Linggo ng Musikang Pilipino bridges education gaps for budding artists
So you want to be a musician. Having talent, skill, and work ethic are a given. But if you’re really serious about turning your craft into a sustainable profession, understanding the business side of the industry will be just as important as writing good songs.
However, this kind of knowledge isn’t always accessible—or affordable—especially for fresh-eyed hopefuls navigating the scene without the backing of a record label or professional management. And that’s assuming they’re already aware that it’s something they should be learning in the first place.
This is exactly what the upcoming Music Talk Series aims to address. Organized by the Organisasyon ng mga Pilipinong Mang-aawit (OPM) as part of the 11th Linggo ng Musikang Pilipino (LMP) celebration, the program is designed to help bridge gaps in music education by initiating dialogue among industry professionals, students, and aspiring artists.
Happening on July 26 at the Greenhills Cinema in San Juan City, the event will offer panels and lectures covering both the creative and commercial sides of music-making.
“Learning opportunities for music aren’t cheap. And there aren’t a lot of options, especially for artists who have yet to have the network or resources to expand their knowledge and skills,” said OPM executive director Gab Cabangon in an interview with Lifestyle.
Panels and lectures
Music icon Jim Paredes of Apo Hiking Society, Paolo and Miguel Guico of Ben&Ben, and 2025 PhilPop Himig Handog grand champion Tiara Shaye will lead the songwriting panel. Record producer Shadiel Chan will give a live demonstration on music arrangement, while Jeli Mateo of FlipMusic and Raymond Fabul of Sony Music Philippines will discuss recording production from a label’s perspective.
Licensing and distribution will be tackled by Mich Maskariño of the Filipino Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers; Francis Anthony Buen of the Philippine Records Music Society; Marivic Benedicto of ABS-CBN Film Productions, and Mony Romana of Believe Music Philippines.
“Our participants will have free access and the opportunity to learn from some of the best in our industry,” Cabangon said “And we hope this gives them the tools to create excellent music.”
Together with representatives from collective management organizations, the Music Talk Series will also offer insights on intellectual property rights, and shed light on often overlooked—or at times unknown—realities of business contracts and agreements.
“As artists, we aren’t necessarily taught or informed of our rights unless we’re part of an organization. And unfortunately, that creates a greater risk of exploitation and unfavorable contracts,” Cabangon pointed out.
At the very least, the project aims to equip independent or self-managed artists with the basic knowledge needed to safely navigate their careers. And these same tools, he added, will also come in handy should they eventually pursue different paths within the industry.
Spirit of community, collaboration
But all things considered, understanding the backend of the industry isn’t just about protection—it’s about empowerment. With fewer things to worry about, artists can focus on the heart of why they do what they do: creating music.
“I want to emphasize that if the goal is to be a professional artist and songwriter, the focus should still be on continuously learning songwriting and music production,” Cabangon said. “There’s always something new to discover, especially with how music consumption and technology have evolved. I hope this project inspires more originality from the participants.”
While the Music Talk Series explores what happens behind the scenes, OPM Spotlight—another key component of LMP—is where the vision comes to life. With a curated lineup of live shows across key venues in Metro Manila from July 1 to August 1, the program features a mix of artists—from icons like Noel Cabangon and Color It Red, to rising talents like dwta and Solace Out the Door.
Meanwhile, the Rockwell Series, happening July 24 to 30 at Power Plant Mall in Makati, offers a more intimate listening experience, with acoustic sets from singer-songwriters. Making this year’s celebration special, Cabangon said, is that all 50 participating artists are official members of OPM—a first for LMP.
“This is important in terms of providing opportunities for indie artists to showcase their music to their communities,” he said. “There’s so much talent in our scene that deserves to be highlighted.”
The OPM is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting Filipino music and advocating for the welfare of artists and music professionals across the country. That its membership “grew significantly” over the past year is a testament to the impact of its programs. “This is a sign that perhaps we’re doing something positive for our industry,” Cabangon said.
First launched in 2014 through a presidential proclamation by the late President Benigno Aquino III, LMP began as a weeklong celebration, and has since grown into a monthlong “cultural institution”—thanks in part to OPM’s efforts to make the event more inclusive and community-driven.
Taken together, this year’s programs reflect the spirit of LMP’s theme, “Ikaw. Ako. Tayo.”—a tribute to the community and collaboration that have long defined Filipino musical identity. “It’s about bringing everyone into spaces where we can celebrate music together,” Cabangon said.
And it’s through this shared purpose, he added, that artists are able to create music that reflects who we are as Filipinos. “This may sound idealistic,” Cabangon said, “but we move our culture forward when we have people writing more songs and creating more music that we can be proud of as a society.”
