By Ciara Mina
The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) announced this year’s theme, “IP and Music: Bringing the Pinoy Beat to the World,” for the National Intellectual Property Month (NIPM).
This theme is in line with the World Intellectual Property Organisation’s theme, “Feel the Beat of IP”.
Intellectual property rights and OPM
With the celebration of the NIPM for 2025, the IPO aims to uphold intellectual property rights as well as to highlight and protect the power of Original Pilipino Music (OPM).
“Through NIPM 2025, IPOPHL aims to raise awareness not only on the power of music but also about the crucial role IP plays in helping the Philippine music industry thrive. Creators must be empowered to ensure that their intellectual property is valued, protected, and celebrated whether at home or abroad,” IPOPHL director-general Brigitte da Costa-Villaluz said.
“It is said that music is a universal language of mankind. I believe this to be true. Wherever you are, music affects you. Its impact cuts across communities and generations.”
Da Costa-Villaliz added that it is critical that the Philippine music industry utilise intellectual property to guarantee that local talent is acknowledged and adequately compensated stating that OPM can continue to transcend boundaries, tell life experiences and promote the Philippines internationally if strong intellectual property rights are in place.
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Rise of OPM in recent years
Philippine Statistics Authority’s (PSA) most recent data shows that the music, arts, and entertainment sector has been growing since 2020.
According to Spotify Philippines, local music currently dominates its Top 50 – Philippine playlist, which is a daily update of the most popular songs in the nation. This shows how vibrant the local music scene is.
Global playlist streaming has also climbed dramatically; in the past five years, the top Philippine hip-hop playlist has grown by 600 per cent, while the main Philippine pop playlist has grown by 138 per cent annually.
Over the last five years, Pinoy music streaming has also increased internationally, with the top markets outside of the Philippines being the United States, Canada, Indonesia, Poland and Australia.
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