandated, admin fee (typically 10–20%), term, termination, and territory.

  3. Register your first works

    Provide title, ISWC (if known), splits, performer, label, ISRC. The CMO assigns an ISWC if not already present.

  4. Verify SILM ingestion

    Confirm with the CMO that submitted works appear in SILM and matched against IPI. Without SILM presence, distributions cannot include those works.

  5. Wait for first distribution

    Realistic first payout: 6–18 months from registration, depending on usage cycles. Distribution statements are typically quarterly or annual.

Special considerations for non-resident writers

  • If you already hold an IPI from another CMO (ASCAP, BMI, PRS, etc.), provide it — the Indonesian CMO can register you as an "affiliate writer" rather than reissuing.
  • You can also stay registered with your home CMO and use a publishing administrator to handle Indonesian registration via reciprocal access.
  • Provide DGT-1 upfront to avoid 20% default withholding on payouts.

Common mistakes to avoid

  • Registering before having a written split sheet — splits become a battleground later.
  • Using inconsistent name spelling (cuts off matching with global databases).
  • Forgetting to renew DGT-1 annually (you'll silently revert to 20% withholding).
  • Ignoring quarterly distribution statements — file correction claims promptly.

Note. The full list of licensed Indonesian CMOs is published at lmkn.id. Always verify the CMO's licensing status before submitting.

#wami#kci#cmo#registration

Updated: May 8, 2026.