The HipDut Phenomenon in the New Media Era

The Transformation of Dangdut Music Culture in the Digital Ecosystem

Abstract

The development of digital technology has changed the paradigm of human interaction and the production of cultural meaning. This study examines the phenomenon of HipDut (hip-hop dangdut) music as a new cultural product born from the new media ecosystem. The aim is to analyze how new media characteristics, such as interactivity and convergence, influence the production, distribution, and consumption of HipDut music, and how this phenomenon represents the cultural identity of the younger generation. Drawing on McLuhan's media ecology theory and Henry Jenkins' convergence culture, this study highlights the shift in the audience's role from passive consumers to active producers in a democratic digital space. The case study focuses on the song "Garam & Madu (Sakit Dadaku)" by Tenxi, Naykilla, and Jemsii, which gained popularity without going through the conventional recording industry. The analysis shows that HipDut is not just a passing trend, but rather a reflection of the collapse of boundaries between high and popular culture mediated by algorithms and collective participation. This research contributes to the still-limited study of local digital music, particularly in understanding the transformation of traditional music in the digital cultural space.