"Now is time for us to create I-Pop."Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy Mari Elka Pangestu has requested all artistes in the country`s music industry to create Indonesian Pop (I-Pop).
"The domestic music industry is being threatened by the entry of Korean Pop (K-Pop), and now is time for us to create I-Pop," the minister remarked at Sapta Pesona building here on Monday night.
Mari noted that K-Pop`s entry posed a threat to the domestic music industry, which must rise to the challenge by creating I-Pop.
She explained that the Indonesian music industry`s contribution to foreign exchange was relatively small, at only 0.73 percent, but previous years` evaluation indicated that the number of domestic music listeners had reached 80 percent.
Therefore, the minister promised full support to domestic musicians, song writers and the music industry in competing against K-Pop by creating I-Pop.
"K-Pop was created six years ago as a Korean wave, but I urge the domestic music industry to try to create I-Pop in the next five years," Mari added.
(T.O001/INE/KR-BSR/F001)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
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