MYX an acronym or derived from the word 'mix'?

MANILA, Philippines - No, the musical channel MYX isn’t an acronym. The closest it can get to one is the origin of the channel’s name — a mix of letters M (music) for Generations Y and X, but officially, the channel’s name does not stand for that, even if MYX channel head Andre Allan Alvarez says that the target audience is the Gen X crowd. “We added the Y,” he says.

Andre is also the editor of the music channel’s official publication, the glossy magazine called MYX Magazine.

“We were thinking of various names,” Andre says. “At some point, the names under consideration were AMP (amplified), VOL (volume) and XYM (X and Y for generations X and Y and M for music). Then we were thinking of how the word mix is used in music: A “mix” of genres like pop, R&B, rock, hip-hop, and so forth (the channel’s attractions); “mix” as when you mix the various tracks in a recording including voice and instruments. Finally, we came up with MYX.”

Andre adds that the name started out among Edson Aguilar of Studio 23, Mouse Muñoz, who used to be the creative head for their on-air group in 2000, and himself.

And yes, MYX began 10 years ago not as an autonomous channel but as just a block of the (free) UHF channel Studio 23. On Valentine’s Day of the year 2002, MYX and Vid-OK karaoke channel merged. Vid-OK then was doing so well in the ratings that it did better than the combined ratings of MYX, MTV, and Channel V, not surprising considering that sing-along is a world phenomenon that began in the Philippines.

“The concept that would be followed was that of Vid-OK but the name would be MYX,” Andre says. “Before MYX had the daytime telecast then at late night, it gave way to Studio 23.”

Between then and now were big and small enticements to its young target audience. Among these feats are the annual MYX Awards, the MYX VJ search, handpicked video jocks, music videos, and music, music, music (for the young).

“As you can see,” Andre says, “at MYX, we try to ignore the so-called network wars. We accommodate artists from both stations and have embraced stars from the other channel in our MYX Awards. The channel has given birth to fresh and bubbly VJs, who later became famous, like MYX icons VJs Luis Manzano, Nikki Gil, Iya Villania, Heart Evangelista, and Geoff Eigenmann. Careers of the present generation’s biggest music acts like Sarah Geronimo, Christian Bautista, Nina, M.Y.M.P., Sponge Cola, Kamikazee, and 6Cyclemind jumpstarted through MYX. The tag ‘First seen on MYX’ came into being. MYX is proven to uplift Original Pinoy Music.”

Andre boasts that MYX is the No. 1 music authority in Luzon, the Visayas, and Mindanao. In a country that gave birth to videokes, MYX invites viewers to sing along to their favorite tunes from its hit charts. “Your Choice. Your Music.”