Atty. Marivic Benedicto On Empowering The Philippine Music Scene – One Legal Victory At A Time
Atty. Marivic Benedicto has emerged as a pivotal figure in the Philippine music industry, leveraging her legal expertise to champion the rights of Filipino artists. As President of the Philippine Association of the Record Industry (PARI) for nearly two decades, she has been instrumental in advocating for fair compensation and shaping music copyright policies in the country.
Benedicto’s journey into the music industry was unconventional. Initially aspiring to be a classical singer, she shifted paths after winning the National Music Competition for Young Artists (NAMCYA) in 1985. Her passion for music remained, even as she pursued a law degree at the University of the Philippines, influenced by her family’s legal background. This unique combination of interests led her to Viva Entertainment in 1998, where her dual expertise in music and law became invaluable.
Her tenure at Viva coincided with the digital transformation of the music industry, from the rise of karaoke machines to the advent of polyphonic ringtones and ringback tones. Benedicto’s ability to navigate these changes was further demonstrated during her time as Executive Director of the Optical Media Board (OMB) in 2004, where she tackled piracy and protected artists’ rights. Later, representing major media conglomerates like Viva and ABS-CBN at PARI, she continued her advocacy for the industry.
Under her leadership, PARI has evolved from an anti-piracy organization to a unifying force in the music industry, working closely with Congress and the Intellectual Property Office (IPO) to promote Original Pilipino Music (OPM) on a global scale. Benedicto envisions Filipino artists achieving international recognition, akin to the success of Korean pop, and cites groups like SB19 and BINI as examples of this potential.
Despite acknowledging ongoing gender biases in certain industry roles, Benedicto remains optimistic, noting the Filipino audience’s strong support for female entertainers. Her dedication to empowering artists and her strategic legal interventions continue to shape the future of Philippine music.
Reference Article
Author: admin
PARI Official Site Developer and Administrator
Discover more from Philippine Association of the Record Industry, Inc. (PARI)
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.