The crescendo of incessant laughter and brilliant ideas were pure sweet music.

From tales of combating piracy to new business models, the ten finalists grooved the 2007 IYCEY Music Award judges --Jazz prodigy Indra Lesmana, arranger-conductor Erwin Gautawa, and last year IYCEY’s winner Yoris Sebastian-- straight through sundown.

These are battle-scarred veterans of the music scene. They’ve made hit records, pulled-off international deals, and revolutionise their local industry --all before the age of 30.

But when it comes to their passion for the business of music it’s as fresh as every jingly-jangle note coming out of the electric guitars designed by contestant Aris Widodo.

Rival DJ Riri said it best: “As an entrepreneur, now is the best time to be in the business.”

Indonesia, said contender Salvador Sianturi of Universal, accounts for 70% of all legal music trade in the Asia Pacific (which includes Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines plus China, Hongkong, and Taiwan).

And as business and technological innovations provide new solutions against piracy and declining CD sales, 80% of that US$ 5 billion a year industry now comes from home-grown artists and sounds.

All ten finalists stand at the vanguard of that phenomenon.

Judge Erwin Gautawa, who became the first Indonesian to lead an orchestra at the Royal Albert Hall, was impressed by the spirit and ideas coming from a range of experience and skills.

So was Yoris Sebastian. “With last year’s music and design finalists as well as those from the 2007 music, design, film and fashion awards, we now have an important group of creative entrepreneurs bonding and working together. The future is bright.”

At the final beat, promoter/festival director/and label executive Leo Rustandi took top honour, with David Tarigan of independent label Aksara Records and Universal’s Salvador Sianturi not far behind.

“Leo fulfils all the criteria of an entrepreneur. His Jakarta Movement project has the potential of developing Jakarta’s music and creative industry –both of which are still neglected by our government,” said the judges

Indra Lesmana, as befitting a living legend, provided the coda: “The IYCEY Awards is instrumental in recognising and celebrating these diverse talents. In the end, everyone is a winner!”