MORE than 30 years since OPM, or original Pilipino music, burst into the scene, the genre continues to thrive, although not much heard over mainstream radio. Some have observed that it is in decline, since many FM stations no longer give as much airtime to OPM and OPM artists as they did during its heyday.
Braggy Braganza, station manager of Home Radio 979, Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas Golden Dove Awardee for best FM station in Metro Manila this year, does not agree with this view.
“OPM is very much alive, particularly in social media. You can witness OPM artists showcasing their talents with their songwriting skills, overall arrangements in rhythmic and melodic landscapes and image. Actually, today social media is their medium of exposure to be discovered,” Braganza said.
Many of these OPM artists get to be offered recording contracts following their performances on social-media platforms, Braganza added.
Braganza has taken up as an advocacy and campaign the promotion of OPM as a popular musical form through Home Radio. He initiated these efforts by coming up with the program “OPM Highlights,” which airs from 12 noon to 1 pm, Monday to Friday, over Home Radio 979. For one full hour, popular and emerging OPM artists serenade lunchtime listeners with their live performance from Home Radio’s studio at the Fifth Floor, Citystate Centre Building, on Shaw Boulevard, Pasig City. The show, he said, is focused on OPM to give Filipino musicians a medium for expression and exposure, “to give them a chance to be heard on air during their performance on the show.” New and upcoming bands, veteran OPM bands or solo performers are all welcome at OPM Highlights, Braganza added.
“We have such a wealth of musical talent in the country and we just have to give them a platform where they can be showcased and discovered,” he said.
He concedes that “not all radio stations on FM focus on OPM artists,” but “it depends on their format and how they repackage the image of the station.”
For Home Radio, with its adult contemporary, easy listening format, promoting OPM is an effective marketing move to promote the station itself.
OPM first referred to Filipino pop songs, particularly ballads, that were popular in the Philippines during the late 1970s, evolving to include at present rock, jazz and soul, and rhythm and blues music performed by Filipino artists. OPM artists, such as Rico J. Puno, Ryan Cayabyab, and Celeste Legaspi in the 1970s, and Regine Velasquez, Sharon Cuneta, Martin Nievera and Pops Fernandez, among many others, led the way in the 1980s and 1990s.
Today, the OPM scene continues to thrive, as Home Radio 979 discovered on its 25th anniversary concert at the Music Hall in Metrowalk on Meralco Avenue, Pasig City. The event also served as the formal launch to the public of OPM Highlights, which had been broadcasting on a pilot basis since early this year.
Organizers were surprised by the heavy turnout of musical artists who attended the event. “We were not expecting a lot of guests and performers, and we were surprised that the OPM scene really wanted to support and celebrate our anniversary,” said Braganza, expressing thanks to those who came on behalf of Insular Broadcasting System Inc. (IBSI), owner and operator of Home Radio 979, with the tagline “It feels good to be home.”
The guest performers and artists were led by Jaya, Jay R, Kris Lawrence, Anthony Rosaldo, and many more established and aspiring OPM artists.
Braganza enthused: “During and after the celebration, we received positive feedback that Home Radio has given a contribution to uplift the OPM scene. We brought veteran and newbie artists to perform together in one night to expose and highlight their talent and artistry.”
It really feels good, he said, that new artists showed their gratitude for the privilege of being included in a lineup with veteran artists.
OPM Highlights over Home Radio 979, Braganza affirmed, will always seek to enhance and promote Pinoy rock, pop music and ballads for the enjoyment of Filipino music lovers.