Panel Talk – Breaking the Mold: How Asia is Redefining the Global Landscape

Kukuh Rizal Arfianto is the CEO of Sun Eater Group, an influential hybrid music and entertainment company based in Jakarta, Indonesia. Before making the bold decision to venture into the music industry, he began his career in retail, advertising and film.

Over the past six years, he has played a pivotal role in growing Sun Eater Group from a humble start-up into a major force in Indonesia’s independent music scene. Under his leadership, the label has signed renowned acts such as Hindia, .Feast, Lomba Sihir and Reality Club, and has released over 350 records to date.

Beyond recorded music, the company has also expanded into merchandising, launching collaborations with artists including RAN, The SIGIT, Mahalini and Rizky Febian. Sun Eater Group launched Jakarta Music Con three years ago and continues to produce the music talk show, which fosters industry insight and community dialogue.

With a passionate team, visionary artists and a loyal fan base, Sun Eater Group continues to prove that independent labels have the power to reshape and redefine the music industry in Indonesia.

Sarah currently heads up the Artist and Label Partnerships team in Southeast Asia at Spotify. At the forefront of Southeast Asia's music scene, Sarah champions dynamic partnerships with labels and partners spanning multiple diverse markets; leading innovative, best-in-class artist marketing strategies and industry programs, all with a laser focus on artist development and export.

The founder of Asian Pop Weekly and self-titled C-Pop guru, Jocelle discovered her passion for Mandarin music through an upbringing divided between time spent in Singapore and Australia. Her thirst for knowledge and passion for bridging gaps has informed the foundation of Asian Pop Weekly today. As a music industry professional who has dabbled in everything from journalism and artist management to digital distribution, she wears a lot of hats; all in the name of bringing the music she loves to those who find it foreign.

Ilyas Sholihyn is the Editor-in-Chief of RICE Media, a digital publication known for its investigative reporting, cultural commentary and human interest stories in Singapore. Prior to RICE, he had over a decade of experience running online news and lifestyle publications such as Bandwagon, Coconuts Media and AsiaOne. His perspectives on modern journalism have been sought after and shared in universities, industry podcasts, media conferences and corporate boardrooms.