Ahmad Dhani Claims He Receives Rp 50 Million from Ari Lasso Every Time He Performs a Dewa 19 Song, What About Once?

Kapanlagi.com - Ahmad Dhani and Ari Lasso are known to have established a solid collaboration that results in a mutually beneficial and transparent royalty agreement for Dewa 19's songs. Every month, Ahmad Dhani reveals that he receives a royalty payment of Rp 50 million from Ari Lasso every time the solo singer performs his songs.

Dhani explained that the payments occur without the involvement of any copyright management agency. The agreement is made directly between him and Ari Lasso based on mutual respect.

1. Payment Has Been Based on Mutual Agreement

"I without ACTION just from Ari Lasso personally, yes, from Ari Lasso as a singer, in a month I get Rp 50 million," said Ahmad Dhani when met in South Jakarta on Monday (17/2/2025).

He emphasized that the payment was purely based on mutual agreement. There was no involvement from the National Collective Management Institution (LMKN), Indonesian Music Forum (WAMI), or any other party.

"That was without WAMI, without anyone. Just a gentleman agreement," he said.

2. Determination of Song Rates

Instagram/ahmaddhaniofficial

On this occasion, Ahmad Dhani explained that he imposes a certain rate for each Dewa 19 song performed. Ari Lasso is said to accept the terms because he indeed enjoys the songs created by Dhani.

"I set a rate for one song at a certain amount, he can also not perform a Dewa song. If he likes Dewa's songs, that's fine, in the end, he pays for three Dewa songs," explained Ahmad Dhani.

According to Ahmad Dhani, Ari Lasso's attitude reflects a sense of empathy that he values as important for a singer to have.

"So maybe because Ari Lasso is Javanese, he has tepo seliro (empathy). So a singer must have what is called empathy," he stated.

3. A Jab at Once Mekel

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"It's okay if not, the show must go on (for Ari Lasso), except for Once, it’s a bit difficult if he doesn’t sing Dewa's songs because his hit songs are not as many as Ari Lasso's," Dhani stated.

On the same occasion, Ahmad Dhani also mentioned singer Once Mekel. He compared Once's attitude with Ari Lasso regarding the use of Dewa 19's songs on stage.

Dhani believes Once relies quite a bit on Dewa 19's songs in every performance. This is different from Ari Lasso, who can still perform even without the songs from the band that made him famous.

4. Once Finally Stops Singing His Songs

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Furthermore, Mulan Jameela's husband explained the reason Once finally stopped performing with Dewa 19's songs. According to him, the singer whose real name is Elfonda Mekel could not meet the royalty payment requirements.

"That's why Once stopped singing Dewa's songs, why? Because he couldn't prove that he has paid," concluded Ahmad Dhani.

(kpl/far/fbi)