Saving OPM 2

That piece on Saving OPM generated more blog response than others I’ve done. Thank you so much guys. It was really heartening to discover how much Pinoys care about the music and to read the spirited exchange about problems and solutions. Here are some of them.

 From aar0475: “The problem is the labels are all about making money; whatever sells like hotcakes is what they want. It’s a good thing that nowadays artists are able to do everything on their own (producing, getting CDs pressed, on-line marketing, etc.) I still support OPM acts even though I have been living abroad for over 15 years, especially the newer bands, I have never relied upon the music labels for my local music fix. Most bands I have discovered due to people posting about them on-line. I’d say go support them, watch their shows, buy their CDs and download their music legally.”

From markoboy: “It’s true. Nakakalungkot na tanggapin na karamihan ng mga OPM sa ngayon ay puro revival. Sayang ang mga talent ng ating magagaling na composers.”

The record labels are in business. That means they have to make money. Nowadays when they have to pay even for store displays, that can add up to millions. It helps when the artist looks good enough to be in a Bench billboard but if not, the label has to pay for that, too. Of course it also follows that only those indie artists with money to spend will be able to get adequate marketing support. It is also true that you have to spend more to promote a new original song by even one of the great composers. The songs have to be heard to sell and become a hit.

From vicONGASis: “I agree that the RP recording industry or the worldwide music industry for that matter, is on survival mode. I am sure you may have offended not a few in the Filipino music business with your frank but truthful assessment of the industry. Quick-buck approach: Revive an old hit.

“But don’t you think this is the best time to go back to basics? It’s just as it was in the movie Field of Dreams, “If you build it, they will come. The best of OPM that we’re talking about were all original compositions and those encountered stiff competition from some of the best foreign artists of our time. If you compose a good song, people will buy it.

“Sa mga kababayan nating nasa Canada. Can you confirm kung ano ang requirement sa mga radio stations diyan? Kasi meron akong nabasa na you’ll hear sa radio mas maraming Canadian kesa foreign because of a law similar sa nabanggit. It might work.

“Kasi sa TV because of peso devaluation, napilitan ang mga TV shows magproduce ng Pinoy shows. Click naman. So why not sa radio? Bahala na ang mga radio stations mag-filter kung sino ang magaling at kung sino ang hindi. Ultimately, yung buying public din ang magde-decide.

“Isa pang kalaban ng industry yung piracy. Di pa nare-release sa stores, meron na sa Quiapo.”

Labels have no choice anymore but to include piracy in their losses like pilferage or damage in production. Technology has made this so easy. It is not like during the days of vinyl LPs when you needed a pressing plant to make copies. The economic situation also plays a part here. Pirated copies come cheap or free if a friend makes them for you. When you only have so much to spend you will not buy the expensive or I should say, rightly priced original.

Legislation giving a preference to local recordings really helps or maybe something like a tax break from the government. That was also how Australia saved its music industry during the ‘70s. The mandate resulted in the rise of INXS, Air Supply, Olivia Newton-John and others. Of course the DJs also went out of their way to help.

From howlindave: “DWLA 105.9 fm played nothing but homegrown music during the ‘90s. It was a popular station then with the Doctor on board. OPM 24 hours a day. Eraserheads, Yano and a lot of alternative musicians resurfaced. It was the second coming of Pinoy rock, but some good things never last. The Doctor retreated to Baguio and the bands lost their steam. Now we are back to where we started. And awiting Pilipino wala na ang himig ng mga puso.”

 From kEnshinxXxhiMuRa: There are still many good composers I think. Take for example the brothers Moymoy Palaboy. Although not really original, their song Laklak has the melody of Rodel Naval’s Lumayo Ka Man Sa Akin is creative. Who could have thought about that?

From johnny_blade: For sometime I was also lamenting the same fact. I felt there was nothing out there but revivals because those are the only songs I was relating to. VicO and friends, we don’t notice or pay attention to the OPM music of this generation which has more of a rock flavor. There are a plethora of new groups with all original compositions, Rivermaya, Bamboo, Orange & Lemons, Hale, Itchyworms. So friends, don’t worry, OPM is not dead, medyo outdated lang ang taste natin. He he he. Aminin.”

From mojo: What is OPM anyway? It’s not original Pilipino music. When Sitti sings a Brazilian song with Tagalog lyrics, it’s not OPM in the sense Flips know.

Back when the term first came into being OPM meant original Filipino compositions performed and produced by Filipinos. When good ones of this type began to become scarce, the very adaptable Pinoy changed it to mean any recording by a Filipino artist. That now means even foreign songs with foreign producers.

The times are dark for OPM. But when the situation is so down there is nowhere to go but up. The Manila Sound which was the music of the ‘70s that fuelled the rise of OPM touched something in the Pinoy’s psyche that remains relevant up to now. That is why those songs keep on getting revived. It also came as a total surprise. Maybe, or should I say hopefully, something like that will happen again.