The Faculty of Languages and Arts (FBS), Universitas Negeri Semarang (UNNES), hosted the 4th International Conference on Music and Culture (ICOMAC) on September 29, 2026, bringing together academics, researchers, musicians, composers, industry professionals, and students to explore the evolving relationship between music, technology, and cultural identity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Held virtually under the theme “Redefining Music in the Age of Artificial Intelligence: Education, Performance, Industry, and Cultural Identity,” the conference provided an international platform for examining how artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping music education, artistic creation, performance, and the creative industries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Now in its fourth edition, ICOMAC continues to foster academic exchange and cross-cultural dialogue. This year’s conference brought together participants from four countries\u2014Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and Mexico\u2014highlighting the growing importance of international collaboration in responding to technological developments in music and culture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The conference featured Prof. Dr. Dra. Kun Setyaning Astuti, M.Pd., from Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta as the keynote speaker. Distinguished international speakers included Prof. Dr. Patricia Adelhaid Gonz\u00e1lez-Moreno from the Autonomous University of Chihuahua, Mexico; Professor Ho Chee Kong from the National University of Singapore; and Zechariah Goh Toh Chai from the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts, Singapore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Representing Indonesia’s music industry, composer and musician Dimas Pradipta, who has collaborated with various recording artists, also joined the speaker lineup. The participation of both academics and industry professionals offered a comprehensive perspective on the intersection of music scholarship, artistic practice, technological innovation, and the creative economy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In his opening remarks, Dr. Eko Raharjo, M.Hum., Vice Dean for Academic and Student Affairs at FBS UNNES, reaffirmed the faculty’s commitment to supporting international academic activities as an essential component of institutional development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Academic excellence is built upon scholarly activities, including seminars, research, and community engagement. As the Faculty of Languages and Arts, we must continue to support these initiatives,” he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Eko emphasized that the faculty’s support extends beyond providing facilities. It also involves strengthening the academic environment, enhancing institutional capacity, and expanding collaborative networks that enable study programs to gain greater national and international recognition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hafid Zuhdan Bahtiar, S.Pd., M.Sn., Chair of the ICOMAC 2026 Organizing Committee, explained that artificial intelligence was selected as this year’s central theme in response to its rapidly expanding influence across education, composition, performance, music production, and the creative industries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to Hafid, the conference sought to encourage critical engagement with emerging technologies rather than promote technological dependence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Our discussion of AI at ICOMAC is not intended to encourage dependence on technology. Instead, it focuses on how AI can be used appropriately while ensuring that humans remain at the center of creative and academic processes,” Hafid explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This human-centered perspective shaped discussions throughout the conference, particularly as AI continues to raise questions about artistic originality, intellectual ownership, cultural identity, and ethical responsibility in music creation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Rather than viewing AI as a replacement for human musicianship, the conference encouraged participants to explore its potential as a tool for artistic experimentation, educational innovation, and professional development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Discussions also examined how music educators can integrate digital technologies into teaching, how composers and performers can respond to AI-assisted creative processes, and how cultural identities can be preserved amid the rapid transformation of the global music industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
ICOMAC 2026 attracted participants from four countries and involved approximately 11 institutions, including ten universities and one private institution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hafid noted that bringing together academic scholars and music industry practitioners has remained a defining feature of ICOMAC. This approach allows participants to examine contemporary music issues from both theoretical and professional perspectives, bridging academic research with real-world artistic practices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The conference also provided opportunities for students to participate in performances, engage in scholarly discussions, and develop their academic presentation skills in an international setting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Through these experiences, students were encouraged to strengthen their critical thinking, academic communication, and professional networking skills while gaining broader exposure to international developments in music education and the creative industries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Student participation also opened opportunities for developing research papers that could be presented at the conference and subsequently prepared for academic publication.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As one of its academic outputs, ICOMAC 2026 plans to publish international conference proceedings with an International Standard Book Number (ISBN), featuring scholarly contributions from presenters in accordance with the conference’s publication requirements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The proceedings are expected to extend the impact of the conference beyond the event itself by documenting and disseminating research findings and scholarly perspectives on music, arts education, technology, cultural studies, and the creative economy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
ICOMAC 2026 also reinforced FBS UNNES’s commitment to advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4 (Quality Education) and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The conference contributed to SDG 4 by promoting knowledge exchange, technological literacy, academic capacity building, and innovative approaches to music education. Discussions on AI encouraged educators and students to engage with emerging technologies critically, creatively, and responsibly, supporting the development of relevant and high-quality learning experiences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Meanwhile, the participation of academics and industry professionals from different countries reflected the objectives of SDG 17 by strengthening international academic networks and creating opportunities for collaborative research, knowledge sharing, and cross-border partnerships.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The conference also highlighted the relevance of SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), particularly through discussions on cultural identity, artistic heritage, and the sustainability of musical traditions in an increasingly digital world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
By addressing the relationship between technological transformation and cultural preservation, ICOMAC emphasized the importance of ensuring that innovation does not diminish the cultural values and human experiences embedded in musical practices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Through the 4th ICOMAC 2026, FBS UNNES reaffirmed its commitment to advancing arts education and research that embrace technological innovation while remaining grounded in human creativity, ethical responsibility, and cultural heritage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Beyond facilitating scholarly discussions and academic publications, the conference is expected to inspire sustainable international collaborations and strengthen the role of music as a medium for education, creativity, intercultural dialogue, and social transformation in the age of artificial intelligence.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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