Ari Lasso Disappointed WAMI Held a Press Conference Quietly: 'I Got Pranked'

In a post on Instagram, Ari recounted that Adi Adrian had called him the night before the press conference was held. "Mas @adiadrian22 called me last night, I received it well. I asked for permission to record, but he refused. I respect that," wrote Ari. He mentioned that in the conversation, Adi admitted there was a "stupid mistake made by his team."

Ari also highlighted that when he criticized and pointed out the negligence, the WAMI side did not immediately provide clarification or send data that should have addressed his concerns. "I asked, why when I criticized harshly, didn’t they immediately counter, apologize, and send data?" said Ari. However, surprisingly, the next day WAMI held a press conference and announced the royalty claims it received without inviting him.

Regarding the royalty amount, Ari admitted that he once received a transfer of Rp40 million, but he did not expect that amount to enter his account without his knowledge. "Mas Adi said, 'You received tens of millions of rupiah, you know.' I replied, 'Oh really? Well, in that case, I apologize. I will honestly admit that I was not aware of the transfer.' But Mas Adi said, 'No need to mention the amount, it feels awkward.'"

However, Ari feels that WAMI's way of handling this issue is rather unfair. "And you guys stole the start by reversing my desire to apologize. I got pranked," wrote Ari with a tone of disappointment. He also accused WAMI of secretly gathering journalists and attacking him in the media, as if he were greedy and ungrateful.

In addition, Ari requested a detailed explanation about the source of the royalty funds, whether they came from performing rights, digital streaming, or a combination of both. "Okay, I once received Rp40 million. Thank God. But was that from performing or digital or a combination of both? I am attaching a simple calculation from @badaithepianoman," wrote Ari.

In a brief message, Badai wrote a rough calculation regarding the royalties that should be received by Ari Lasso. The amount turns out to be quite significant.

In the midst of this polemic, Ari emphasized that his struggle is not just about money, but about justice and the good name of the music industry. "So that WAMI's name can be good again, Mas," he said. Through the hashtags #MajuTakGentar, #WAMIOHWAMI, and #IDoItMyWay, Ari reaffirmed his determination to continue fighting for transparency and accountability in royalty distribution, so that musicians are not disadvantaged in the future.