As ubiquitous as YouTube now seems, it’s easy to forget that the company is less than a decade old. In just over seven years, the video sharing website has spread all over the globe and continues to quickly expand into new markets. Despite this, YouTube only operates 46 individual country YouTube sites. This week, Indonesia became that 46th country.
Over on the Official YouTube Blog, Country Marketing Manager Krishna Zulkarnain announced the site’s launch. He stated that, although YouTube is already available in the Indonesian language, an official YouTube for Indonesia will bring its 237 million citizens more relevant videos and highlight content from the site’s sponsors. From the blog post:
We’ve already seen new talent in Indonesia using the power of video to build audiences and careers. “Dancing Cop” Briptu Norman turned his popular Bollywood lip-synching video into national fame. Brother-and-sister act Gamaliel & Audrey went from covering Lady Gaga out of their bedrooms, to complicated a capella versions of Chris Brown, to now working in a studio on an album.
YouTube Indonesia celebrated its launch in style, inviting some of the country’s most popular bands and musicians to its launch party. Some of those musical acts are featured in the video below, along with other bands and musical artists from around the world, wishing the website a successful launch and encouraging the Indonesian people to get creative with YouTube: