Philippine music industry gears up for the world stage

May 31, 2010 - PRLog -- Close to 1,500 local and foreign trade buyers were treated to a night of world class music by the country’s leading bands and musicians at the Music Beyond Borders held during the 51st edition of Manila F.A.M.E. International, Asia’s Boutique Show.

The musical extravaganza aims to showcase the best of the Philippine music industry and gather a large audience that will get involved and support the government-private sector initiative of developing a Philippine music export program.

Supporting the event through their top performances during the event were renowned artists and bands such as Cynthia Alexander Group and Kalayo (World Music), Johnny Alegre & Absolute Zero (Jazz), Sandwich (Rock), Up Dharma Down (Alternative), Drip (Electronic), and D-Coy (Hip Hop). Showing their support for the music industry, mother and son Pia and Elmo Magalona were also present at the event who sang their own rendition of Francis Magalona’s “Mga Kababayan”.

“Having this kind of event for the music industry is truly wonderful. We should continuously support the music industry and promote it further because being a world-class performer is one of our trademarks as a Filipino,” said Pia Magalona, music advocate and wife of late Francis Magalona, the country’s master rapper.

The launch of Music Beyond Borders was organized by the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM), an attached agency of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). Music Beyond Borders is also in collaboration with various music sectors such as the Philippine Association of the Record Industry (PARI), Channel V Philippines, the official music channel partner, and various independent music makers.

“It's very inspiring to see industry players representing diverse genres and stages of the production process actually discussing how to market Filipino musicality and what needs to be done to ensure a high quality of products and services we intend to offer in the music scene,” said Atty. Marivic Benedicto, President of PARI, an association composed of record producers that aim to promote and develop Filipino music to world class status and to penetrate the world market through participations in international shows and events.

As an initial step in marketing Filipino musicality and promoting the Philippine creative industry, CITEM organized the “Beyond Borders: A Music Industry Forum” last year in which representatives from various organizations and government agencies attended. The forum came up with an export development program that aims to identify music-related exportable commodities and develop a strategy for promoting Philippine music in the international market.

The Philippine music and record industry consists of producers of local records many of whom are also licensees of foreign labels and of the singers, composers, musicians, arrangers, managers, PR men, technicians, studios and duplicators.

For more information about the Music Beyond Borders initiative and future events, visit www.manilafame.com/creativeindustry or contact the Creative Industry Division at 632.832.5039 or 632.831.2201 local (322) or E-mail at creativeindustry@citem.com.ph.

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The Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM) is an export promotions arm of the Philippine Department of Trade and Industry.