Category: News

In 2008, five bands grouped together to find means to distribute their music on the prevailing trend of the time - mobile distribution. They realized that corporate would only talk to labels who represent hundreds of artists. The content providers do not want to waste their time talking to each and every independent artists coming into their doorstep. And so the five artists gathered more to form a group that will represent the independent artists and have a say in the music corporate world. Indiepinoy, the indie label and music company was born. The five bands grew into over a thousand independent Filipino artists.

This was the time digital was coming of age. Resources which were formerly exclusive to major labels due to expense started to become popular. Musicians can now create content (audio and visual) at par with those created by big production groups before but this time done in their own bedroom or backyard. Despite the development of digital technology, some institutions in the music business remained monopolized or at least dominated by the major labels who still firmly holds its place in the industry. Big budgeted promotions, radio and other media dominated by the campaigns of major labels are evidences that the independent artist could not compete.

Indiepinoy knows better. It has been proven thru history that musical tribes and fads started not from the mainstream but from the underground. Why would you then limit yourselves in an arena where you cannot win over the bullies. Go into the alternative route. Musicians of today have a wider arena to play with in promoting their music. There are a lot of emerging grounds where music can strive to become popular. And being creative can give birth to more alternative venues. On these arenas, your power to succeed is not limited to your budget. And you have equal footing with the big corporations in launching campaigns for your music.

This is what Indiepinoy lives and breathes. Over the years, Indiepinoy has explored various ways to promote the music of its artists. It has been actively representing the independent artists in various community activities, including having a presence in the Philippine Congress when issues affecting the musicians are discussed. Indiepinoy has also introduced itself to various corporate activities in an effort to find new means to promote independent Filipino music.

What differs Indiepinoy from other record labels?

Still indiepinoy stands as a music label. So what differs Indiepinoy from other record labels? First of all, Indiepinoy does not intend to gain big profits as a label. It was created by artists whose only intention was to have their music distributed. It wants its artists to be the one to gain economically in the marketing efforts Indiepinoy indulges. Indiepinoy wants to stress that it wants its artists to be independent. Thus it encourages its artist to explore means on developing and marketing music on their own. Indiepinoy can give guidance only based on its won experiences. There are a lot of indiepinoy artists who are now standing on their own, embracing the true essence of being indie. Experiences from these artists are additional inputs that helps shape up the development of independent Filipino music. Indiepinoy still include these artists in its projects of promoting independent Filipino music. This is what indiepinoy was really made of: helping each other. Indiepinoy is only described as a label to conform with the industry standards since there is no other description that will fit.

What does it take to be an independent Filipino artist?

Indiepinoy realizes that for artists to survive, one has to find his/her own audience. And when you get to have a specific audience, be true to them. They are your following. Do not attempt to go global or national without having your own crowd first. Your crowd can be your community where you belong, school or company, a particular audience who follows you on your gigs, followers in your online presence, etc. From there on you can expand as far as you are able to. But it is still important to maintain your roots, your original audience. Because they are the ones who believed in your music even when nobody else heard you yet. Having this, you can now stand on your own. Tools in the music industry can be learned and indiepinoy can provide guidance afterwards.

RTD Points to Stress (Given at the Round Table Talks in the Philippine Congress, November 21, 2019)

1. Musicians should be unionized. There is strong need for a union/guild for the musicians to have a voice. This union should be unified by as much musicians groups as possible. This will create a voice for the musicians. Look into the demands. Address issues affecting the musicians. Look into their righs and welfare, etc. I have heard a comment from  a fellow musician who said na takot ang mga tao to join if it is a union or takot makipag ugnayan sa grupo mo if you are a union. My opinion is bakit ka matatakot if this is the body na magtatangol sayo? Those who have the intention of oppressing musicians, sila ang dapat matakot. Hindi tayo. You can call this body anyway you want, but it has to function as a musicians guild.

2. There are lots of music organizations, ang problema hindi lahat ng ito ay nagkikita kita regularly.

-There is a need to create an umbrella organization/alliance that each group should be represented. Mayroon tayong tinatawag na stakeholders in the music industry. But the stakeholders are the key groups in the business of the music industry that defines it as a business. Their concern is to make sure business runs. They are not concerned of the rights and welfare of the individual members in the industry. We need to broaden the participation to include all culture and arts groups bot just those key persons involved in the commercial side of the music strata or what we call the mainstream. Medjo diverse ngayon ang music scene because there are artists who can make an impact on the music scene but they are not in the mainstream of the the music business. Wala sila sa negosyo nito.

-There is a need to regularize the Philippine Music Summit. It has to be a yearly event where all players in the music industry, not just the commerce of it, should be represented. Hindi naman kailangan ito bongga every year. Hindi din ito festival or concert. Isa itong gathering where people in the music talk what has to be addressed. Included to be discussed here are the ways to empower Filipino music. Implement guidelines for radio as a tool to promote Filipino music. What can be done with cultural festivals, fiestas, etc. where Filipino music or Filipino arts and culture in general should be in the forefront of it.

3. Implement an arts and culture program particularly music program that will reach the barangay level. If in every barangay there is a day care center and a basketball court, there should also be a cultural stage. Locals can attend music/arts workshops so that they can develop their skills. This will create a visible avenue fr the artists to hone their talent and not go elsewhere for such it is not the community who will benefit from their arts. we can tap whoever celebrity who lives in the barangay. These workshops can be organized into community cultural organizations where they can be tapped to perform in every community event or create an event/concert of their own. They can also create their own micro media such as setting yp their own community radio stations similar to the campus radios on schools and universities, video channels utilizing modern technology especially the internet.

4. The national government should provide funds and resources for these arts and culture community activities and organizations. 

Indiepinoy goes to the Philippine congress again. Indiepinoy President Nolit Abanilla is represented on a roundtable discussions about workplace issues and conditions of artists in the Philippine congress last Noverber 21, 2019. The gathering was held at the Montilla Hall, Southwing Annex of the House of Representatives. It was sponsored by Bayan Muna Partylist office of Rep Ferdinand Gaite, House Committee on Labor and Employment and Artists Task Force ChaCha. Also discussed during the talks was the topic of censorship and a proposed amendment to the MTRCB law.

Various artist organizations, mostly from the film industry took turns to express their concerns regarding artist rights and welfare issues. Among them are, the Artist Task Force ChaCha, Performers' Rights Society of the Philippines (PRSP), Lupon ng Pilipinong Sinematograpo, Artist Welfare Project, Inc.(AWPI), Asosasyon ng Musikong Pilipino, Indiepinoy, Philippine Animators Workers Association, Production Designers Guild of the Philippines, Scriptwriters Guild of the Philippines, and individuals working in the visual arts and writers/literature field. A lot of stories in the artists field from past experiences have been shared on the table. Highlighted are the work ethics of production designers who not only come in hours earlier before the actual shoot but also leaves late as they have to clear the things on the set. And in the night, instead of going to sleep they still have to prepare the clothes the actors need to wear the next day. The animators also shared their horrifying experiences as they have to reach a certain number of drawings or else they will lose their jobs. Not to be left behind are the critic writers and authors who often desolate themselves during work but needs to go out the opposite direction by organizing themselves in order to protect their rights. Actor Bembol Roco expressed his concern that these issues are still being pursued into law, despite decades of struggle from one presidential term to another.

Congressman Enrico Pineda who Chairs the House Committee on Labor and Employment expressed that each issues discussed will be taken into consideration when they finalize a bill which is being called as the Eddie Garcia Bill, to honor the late actor who died due to poor conditions in the workplace. Actors/directors Gina Alajar and Rex Cortez shared a move from the Department of Labor and Employment to put into action a department order that details rules and regulations that will protect the rights and welfare of artists particularly in the film industry.

Tiktok, a video-sharing social app held a workshop in Manila to promote its service and make it useful to music labels. This was attended by Indiepinoy staff, Nolit Abanilla and Angela Rodriquez. The workshop discussed topics such as: Tiktok best practices for Artists and Tiktok overview for labels. Two regional officers from tiktok were there to share their information about the platform. Antoine El Iman who is the head of distribution and sales for South east asia of Believe Digital (Indiepinoy's partner in digital distribution) also shared bits of music global news and how the company is positioned. The event was held at The LOFT in One Corporate Center, in Ortigas Center, Pasig city. It was held last November 12, 2019.

Indiepinoy was advices to "fix" the starting points of the music clips which are included in the Tiktok platform for which users can use in their videos. Indiepinoy immediately obliged and made it happen. You can now use the music of your favourite indiepinoy artist on the Tiktok app. Artists are encourged to launch their own campaign to promote their music in the platform.

Kahit Indie Pasko Ay Magbigayan is a recompilation of previously released original Christmas songs made by independent Filipino artists. The songs are gathered from several indie Christmas albums released over the past decade. The compilation is produced by Indiepinoy, a company that has been the champion in the struggle of independent Filipino artists. It is an effort to bring music from previously not so popular indie music scene into the limelight especially this Christmas season and hopefully in the succeeding years. The songs are available in 240 territories on digital download from music webstores including itunes, apple music, spotify, deezer and amazon music.

The album consist of 15 tracks including the mobile download favorite "December Parade" by the indie-pop band Date with Fate. Also included is the Boxers' christmas song, "Sana ay Laging Pasko" which became popular with its witty music video. A lot of songs tackle the topic of hope in times of turmoil especially for which Christmas season normally suggest to us. Dream Kitchen's "Disintunado" and Syato's Regalo are perfect examples of this. Also included are the songs by The Play Fountains, Squeezers, and the long standing folk-rock progressive band Nuklus. Singer-songwriters DJ Angela, Leo Fantone, AnthonyO, didn't fail to contribute their part. Also included in this compilation are inactive indie bands whos song are still being heared online such as Sensitive, Sigwada Experiment, Muffin, Pitchfork and Kinetic Daze.

Indiepinoy hopes to popularize these Christmas songs via alternative media which include having them played regularly instore on Christmas bazaars, public markets as well as pipe in music on Christmas events and corporate parties. They will also be maximizing all efforts in having these songs played on various online internet radios and community radios in the provinces. Indiepinoy will also be maximizing multimedia on the internet by popularizing music videos and videos of performances in hopes of making them viral.

Proceeds of this album will go to charitable institutions for projects helping less fortunate children in their educational needs.

Staff members of Indiepinoy attended a casual forum on music streaming which was sponsored by Spotify and Believe Digital. Among those discussed are the best practices in streaming music as well as getting the most presence for the artists in spotify. The guest speaker was Ms Kossy Ng from Spotify regional office in Singapore. The event was held at The Boardroom in Ortigas, Pasig City last Sept 26, 2017. x

INDIEPENDENT FILIPINO ARTIST AGENDA 2016

Specifics for the Independent Filipino Artist: 

EMPOWERING THE INDEPENDENT FILIPINO ARTIST

 1.  Provide grants and sponsorships for projects that uphold and promote nationalism, including music productions, videos and film. This include the production of materials that can be used for schools in promoting and discovering the lives and struggles of Filipino heroes in their quest for genuine independence, sovereignty and social justice. These projects will be actively supported and participated by the independent Filipino artists, therefore they should rediscover Philippine History in order for them to create a nationalist, scientific and mass oriented musical compositions.

 2. Develop a baranggay or community level arts and music program. Encourage community cultural organizations, help them develop talents in their community,  and provide them with venues for them to showcase their arts.

 This will create a visible avenue for artists to go and hone their talents and not go elsewhere for which it is not the community who will benefit from their arts. Create venues for trainings, workshops and sharing of compositions.  Communities can also develop their own micro media such as setting up their own community radio stations similar to campus radios and video channels utilizing modern technology such as the internet.

 Discover talents in your community and be proud of them. Utilize their talents by showcasing their arts in various activities on the community from ordinary events to concerts in town fiestas. Artists can also visit other communities and  tour the region or the nation in promoting their arts.

 The community can also help the artists in recording their songs and producing their albums. The baranggay level music and arts program can stand on its own by utilizing sponsorships from  the businesses in their area.

 3.On the national level, the state shall provide multi-functional community centers for culture and the arts that will support the baranggay level projects. These centers should be able to facilitate exchanges in several baranggay and regional musical showcase.  Develop and establish music summits as well as give recognition to those who excel in this endeavor.  Create venues in the media to showcase on a national and international level, the arts and music of communities.

 4. Develop marketing for music of the independent Filipino artist. Revise oppressive rules of OMB in replicating CDs that prevents the independent artist from producing their own albums and market them. Provide means for the artists to fairly market their music as content in the new digital technology.

 Areas of Concern:

 1. Abolish payola system in commercial radios and insist on commercial radios to play at least 10 Filipino music per hour. Encourage these commercial media to play new materials and not just old rehashed Filipino music. This will encourage the new generation to create their own music and help develop the community of Independent Filipino Artists.

 2.Utilize the People's TV and its radio counterpart for the promotion of Filipino music old and new, not in the promotional pattern of commercialism but one that promotes Filipino culture.

 3.Create an Executive order that will address the collection of equity fees from foreign performances in the country and have the collection be utilized in the projects that affects the whole music community.

The indiepinoy christmas party was held last Dec 28, 2016 at the Black Kings Bar in West Ave., Quezon City. The event featured performances by The Boxers, Persephone, KKK, Musico, Azpalto, Liquor Lips, Alikabok 2.0, JR Prisno, Jake Lanting, Sidro Malaya, Amelia and other surprise guests. Indiepinoy gave a year end report presented by president Nolit Abanilla.  The event was also showcased with free food and drinks to the delight of the indie musicians who came to bond with fellow musicians.

Light TV Network along with Indiepinoy launched the Ignite Gospel Music Festival which is now on its forth season. Te culmination event was held at Eton Centris in Quezon City last November 18,2016. It featured performances of Ultra Eskeptical Band, Planet Hopia, Mayonnaise, The Juans Band, Never the Strangers, Ang Bandang Shirley, Gloryfall Band, Victory Worship, Youth Alive, Ahava, and a whole lot more .

INDIPILIPINS BAND and The Cultured Mind Indie Pinoy Radio Show Proudly Presents The First INDIPILIPINS Song Writing Competition INDIPILIPINS BAND together with The Cultured Mind Indie Pinoy Radio Show is proud to present its first ever songwriting competition. This event is only open to all amateur Pinoy songwriters. Winning entry will receive a fully arranged, mixed and mastered recording of his/her song by INDIPILIPINS BAND. INDIPILIPINS BAND is an International internet band composed of Nolit Abanilla (Philippines), Christian Angelo Semilla (Philippines), Robert "Obet" Rivera (Singapore) and Butch Monserrat (Australia). Songwriters can submit their entries to : indipilipins@hotmail.com Date of Submission: May 1, 2016 Entries: Submissions will close upon receiving 20 entries only Cut Off Date: Upon receiving 20 entries Music Genre: Pop/Rock Category Music Style: Ballad/Uptempo Please note: 1. Submission must have a minimum of a vocal track with guitar or keyboard accompaniment. Sending only a vocal track will not be accepted. 2. Submissions must be in an Mp3 format 3. Submissions are limited to only one (1) entry per person. 4. Submissions must accompany songwriters name and title of song. 5. Only the first 20 submissions will be accepted, so don't delay. INDIPILIPINS BAND will then screen the songs for the entire month of June and then select the winning entry, which will be announced on the last day in June. Music arrangements will begin July 1, 2016. Recording of tracks will follow and the winning entry should be completely mixed and mastered towards the end of July. The finished arrangement will then be announced by DJ Rossam and played on The Cultured Mind Indie Pinoy Radio Show towards the end of July.