At Billboard Philippines‘ second iteration of our Women in Music event, we’re shining the spotlight on the Filipina female executives who have significantly molded the music industry in various ways, even amplifying the voices of Filipino talent on both the local and international stage.
Given the evolution of the music scene in the past few years, we’re shifting the spotlight on the power players and game changers who are relentlessly driving the industry forward. From the executives behind the biggest chart-toppers to the publishers that upkeep the Philippines’ rich musical catalogue to the producers of the country’s most sought-after concerts, tonight’s Women In Music: The Executive Edition brings together powerful women whose contributions and achievements have continued to create ripples in Filipino music.
As Filipino music exponentially grows on a global scale, it’s through the efforts of these renowned power players that the industry continuously evolves and moves forward. Whether it’s through their expertise in events production, entertainment law, the nurturing of artists and their talent, the publishing of your favorite songs, or upholding the legacy of OPM, these powerful female figures have made significant contributions to the scene at hand –– many of which are immeasurable and undoubtedly worthy of being celebrated.
With that being said, Billboard Philippines is proud to present the official honorees for this year’s Women In Music: The Executive Edition.
Rhiza Pascua – Management, Concerts, and Live Entertainment Executive of the Year
Rhiza Pascua. Photographed by Kieran Punay.
Over the past few years, Rhiza Pascua has made a name for herself through her role in supervising the production of some of the biggest musical events in the country. Even prior to leading Live Nation Philippines as its Managing Director, Pascua’s experience founding her own concert promotion company, Music Management International (MMI), has given her the necessary skills and experience to bring in some of the most famous names in the global entertainment industry, with each and every production getting bigger both in its scale and corresponding magnitude.
With all that she was able to accomplish, her efforts soon warranted the attention of Live Nation Entertainment, giving her an even more prolific platform as LNPH’s Managing Director to stage some of the grandest concerts and productions that the Philippines has ever bore witness to. Through bringing in internationally acclaimed superstars like Billie Eilish, Coldplay, Ariana Grande, Olivia Rodrigo, and a whole lot more, Pascua has expanded her role to platform Filipino talent on a global scale, beginning with rock legends like Rivermaya and most recently with the upcoming Philippine Arena concert of the Kings of P-pop, SB19.
Atty. Marivic Benedicto – Music Rights Executive of the Year
Atty. Marivic Benedicto. Photographed by Kieran Punay.
Despite making significant strides behind the scenes, Atty. Marivic Benedicto has established herself as quite a force in the Philippine music industry, especially with her recognition as one of the leading veteran legal experts on the scene. As the President of the Philippine Association of the Record Industry (PARI) for nearly two decades, Benedicto leads the non-profit organization to appropriately give the necessary compensation to those involved in the local music scene.
With everything that she’s learned and mastered about the intricacies of music publishing, she continues to champion music rights in the country, utilizing her expertise in Entertainment Law to help local legislators draft and improve music copyright laws while also ensuring the protection of the rights and interests of composers, songwriters, and performers in the Philippine music industry. In addition to her role as the Head of Music Publishing and New Media for Music at ABS-CBN, Benedicto’s work allows creators to understand the value of their work, empowering them with the knowledge they need to know their worth.
Audry Dionisio – Independent Record Labels Executive of the Year
Audry Dionisio. Photographed by Kieran Punay.
Audry Dionisio has experienced nearly all facets of the music industry, whether it’s through her experience as a seasoned musician and performer, her work as a studio engineer and producer, or her current role managing artists and operations at one of the country’s leading independent music labels, Offshore Music. The wealth of experience that Dionisio has under her belt has guided the paths of several of the scene’s most promising talents, fostering their artistic identity while providing them with the same lessons that she’s learned over time.
Given her efforts, she’s allowed Offshore Music to become a renowned name on the scene, empowering their acts to achieve new milestones and levels of success that have allowed them to become recognized on both the local and international music scene. Her keen eye for talent (and nurturing it) has further amplified the reputation of OPM in the music industry while introducing us to some of the freshest faces who deserve to be recognized by a bigger audience.
Kathleen Dy-Go – OPM Vanguard Executive of the Year
Kathleen Dy. Photographed by Kieran Punay.
Kathleen Dy-Go carries the legacy of one of the country’s most renowned labels, Universal Records, with an immense amount of pride — especially with how instrumental of a role she has played in upholding the legacy of Filipino music. It’s a duty she carries by blood, given how she’s following in the footsteps of her family, such as her father, industry pioneer Dr. James Dy, and her sister, the late Bella Dy-Tan, as she continues their duty of becoming a game changer within the local music scene.
Dy-Go’s passion for music carries over to her craft, as she continues to keep Universal Records as one of the leading record companies in the entire country — carrying a repertoire of some of the Philippine music scene’s most iconic names like Gary Valenciano, Regine Velasquez-Alcasid, Jose Mari Chan, Parokya Ni Edgar and a whole lot more. Yet despite the abundance of prominent names in the label’s roster, she keeps a keen eye (and ear) out to discover fresh faces and sounds that are representative of OPM’s evolution over the years, showcasing that having a unique perspective in fostering a new wave of talent is something that can be achieved simultaneously with the acknowledging the relevance of OPM’s past.
Georgette Tengco – Music Distribution Executive of the Year
Georgette Tengco. Photographed by Kieran Punay.
Georgette Tengco has a wealth of experience from her plethora of roles across the Philippine media landscape, and with that comes an intricate (and somewhat insightful) understanding of what works for a varied audience. Despite beginning her journey as a producer and news anchor for a major television network, Tengco was able to incorporate her learnings of the entertainment industry to lead one of the first music channels in the country, and even now as Country Director for Believe Music.
With how she perceives music to be an anchor to millions of Filipinos daily lives, she has led Believe Music to grow exponentially within the country –– allowing it to revolutionize the Filipino music scene by amplifying the voices of several artists, multiplying their streams, occupying trending charts, and supporting the rise of various labels and musical networks. It’s allowed a multitude of indie artists like Hev Abi, Toneejay, and a whole lot more to become household names all over the Philippines, as Believe continues to break new ground with new audiences and international heights with credit to both Tengco and the company’s distribution efforts.
Roslyn Reyes Pineda – Industry and Record Label Executive of the Year
Roslyn Reyes-Pineda and Blums Pineda. Photographed by Kieran Punay.
Recognized by industry figures, artists, and fans alike, Roslyn Reyes Pineda is a someone who has broken several barriers for the Filipino music scene, allowing the artists under Sony Music Philippines to achieve far-reaching success, both on the local and global stage. With her role as the General Manager of Sony Music Philippines Music, Pineda has pushed for Filipino talent to achieve new heights through the values of camaraderie and collaboration while nurturing these artists in service of their craft.
Even with her popular nickname of “Mama Sony,” Pineda’s unyielding commitment to supporting all the artists under Sony Music’s roster (such as SB19, Ben&Ben, dwta, and a whole lot more) has led to an abundance of career milestones for both the label and its acts — placing an emphasis on the expansion of Filipino talent on the music scene. For with every move and interaction that she incorporates in her role at the world-renowned label, Pineda ensures that her artists and team are empowered to keep putting out music that moves people, transcends audiences, and leaves a lasting legacy on the ever-evolving music industry.