Music company aims to champion indie Pinoy musicians
loQal – 21 June 2011
By KC Santos
PASAY CITY, METRO MANILA - This music company is using the power of alternative media to help the independent music scene in the country.
Indiepinoy was formed in 2008 by five independent bands whose goal was to find an avenue for their music to be heard. Project Manager and musician Nolit Abanilla shares that their vision didn't start out big.
“At first we just wanted to promote our respective bands. Later we realized that there are other deserving and equally persevering indie bands out there who can benefit from that goal,” Nolit says.
Nolit adds that Indiepinoy is not like some label who meddles with the creative aspect of independent artists. “We do guide them in some aspects where they need help like marketing and distribution of their music,” he says.
In a time when “payola money,” more often than not still dictates which bands and songs can only be heard on radio, Nolit says Indiepinoy “exploits and integrates” traditional and non-traditional media so as to keep the artists’ creative juices flowing while enabling them opportunities to earn from original works.
By way of networking, Indiepinoy has secured partnerships with a mobile content provider, an indie Internet radio company, an online music store and a group of Filipino songwriters, to help embed, play, and promote the songs of the bands and artists either in ring tones, or in a medium where they can freely share a space not dominated by foreign music.
“We thought in one household, one family can share a CD but with cellphones, use is personalized, giving more opportunities for these artists to earn. We also partnered with these online music stores because we want to take part in their goal for a radio revolution wherein Filipino musicians and not foreign artists are promoted,” Nolit says.
The company also has its own music portal with downloadable music from various Indiepinoy artists. It also serves as an online bulletin where musicians can post introductions, gig schedules, commentaries and announcements about the indie music scene.
Nolit says in the process of recruiting bands for Indiepinoy, he feels assured that the country does not and will never fall short of natural talents in music.
“We got to meet a band from this province which has released at least 10 albums but still hasn't been noticed by any major recording label. It was disheartening but at the same time it reassured me that we really have a lot of talents that can sustain the music industry, if only people would acknowledge them,” he says.
Currently, Indiepinoy has rounded close to 1,000 artists and bands from all over the country. Indiepinoy works with whoever is the most aggressive in terms of producing and promoting their albums.
The group is currently focusing on 10 bands from various cities and provinces while recruitment is steadily ongoing.
“We have a limited roster of employees who work without pay which don't really bother us all. It helps that we are really committed and passionate about music,” he says.
Nolit further says Indiepinoy seeks to revive the Philippine Musicians Guild (PMG), a union of musicians who were actively promoting musicians and OPM in the 1950s.
Being registered with the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE), Nolit says PMG can give indie music groups and companies “fangs” especially in protecting artists' rights.
Nolit says the public should not confuse lack of exposure and patronage of Filipino musicians and bands with the absence of Filipino talent.
“We should realize that Filipino musicians and bands never stopped making music. They're their making original works and we need to see and support that,” he says.
PASAY CITY, METRO MANILA - This music company is using the power of alternative media to help the independent music scene in the country.
Indiepinoy was formed in 2008 by five independent bands whose goal was to find an avenue for their music to be heard. Project Manager and musician Nolit Abanilla shares that their vision didn't start out big.
“At first we just wanted to promote our respective bands. Later we realized that there are other deserving and equally persevering indie bands out there who can benefit from that goal,” Nolit says.
Nolit adds that Indiepinoy is not like some label who meddles with the creative aspect of independent artists. “We do guide them in some aspects where they need help like marketing and distribution of their music,” he says.
In a time when “payola money,” more often than not still dictates which bands and songs can only be heard on radio, Nolit says Indiepinoy “exploits and integrates” traditional and non-traditional media so as to keep the artists’ creative juices flowing while enabling them opportunities to earn from original works.
By way of networking, Indiepinoy has secured partnerships with a mobile content provider, an indie Internet radio company, an online music store and a group of Filipino songwriters, to help embed, play, and promote the songs of the bands and artists either in ring tones, or in a medium where they can freely share a space not dominated by foreign music.
“We thought in one household, one family can share a CD but with cellphones, use is personalized, giving more opportunities for these artists to earn. We also partnered with these online music stores because we want to take part in their goal for a radio revolution wherein Filipino musicians and not foreign artists are promoted,” Nolit says.
The company also has its own music portal with downloadable music from various Indiepinoy artists. It also serves as an online bulletin where musicians can post introductions, gig schedules, commentaries and announcements about the indie music scene.
Nolit says in the process of recruiting bands for Indiepinoy, he feels assured that the country does not and will never fall short of natural talents in music.
“We got to meet a band from this province which has released at least 10 albums but still hasn't been noticed by any major recording label. It was disheartening but at the same time it reassured me that we really have a lot of talents that can sustain the music industry, if only people would acknowledge them,” he says.
Currently, Indiepinoy has rounded close to 1,000 artists and bands from all over the country. Indiepinoy works with whoever is the most aggressive in terms of producing and promoting their albums.
The group is currently focusing on 10 bands from various cities and provinces while recruitment is steadily ongoing.
“We have a limited roster of employees who work without pay which don't really bother us all. It helps that we are really committed and passionate about music,” he says.
Nolit further says Indiepinoy seeks to revive the Philippine Musicians Guild (PMG), a union of musicians who were actively promoting musicians and OPM in the 1950s.
Being registered with the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE), Nolit says PMG can give indie music groups and companies “fangs” especially in protecting artists' rights.
Nolit says the public should not confuse lack of exposure and patronage of Filipino musicians and bands with the absence of Filipino talent.
“We should realize that Filipino musicians and bands never stopped making music. They're their making original works and we need to see and support that,” he says.
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