Philpop 2013 now accepting entries

I love the excitement that the Philpop announcement brings.  Everybody with a song begging to be heard or simply thinking of all that goodies that the prize money could bring gets the songwriting juices flowing.  Whatever they come up with might just be the hit of tomorrow, the song that might get music sales out of its current pathetic state.

This is a fact.  At a time of moribund sales and uncertainty about the future of  the local music industry, the thought that there is a third Philippine Popular Music Festival to look forward to just makes everyone feel better. Not only better, I must say, optimistic, because just when a lot of people had given up on our pop music, there is Philpop, still trying to make hit songs.  And if these hit songs become classics in the years to come, then Philippine music will be alive and kicking again. 

And the start of the competition is not the only great news about Philpop. Instead of opening the contest to entries in January and accepting songs only up to February like what happened this year, Philpop has started accepting entries as early as last Nov. 15.  This will continue up to Feb. 28, 2014.  This longer period should encourage more entries.  If I remember right, there were nearly 5,000 entries to this year’s batch.  I am sure that there will be more next year. Thanks, to the success of the 2013 winners.

It is not only the grand prize of a cool one million bucks that is waiting for the top winner that is very tempting.  It is also the chance to get your song heard on the radio, on TV and the Net and in live shows.  People in the music business know that it has now become very difficult to do all that with music releases.  For some strange reason, the local media still has this preference for foreign songs or the output of only the big stars.  But Philpop guarantees massive exposure for all the finalists.  A song, no matter how beautiful and well recorded, will die if nobody gets to listen to it or watch it performed. 

Philpop is doing something about that.  In fact, Dati, the composition by Thyro Alfaro and Yumi Lacsamana, that won the grand prize of P1M and an Orlina trophy, this year is a hit.  The recording and the video performed by Sam Concepcion, Tippy dos Santos and Quest has received nearly 12 million views on YouTube and gotten extensive radio airplay.  Of course, it has also served to add to the fan awareness about the performers and helped to advance the careers of Sam, Tippy and Quest. 

So join Philpop and your song might just follow Dati to success.  Everybody of Filipino descent, even those living abroad, amateur or professional, can join the contest.  The song entry must be entirely original, not licensed to any publisher, has not been recorded, printed, distributed or performed live in public.  Note that public means anywhere, the stage, on TV, on the Net, etc.  There are no restrictions as to the type of song,  You can do rock, hip-hop, tango, fandango, etc. or do a good old ballad with your entry and you can be sure it will get a chance.

Now, while it is pretty much open season as to the type of entries, I would like to stress that it would be best to create songs that a lot of people would enjoy listening to.  I have nothing against experiments and you do have the right to be true to your creativity.  But save that for later, when your name as a songwriter already carries enough clout.  That is when fans will buy a song simply because you wrote it and they know it will sound great.  So for starters, get a good idea about what songs sell and then do something in your own style.  Go to the Philpop website, www.philpop.com.ph for all the details about joining the contest.

The other finalists were: Araw, Ulap, Langit by Marlon Barnuevo, performed by Christian Bautista; Space by Raffy Calicdan, performed by Banda ni Kleggy and Kean Cipriano of Callalily; Askal by Ganny Brown, sang by Jose Manalo and Wally Bayola; Sana Pinatay Mo Na Lang Ako by Myrus Apacible, sang by Kimpoy Feliciano; Sometimes That Happens by Adrienne Sarmiento Buenaventura and Niño Regalado interpreted by Ace Libre of Never the Strangers; Sa ‘Yo Na Lang Ako by Lara Maigue performed by Karylle; Papel by Joey Ayala, interpreted by Ayala and Gloc-9 featuring Denise Barbacena; and Time Machine by Kennard Faraon performed by Six Part Invention.