EduAsiaNews, Surabaya – Indonesian singer and music industry practitioner Ashanti Hastuti has officially earned her doctoral degree after successfully defending her dissertation during an Open Doctoral Examination on Wednesday, May 13, 2026. The public defense was held at the Open Doctoral Examination Hall on the second floor of the Graduate School, Campus B of Airlangga University.
The academic session was attended by members of the academic senate, the supervisory board, and her beloved family. Ashanty’s doctoral research stemmed from her in-depth observations of the digital disruption that has fundamentally transformed the landscape of Indonesia’s music ecosystem and its impact on the sustainability of senior musicians’ works.
Academic Challenges and Lifelong Learning Motivation
Completing doctoral studies while remaining active as a music industry practitioner and homemaker posed significant challenges for Ashanty. She admitted that the process of writing and defending her dissertation was filled with mental pressure and intense anxiety before every stage of examination.
“Honestly, I was extremely frightened and anxious. Every time I was about to take an examination, I would often feel stressed all day,” Ashanty revealed.
Despite having to manage multiple responsibilities and mental burdens, Ashanty emphasized that pursuing education has no age limit. She remained enthusiastic about continuing her doctoral studies while also pursuing another undergraduate degree, demonstrating her unwavering commitment to lifelong learning.
Senior Musicians’ Adaptation Strategies in the Face of Digital Hegemony
The core of this research produced a comparative formulation on how veteran music industry practitioners respond to technological advancement. The study highlights that senior musicians who are able to survive in the digital era are not necessarily those who fully submit to computational systems, but rather those who can negotiate digital logic while preserving the essence of human artistic expression.
“This adaptation is highly determined by an artist’s ability to negotiate with the demands of today’s digital systems. They must be able to adapt, but they do not necessarily have to fully master the existing technology,” she explained before the examiners.
Research Commercialization Plans and Copyright Advocacy
To ensure that the findings of her research do not merely remain as academic documents stored in a library, Ashanty has designed concrete implementation plans as part of her research downstreaming initiative. She reaffirmed her commitment as an industry practitioner to ensure that her hard work would have a meaningful impact.
“I have struggled and worked tirelessly to reach this point. I do not want this dissertation to simply accumulate dust in a library. We must make meaningful use of everything we have fought for,” she asserted.
Furthermore, she outlined several immediate action plans following the completion of her doctoral degree.
“In the short term, I intend to advocate to the government regarding copyright issues, because copyright protection is extremely important. Baby Boomers and older generations still require rights protection and transparency from institutions to this day. Collaborating with the government to realize this is essential,” Ashanty concluded regarding her immediate objectives.
