Jakarta's music demonstrates its local music creativity, cultural diversity, and foreign influence, shaping its musical scene for decades. The variety has resulted in creating different forms of music that are often accompanied by theatrical dances. Music plays a crucial role in creating pop culture, especially theme songs in cinemas and TV dramas. The music industry is so popular nationwide thanks to the cultural diversion of the Jakarta population. The music is also popular in neighbouring countries such as Singapore, Brunei, and Malaysia.

The orchestra is typically a western kind of music; it was introduced in Jakarta during the 18th century by the Duchess of East Indies. Only officers and wealthy Dutch plantation owners enjoyed this type of music in exclusive ballrooms and social clubs. A music concert hall was constructed in Jakarta during the 19th century. During the 60s and 80s, classical music was aired through radio and TV programs. During this same period, music was introduced as an extra-curricular activity for students in Universities. Classical music has played a role in promoting and preserving national songs composed by Jakarta's indigenous peoples.

Ananda Sukarlan is among the most prominent composers, with many orchestra chambers and instrumental works. The musician has composed many songs for other artists like Violinist Midori Goto, who has also performed his works. Since their symphony groups, Jakarta is among the major cities where orchestra music is not strange to indigenous peoples and ex-pats. Twilight Orchestra, The Jakarta Chamber Orchestra, and the Nusantara Symphony Orchestra are famous symphony groups in Jakarta. Since the country has many patriotic songs played and memorized by people frequently, some have been recorded on different albums using orchestra recordings.

Addie MS is another Orchestra musician; he was born in Jakarta during the late 50s and is now a producer and a songwriter; he's originally of Sudanese descent. He is currently the director of the Twilite Orchestra band that he founded in the early 90s. In the late 90s, he founded the Twilite Youth Orchestra group to create awareness of classical music among Indonesian juveniles. Courtesy of the Ministry of Tourism in Indonesia, Twilite Orchestra became the first Indonesian orchestra band to perform at the Sydney Opera House. The concert served as a major promotion to Indonesian tourism.

Jazz Fusion is a music genre developed in the 60s by combining rhythm and blues, funk, improvised rock music, and jazz harmony. It uses woodwind and brass instruments like saxophone and trumpets, and other substitute instruments. It's less likely to find a double bass or piano in a jazz band, but bass guitar, synthesizers, and the electric guitar are some of the commonly used instruments. Jazz-rock I a term given to the jazz fusion music that was played during the late 60s and 80s. Benny Mustafa, Jack Lesmana, Bubi Chen, Benny Likumahuwa, Maryono are the first musicians and bands that explore jazz music. Most of these groups fuse westernized music with traditional music. The biggest annual jazz festival is held in Jakarta; it's known as the Jakarta International Java Jazz Festival.

Erwin Gutawa Sumapraja is an Indonesian songwriter who was born in Jakarta during the early 60s. He started his career by joining a jazz band as a bassist soon after becoming an independent composer. He won awards for being the best music arranger. Being a band member of the Jarimata jazz band, Gutawa and the band did a show at a Festival in the Netherlands. Apart from songwriting, he also worked as a producer and concert organizer for other artists. After the band was banned, he formed an orchestra group and worked as a composer. He presented a rock concert featuring Dewa, Gigi, and Slank during The Early Millennium, held at the Jakarta convention centre. Nicky Astria, Ahmad Albar, Roni Harahap, and Jockie Soerjoprajogo were guest musicians who attended the concert.

Indo pop is a type of music from Indonesia that has been influenced by the records and trends from Britain, America, Japan, Korea, and India. Koes Plus was a pioneer of indo-pop music in the early 60s. Britain and American music primarily influence her music. In particular, the Beatles has a significant influence on his band. Chrisye and Iwan Falls are some of the best-known Indonesian legends of the indo-pop music genre.

Tanoto Foundation, an independent philanthropy organization established by Sukanto Tanoto and Tinah Bingei Tanoto in 1981, has launched its inaugural 'Unlocking Potential: Conversations with Tanoto Foundation' podcast series.

The first episode, titled 'Beyond the Pandemic' and available on Spotify and YouTube, features Tanoto Foundation Trustee Belinda Tanoto and infectious diseases expert Professor Tikki Pangestu.

Belinda Tanoto, also a Managing Director at the global resource manufacturing Royal Golden Eagle (RGE) group of companies, has been actively involved in a number of Tanoto Foundation programs in human capital development such as stunting mitigation, poverty alleviation, early childhood education and development, maternal health and leadership development.

In addition to its other long-term focus on improving people's health span through its medical philanthropy, the Tanoto Foundation has since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic collaborated with like-minded partners to provide urgent support to governments and communities in the form of personal protective equipment (PPE), masks, sanitizer and disinfectants, food staple packages, and more recently in Indonesia, oxygen concentrators and supply.

The podcast largely centered on Asia's ability to exit the pandemic, as well as opportunities to accelerate Asian nations' recovery. Professor Pangestu, a Visiting Professor at the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, shared broadly on the importance of vaccination, testing, treatment and social responsibility. The former Director of Research Policy and Cooperation at the World Health Organization added that nations have to be prepared to live with the virus as endemic as they exit the pandemic.

Professor Pangestu continually emphasized vaccination as critical consideration for any community to overcome the virus and reduce mortality and hospitalization rates. He cited matter-of-factly Israel, the UK, Singapore and China as countries who have continued demonstrating effective governance and management of the virus amidst the emergence of more infectious variants.

However, he expressed concern over three challenges many developing countries face in supply, logistics and vaccine hesitancy. He suggested that good governance and improving scientific literacy can help a nation achieve herd immunity, which comprises 80-90 percent of the population being fully vaccinated.

Israel and the United Kingdom (UK) serve as two examples of how vaccines reduce not only the spread of the infection but also mortality rates. With about 60% coverage, people in Israel are 30 times less likely to be infected and ten times less likely to be hospitalised. While the UK, which has 30-40% coverage, deals with the more infectious Delta variant, there is a significantly lower mortality rate.

Governments alone cannot battle the virus. Both Ms. Tanoto and Professor Pangestu agreed this was where public-private partnerships could help boost efforts in vaccination campaigns and public health communications. Professor Pangestu acknowledged that while private organizations played important parts in financing purchase of vaccines, oxygen and personal protective equipment, they could bolster efforts in public health communication, advocacy and education to overcome vaccine hesitancy.

Broader collaboration will reduce vaccine inequity, expand vaccine access and hasten the pace at which vaccines are administered. The podcast touched briefly on Indonesia's 'gotong royong' mass vaccination campaign, a public-private collaboration aimed at sharply increasing the number of vaccines administered to people across the world's fourth most populous country. Professor Pangestu added that private healthcare institutions such as private hospitals and clinics, along with pharmaceutical companies were vital in the distribution and delivery of vaccines to the population.

The Singapore-based researcher said that individuals could play a vital role, citing how celebrities, influencers, community and religious leaders have helped to amplify the vaccination campaign, public health advisories and good hygiene practices.

The conversation moved to the role philanthropies and non-profits could play to not only contribute to herd immunity but also safeguarding public health. Professor Pangestu said that philanthropies have continued to also support medical research, contributing to the growing body of knowledge that will spur the discovery of effective solutions in vaccinations and treatment.

In 2017, Tanoto Foundation contributed a transformational gift to the SingHealth Duke-NUS Medical Centre to establish the Viral Research and Experimental Medicine Centre @SingHealth Duke-NUS (ViREMiCS). This was in addition to establishment of Tanoto Foundation Professorships in diabetes research, cardiovascular medicine and medical oncology respectively in 2013, 2014 and 2016. In addition to supporting human capital development programs and the realization of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs), the Foundation has also contributed broadly to medical philanthropy as it seeks to meaningfully contribute to research in Asia-prevalent diseases and to the improvement of health span of populations globally.

Pioneer Electronics Asia Centre, a leader in in-car entertainment, today launched its 2021 Hi-Res Special Edition car component speakers, the 17cm (6.5-inch) TS-VR170C, TS-V170C, and TS-J170C. These speakers—designed by Pioneer's audio engineers in Japan and tuned to the discerning tastes of Asian consumers—were made to deliver stunningly realistic, vivid audio that reproduces all the intricate details and emotion in every piece of music. Pioneer also launched the new DMH-A4450BT multimedia receiver, which brings flagship Car Connected Experience features such as wired Apple CarPlay™, Android Auto™, and Mirroring for Android™ to drivers at an affordable price.

"Today's discerning consumers don't just expect quality or convenience. They look out authenticity, whether it's in the products they interact with or the entertainment they enjoy," said Mr. Takekawa Daisuke, Managing Director, Pioneer Electronics Asia Centre. "That's why we designed our 2021 products to push the boundaries of what's possible with realistic, authentic Hi-Res sound — while offering practical features every driver can appreciate in an accessible, customizable and manageable package."

Leading the 2021 Hi-Res Special Edition Speaker line-up is the TS-VR170C, specially designed and manufactured by Pioneer in Japan to produce the new 'Pioneer Flagship Sound' concept — a realistic audio experience that authentically reproduces the sound from musician's voices and instruments in an excellent, broad soundstage.

To produce such a high standard of sound, Pioneer's audio engineers employed Pioneer's signature 'Takumi' craftsmanship approach, leveraging innovations from the edge of acoustics science and combining them with Pioneer's dedication to ultimate sound quality. Taking inspiration from the company's best award-winning speaker models in Japan, Pioneer's engineers rigorously tested over 200 different combinations of materials, speaker shapes, and setups — all to create an ideal design that delivers a new 'Pioneer Flagship Sound'.

The TS-VR170C's tweeter was designed with a 25mm 'Dual Arc Ring' aluminum diaphragm to reproduce a wide range of high frequencies, up to 65kHz. This uniquely designed diaphragm works in concert with the tweeter's voice coil, aluminum equalizer, and a powerful neodymium magnet to minimize distortion and ensure true-to-life accuracy, producing crystal-clear expressive high notes that make voices and musical instruments sound absolutely outstanding. A redesigned, adjustable tweeter housing also gives drivers several flexible installation options.

The TS-VR170C's woofer was designed with a dual-layer carbon fiber cone, supported by a high-performance, space-efficient square wire voice coil, a neodymium magnet and strong aluminum die-cast basket. This setup accurately reproduces low-to-mid frequencies, free from distortion — faithfully reproducing sound from drums, bass, and strings. To ensure a uniform reproduction of sound across frequencies, Pioneer created a special crossover network for the TS-VR170C that uses thicker coils, premium-grade film capacitors, and gold-plated terminals. This crossover also features a tweeter attenuator and support for bi-amp connections, giving listeners the freedom to tweak the overall sound balance to their specific tastes.

Designed in Japan, the TS-V170C takes inspiration from Pioneer's world-renowned Z-Series speakers and elevates the 'Open & Smooth' sound concept with a new design. The TS-V170C's aluminum tweeter diaphragm, Harmonized Synthetic Diaphragm Optimum Method (HSDOM) created via computer analysis, provides a well-tuned, wide frequency response of up to 64kHz. The speaker's woofer, designed with a dual-layer Aramid Fiber cone, high-strength center cap, large strontium magnet, and aluminum diecast basket accurately reproduces low-and-midrange frequencies. With a redesigned crossover, the TS-V170C delivers a premium sound signature with open, smooth, and detailed soundstage, creating an incredibly immersive Hi-Res audio experience.

The TS-J170C also reimagines the 'Open & Smooth' concept, using a mix of tried-and-tested designs and innovative technologies to bring dynamic, 'live' sound to drivers everywhere. While the TS-J170's poly-imide balanced dome tweeter design produces a clear high-frequency response of up to 58kHz, the woofer's new Injection Molding Carbonized Cone (IMCC) cone and high efficiency square wire voice coil work together with a redesigned crossover to create strong, dynamic, and immersive low-to-mid frequencies — transforming the in-car listening experience into a live studio performance.

To ensure a hassle-free installation experience, Pioneer has bundled the TS-V170C and TS-J170C with multi-fit adapters, multi-fit connectors, and installation accessories for tweeters. These adapter kits feature a variety of mounting options and connectors that fit a wide variety of Asian, American and Continental cars, giving drivers everywhere the option to install these speakers themselves.

Drivers looking for more information on fitment and guidance on speaker choice can use Pioneer's CarSoundFit app, which simulates Pioneer speakers' sound quality versus factory-fitted setups. CarSoundFit is available on the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store for most countries today.

The regional headquarters of Pioneer Corporation since 1992, Pioneer's core business is in car audio visual. Pioneer aims to be a leading aftermarket manufacturer and supplier to leading car brands, providing comprehensive infotainment solutions for in-car, by developing next-generation devices and innovative cloud services for the growing connected car market.

The soon-to-open hotel received the award at the 6th PropertyGuru Indonesia Property Award 2020. The Westin Surabaya, which opens its doors next month on 7th December 2020, was declared Indonesia's best-designed hotel. It won the Best Hotel Architectural Design award at the 6th PropertyGuru Indonesia Property Awards 2020, celebrating the country's best projects, designs and innovation, within the real estate industry held on early November 2020.

'We are truly humbled to have been recognized with this esteemed award, and we wish to thank all the judges and congratulate our associates,' said Alamsyah Jo, The Westin Surabaya's Complex General Manager. 'We are committed to creating unforgettable experiences while always keeping our guests' well-being, safety and comfort at the top of our minds and this recognition will be a morale boost as we prepare for our launch next month,' he added.

Developed by PT. Pakuwon Permai, Pakuwon Group, a subsidiary company of PT Pakuwon Jati, Tbk., The Westin Surabaya poses an elegant, curved silhouette giving unparalleled views of Surabaya city from the suite rooms and a 270-degree view from the club lounge and restaurant. The front facade, positioned at the fringe of the city welcomes visitors with an impressive gateway to paradise.

'Conveniently located atop the largest shopping destination in Indonesia, Pakuwon Mall Superblock, The Westin Surabaya is strategically nestled between Surabaya's business and commercial hubs. This iconic hotel plus mall capture the diverse culture and architectural design of the country's second-largest city, with engaging services and state-of-the-art design to satisfy every guest rooms, dining facilities, and wellness experiences,' said Fenny, Director PT. Pakuwon Permai.

Inspired by the modern interpretation of luxury, The Westin Surabaya marries exotic local elements with clean lines to offer a soothing yet unforgettable experience for guests. The opulent style of The Westin Surabaya is on full display the moment one steps into the hotel to be greeted by its custom-designed chandelier that symbolizes a shoal of fish glistening in a sea of amber and champagne.

Guests will have the opportunity to basque in the spectacular panoramic view of Surabaya City and lush greenery of the nearby golf course, as soon as they arrive at the 27th floor Sky Lobby.

For meetings and events, the hotel boasts a state-of-the-art, 9.3k square meter Grand Ballroom and Convention Centre - the largesst in East Java - conveniently located in the heart of the city. Whether celebrating a wedding, joining a conference, watching a music gig, or seeking rejuvenation, the hotel's 204 sophisticated yet homely rooms and Westin signature amenities such as its plush Heavenly Bed and Heavenly Bath are here to welcome you. There is even the signature WestinWORKOUT Fitness Studios to help guests stay on track during their stay. Stepping out to the pool deck, guests will be welcomed by the subtle 'European' feel of the sizeable oyster-shaped shade sail as the natural centerpiece of the grounds. Additionally, all guests are welcomed to indulge in the lap or large pool, while sipping drinks atop one of the Surabaya's best-known skyscrapers.

At 225 hotels and resorts in nearly 40 countries and territories, guests can experience the best wellness offerings, we can't wait to treat ourselves to some relaxing fun.