Pinoy pop or Filipino pop (abbreviation: OPM Pop) refers to popular contemporary music in the Philippines

Philippines

The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...

. With its beginnings in the 1970s, Filipino pop is a growing genre. It stems from a broader genre, Original Pilipino Music (OPM).

Beginnings (1960's to 1990s)

Filipino pop songs mainly referred to songs popularized since the 1960s, especially those in the ballad form, by major commercial artists like Pilita Corrales

Pilita Corrales

Pilita Garrido Corrales is a Popular Filipina singer. She is tagged "Asia's Queen of Songs."-Biography:Pilita Garrido Corrales was born in Lahug, Cebu to a Spanish mother Maria Garrido and a half Filipino half Spanish father Jose Corrales...

, Nora Aunor

Nora Aunor

Nora "Guy" Aunor is a multi-awarded Filipino actress, singer and producer. Aunor has also topbilled several stage plays, television shows, and concerts. She is regarded as the "Superstar in Philippine Entertainment Industry"...

, Basil Valdez

Basil Valdez

Basil Valdez is a Filipino balladeer.He has received several Tinig Awards and the 1991 Tanglaw ng Lahi Award from Ateneo de Manila University-Biography:...

, Freddie Aguilar

Freddie Aguilar

Ferdinand Pascual Aguilar , better known as Freddie Aguilar, is a folk musician from the Philippines. He is best known for his rendition of "Bayan Ko", which became the anthem for the opposition to the Marcos regime during the 1986 People Power Revolution, and for his song "Anak", the best-selling...

, and Rey Valera

Rey Valera

Reynaldo Valera Guardiano is a singer, songwriter, music director, film scorer and television host from the Philippines. He wrote and produced songs that were recorded by various singers, most notably Sharon Cuneta. He currently hosts the variety noontime show Pilipinas Win na Win alongside Rico J...

. Beginning in the 1970s singer-songwriters Ryan Cayabyab

Ryan Cayabyab

Ryan Cayabyab is a Filipino musician and was the Executive and Artistic Director of the defunct San Miguel Foundation for the Performing Arts...

 and José Mari Chan

José Mari Chan

Jose Mari Chan is a Chinese Filipino singer, songwriter and businessman in the sugar industry. He was born in Iloilo City on March 11, 1945. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Economics from the Ateneo de Manila University in 1967...

 rose to fame by composing original English love songs alongside modern Tagalog songs. Pioneer pop groups from in the same decade include vocal trio APO Hiking Society

APO Hiking Society

The Apolinario Mabini Hiking Society, later popularly known as Apo Hiking Society or, simply, Apo, was a Filipino musical group. The group had its fledgling beginnings in 1969 at the Ateneo de Manila high school, with thirteen members: Lito de Joya, Sonny Santiago, Gus Cosio, Renato Garcia, Chito...

 and Manila sound band Hotdog

Hotdog (band)

The Hotdog Band, more commonly known simply as Hotdog, is a Filipino band formed by brothers Dennis and Rene Garcia, that achieved musical fame in the Philippines during the 1970s. Their first album Unang Kagat was released in 1974 by Villar Records. The album led to the 1975 movie by the same...

. In the 1980s disco group VST & Co.

VST & Co.

VST & Company was a Filipino disco group prominent during the late 1970s in the Philippines. Considered to be the pioneer and icon of what is known as the Manila Sound, VST & Co. released disco singles such as Swing It, Baby, Magsayawan, Ipagpatawad Mo, Awitin Mo, Isasayaw Ko and Disco Fever...

 and pop icon Gary V gave rise to dance-pop in the mainstream.

"Golden Age" in Hip-hop (early 1990s)

The Philippines is known to have had the first hip-hop music scene in all of Asia

Asia

Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...

 and the Pacific Islands

Pacific Islands

The Pacific Islands comprise 20,000 to 30,000 islands in the Pacific Ocean. The islands are also sometimes collectively called Oceania, although Oceania is sometimes defined as also including Australasia and the Malay Archipelago....

 since the early 1980s. Outstanding hip-hop and rap artists like Francis Magalona

Francis Magalona

Francis Michael Durango Magalona , also known as FrancisM, Master Rapper, MC The Mouth and The Man From Manila, was a Filipino rapper, entrepreneur, songwriter, producer, actor, director, and photographer. He was the first Filipino rapper in the Philippines to cross over to the mainstream...

 and Andrew E.

Andrew E.

Andrew Espiritu , better known as Andrew E., is a popular Filipino Rap Artist, Record Producer, Dongalo Wreckords CEO, Fedex WSC Director, Dongalo Clothing President, and Movie actor. He is best known throughout the Philippines for 1990 debut hit single Humanap Ka Ng Panget...

 gave rise to a "Golden Age" in Pinoy hip-hop in the early 1990s.

Prominence of Pop-Rock (mid-1990s to present)

The early to mid-1990s saw the emergence of a superstar pop-rock group, the Eraserheads, considered by many nationals as a turning-point in the OPM music scene. In the wake of their success was the emergence of a string of influential bands such as Yano

Yano

Yano is a folk/punk rock band in the Philippines formed in 1993. The band members were originally composed of vocalist Dong Abay and Eric Gancio on guitar. Onie Badiang later joined them as bassist; Nowie Favila was the usual drummer but declined to join the group due to commitments with Ang...

, Siakol, Parokya ni Edgar

Parokya ni Edgar

Parokya ni Edgar is a Filipino band that was formed in 1993 by a group of college students. The band is famous and most lauded for its original rock novelty songs and often satirical covers of popular songs...

, Rivermaya

Rivermaya

Rivermaya is one of the most influential, critically acclaimed and significant Filipino rock band formed in 1993. They are one of the several bands who spearheads the 90s Philippine alternative rock explosion...

, Moonstar 88

Moonstar 88

Moonstar88 is a female-fronted band in the Philippine local music scene.As of April 2008, they have released three albums, Popcorn, Press to Play and Todo Combo, and collaborated on one track, Pag-Ibig Ko Sa Iyo, found on RoK On! Music Inspired By Ragnarok Online.They also performed a rendition of...

, and Hungry Young Poets

Hungry Young Poets

Barbie's Cradle was a popular Filipino band, formed by Barbie Almalbis and Franklin Benitez from their previous band Hungry Young Poets...

, each of which mixes the influence of a variety of pop and rock sub-genres into their style.

Filipino rock continues to flourish in the present with new bands such as Hale

Hale (band)

Hale was an alternative rock band from Manila, Philippines. The group consisted of Champ Lui Pio, Roll Martinez, Sheldon Gellada, and Paolo Santiago.- Formation :...

, Cueshe'

Cueshé

Cueshé is a Filipino pop rock band from Cebu, Philippines, currently based in Manila.-Background:In March 2005, the group decided to move to the Philippine capital of Manila...

, Sponge Cola, Chicosci

Chicosci

ChicoSci is a 5-piece Filipino rock band based in Manila. The band is composed of Miggy Chavez, Mong Alcaraz, Calde Calderon, Macoy Estacio and Ariel Lumanlan.-Formation and early days:...

, Kamikazee

Kamikazee

Kamikazee is a Filipino rock band formed in 2000. The band is composed of Jay Contreras, Jomal Linao, Led Tuyay, Puto Astete and Bords Burdeos.- History :...

, and Urbandub

Urbandub

Urbandub is a Filipino rock band from Cebu City, Philippines. Since its inception in 2000, the band's line-up has consisted of Gabby Alipe , John Dinopol , and Lalay Lim . The band's current drummer is Janjan Mendoza, who has been with the band since 2003.Urbandub is the first indie band who has...

, and the emergence of the country's first virtual band, Mistula

Mistula

Mistula is the first Filipino virtual band, and is composed of four customized ball-jointed dolls. They fuse music, graphic art, literature, photography, and other art forms, built around themes of Catholic idolatry and cultural commentary....

. Though only some of the spearheading bands are still fully intact, many old members have formed new bands such as Pupil

Pupil (band)

Pupil is a Filipino rock band composed of Ely Buendia on frontman duties and guitars, Yan Yuzon on lead guitar, Dok Sergio on bass and Wendell Garcia on drums.-Formation:...

, Sandwich

Sandwich (band)

Sandwich is a Filipino rock band that was formed in 1995 by Raimund Marasigan and Diego Castillo for the purpose of fulfilling their mutual desire to work together. Castillo recruited former band mates from The Aga Muhlach Experience Mike Dizon to play drums and Myrene Academia to handle bass...

, and Bamboo

Bamboo (band)

Bamboo was a Filipino alternative rock supergroup founded in 2002 by Francisco "Bamboo" Mañalac, Ira Cruz, Nathan Azarcon and Vic Mercado.-Band origin:...

. A few members such as Kitchie Nadal

Kitchie Nadal

Anna Katrina Dumilon Nadal , more commonly known as Kitchie Nadal, is a singer and songwriter from Manila, Philippines, formerly the lead vocalist for the alternative rock band, Mojofly. Kitchie's popularity in the female OPM niche grew after she released a self-titled solo album featuring her...

, Barbie Almalbis

Barbie Almalbis

* Dahilan* Give Yourself Away* Overdrive * Damsel* Sorry Song* Parading* Little Miss Spider* High * Summer Day* Pag-alis* For The World...

, and Rico Blanco

Rico Blanco

Rico Blanco is a Filipino singer, songwriter, musician, record producer, actor, and entrepreneur. As a solo artist and with his former band, Rivermaya, Blanco has so far recorded, written and produced more local and regional number one hits than any other musician since 1994 and has sold over a...

 have established steady solo careers.

Though rock bands have been dominating the mainstream since their commercialization in the nineties, pop acts were still regularly showcased in the live band scene. Pop bands Side A, True Faith

True Faith (band)

True Faith or Truefaith started in 1992, and since then, has become one of the Philippines' most popular and accomplished bands.The band took its name from New Order's 1987 hit single "True Faith", revealing the group's new wave origins...

, Neocolours

Neocolours

Neocolours was formed 1988, out of the remnants of a mid 1980s vocal group, in Manila, Philippines. Founding members were: Jimmy Antiporda , Ito Rapadas , Marvin Querido , Josel Jimenez , Paku Herrera and Nino Regalado . At that time the pop music genre in the Philippines was dominated by solo...

, South Border, and Freestyle popularized songs that clearly reflect the sentimental character of OPM pop. Solo belters and balladeers such as Regine Velasquez

Regine Velasquez

Regina Encarnacion Ansong Velasquez , better known as Asia's Songbird, Regine Velasquez, is a Filipino singer, actress, record producer and TV host...

, Sharon Cuneta

Sharon Cuneta

Sharon Cuneta-Pangilinan, better known as Sharon Cuneta, is a popular and multi-awarded Filipino singer, actress and TV host dubbed as Megastar of Philippine Entertainment, fondly called Mega by fans and people from the entertainment industry....

, Joey Albert

Joey Albert

Joey Albert is a Filipino pop and jazz singer, musician, lyricist and songwriter. An alumna of and , Albert began her professional singing career in 1982, right after winning the Dream Girl Filipina contest in The Party, a television program hosted by Ariel Ureta over Banahaw Broadcasting...

, and Martin Nievera

Martin Nievera

Martin Ramon Razon Nievera is a singer, songwriter, and actor. He is one of the main hosts of musical variety show ASAP on ABS-CBN-Early life:...

 had regular exposure on television and radio. Currently, notable soloists like Sheryn Regis

Sheryn Regis

Sheryn Mae Poncardas Regis , better known as simply Sheryn Regis, is a Filipina pop singer, composer, host and actress. Sheryn was a consistent top scorer of Star in a Million, where she eventually ended as runner-up to Erik Santos in January 2004...

, Sarah Geronimo

Sarah Gerónimo

Sarah Asher Tua Geronimo is a Filipino recording artist, actress and dancer. Geronimo started her career appearing in children's variety shows such as Pen-pen de Sarapen, Ang TV and NEXT...

, Christian Bautista

Christian Bautista

Christian Joseph Morata Bautista , more popularly known by his screen name Christian Bautista, is a Filipino singer, actor, host, and model. He was a finalist of Star In A Million, a Philippine reality show aired on ABS-CBN channel, winning the 4th place in the competition in 2003...

, and Rachelle Ann Go

Rachelle Ann Go

-External links:*...

 continue this trend. Although, remakes of old OPM songs and covers of foreign songs are dominant in their work. Popular acoustic acts like Nina

Nina Girado

Marifil Niña Girado , better known by her stage name Nina, is a Filipino pop/R&B singer, occasional songwriter, record producer, TV and radio personality. She made her recording debut in 2002 after signing a recording contract with Warner Music Philippines...

, Juris (of MYMP), and Aiza Seguerra

Aiza Seguerra

Cariza Yamson Seguerra better known as Aiza Seguerra is a Filipino actress, singer-songwriter and guitarist. She traces her roots from Calauag, Quezon....

 also prove the diversity of Filipino pop. R&B artists Kyla

Kyla

Melanie Hernandez Calumpad Alvarez , better known by her stage name Kyla, is an R&B singer, songwriter, producer, TV host, and occasional actress from the Philippines....

 and Jay-R

Jay-R

Gaudencio Sillona III , who performs under the mononym Jay R, is a Filipino singer-songwriter, actor, record producer and model. In 2003, he released his debut album, Gameface, under Universal Records...

, as well as hip-hop acts Gloc-9

Gloc-9

Aristotle Pollisco , better known by his stage name Gloc-9, is an Awit Award-winning Filipino rapper. His fast-flowing vocal style has made him one of the most successful hip-hop artists in the Philippines...

 and Dice & K9 (Mobbstarr), remain steadfast despite less representation of their respective genres in the current industry.

Re-emergence of Urban and Dance Pop (2000's)

Both local urban and dance pop achieved little attention in the mainstream since their initial prominence in the 1980s and the 1990s, respectively.

From year 2000 onwards, R&B soloists Kyla

Kyla

Melanie Hernandez Calumpad Alvarez , better known by her stage name Kyla, is an R&B singer, songwriter, producer, TV host, and occasional actress from the Philippines....

, Nina

Nina Girado

Marifil Niña Girado , better known by her stage name Nina, is a Filipino pop/R&B singer, occasional songwriter, record producer, TV and radio personality. She made her recording debut in 2002 after signing a recording contract with Warner Music Philippines...

 and Jay R began to achieve high media visibility despite less representation of the genre in the current industry. Kyla

Kyla

Melanie Hernandez Calumpad Alvarez , better known by her stage name Kyla, is an R&B singer, songwriter, producer, TV host, and occasional actress from the Philippines....

, in particular, gained much attention during this time as one of the pioneers of the R&B genre. With the success of her hit single "Hanggang Ngayon" which went on to win the at the 2001 MTV Video Music Awards

2001 MTV Video Music Awards

The 2001 MTV Video Music Awards aired live on September 6, 2001, honoring the best music videos from June 10, 2000, to June 8, 2001. The show was hosted by Jamie Foxx at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York City...

, Kyla

Kyla

Melanie Hernandez Calumpad Alvarez , better known by her stage name Kyla, is an R&B singer, songwriter, producer, TV host, and occasional actress from the Philippines....

 became the first and the only Filipino female artist to win at the VMA's

MTV Video Music Awards

An MTV Video Music Award , is an award presented by the cable channel MTV to honor the best in music videos...

.

Authentic Filipino hip-hop acts Gloc-9

Gloc-9

Aristotle Pollisco , better known by his stage name Gloc-9, is an Awit Award-winning Filipino rapper. His fast-flowing vocal style has made him one of the most successful hip-hop artists in the Philippines...

 and Dice & K9 (Mobbstarr) also gained considerable attention. By 2006, solo act Amber

Amber Rowley

Amber Alejo Rowley Davis , simply known as Amber, is a Filipino-American singer.- Early life :Amber was born to Gary and Cecilia Rowley...

, later followed by Young JV and O.N.E, hit the mainstream with original Filipino-American urban music.

Concurrently, beginning in 2002, local sexy dance groups SexBomb Girls

SexBomb Girls

The Sexbomb Girls are an all-female singing, dancing, and acting group from the Philippines. They are known for the novelty songs "Spaghetti," "Bakit Papa" and "Bilog na Hugis Itlog" that were certified platinum in the Philippines...

, Viva Hot Babes, and Masculados began to popularize novelty songs among the masses. With this and the beaming popularity of the Pussycat Dolls

Pussycat Dolls

The Pussycat Dolls are an American pop girl group and dance ensemble based in Los Angeles; currently consisting of Lauren Bennett, Vanessa Curry, Kristal "Lyndriette" Smith, Tiffany "Taz" Zavala, Kia Hampton and Paula Van Oppen. The Pussycat Dolls were founded by choreographer Robin Antin in 1995...

 at the time, there emerged an interest in forming American-style girl groups influenced by burlesque dance. Thus, groups such as Kitty Girls

Kitty Girls

The Kitty Girls is an all-girl singing group formed in April 2007 by Ms.Cecille Carpio of Elan Models International and Jose Felix Dingcong of JLD Management, in the Philippines, consisting of Jocelyn Oxlade, Ayanna Oliva, and Khai Lim. The Kitty Girls is a sing-and-dance group that's currently...

, Mocha Girls and PYT-Pretty Young Thing were formed.

P-pop Groups or Pinoy Pop Groups (2010's to present)

A recent rise of groups during the late 2000s and the early 2010s inspired by the Korean wave

Korean wave

The Korean Wave, also known as the Hallyu , refers to spread of South Korean culture around the world. The term was coined in China in mid-1999 by Beijing journalists surprised by the fast growing popularity of Korean entertainment and culture in China...

,has likewise been stirring a dance-pop movement called P-Pop with male groups such as XLR8

XLR8

XLR8 is a sing and dance boy group in the Philippines under VIVA Records' P-Pop Label. XLR8 is composed of Arkin del Rosario, Carlo Lazerna, the identical twins MJ and MM Magno, AJ Muhlach, Kiko Ramos,Hideaki Torio and Caleb Santos...

,1:43,Freshmyx,Sakto and A-FIVE; female groups such as PopGirls,Pointen and Eurasia ;and a combination of male and female group: RPM.

New Music Generations (2010's to present)

Due of the music brought by many foreign music artists, many Filipino teenagers start to pursue their own dreams using the music they had. R&B and Accoustic songs was the center of attraction so that teen singers like Julie Anne San Jose

Julie Anne San Jose

Julie Anne Peñaflorida San Jose in Novaliches, Quezon City, Philippines is a Filipina singer and actress who is a contract artist of GMA Network. Currently, she is a regular freshman student at Angelicum College – Quezon City...

, Elmo Magalona

Elmo Magalona

Elmo Moses Arroyo Magalona, better known as simply Elmo Magalona is a Filipino actor and singer. He is the sixth child of Francis Magalona.-Personal life:...

 Jake Vargas and Rita Iringan

Rita Iringan

Rita Daniela De Guzman Iringan is a Filipina singer, actress and television host. A granddaughter of the late Filipino actor Teroy de Guzman, her career was launched after being the first grand champion of QTV’s PopStar Kids. Since winning the said contest, she has made numerous appearances on...

. Other new music generations are : Amber Davis, John Miguel, Faith Anne and

International recognition

In 2010, Little Big Star

Little Big Star

Little Big Star is a singing contest aired every Saturday afternoon on ABS-CBN in the Philippines and internationally on The Filipino Channel. The show was hosted by a Filipina singer and actress Sarah Geronimo. The series premiered on Saturday, September 24, 2005...

 2nd runner-up and YouTube

YouTube

YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....

 sensation Charice's debut album became the first from an Asian to land among the Top 10 (at No. 8) of the Billboard 200

Billboard 200

The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...

 for album sales. She was also one of the first Asian artists to have a song peak at No. 1 for Billboard's Dance/Club Play Songs.