For some time now, I’ve had the habit of maintaining an all-OPM playlist over at Spotify, where every week I’d collate new music I’ve encountered and found to my liking. The listing is called, quite appropriately, the “Pinoy Pop Playlist.”

Maintaining a playlist has been part of my job for the longest time. As a promotions manager for the biggest local record label in Manila (with three long-standing imprints synonymous with OPM under its umbrella and newer associate labels that while I was still there, totalled six and counting), I needed my platform to showcase all the singles (or album) our label released weekly that numbered from a tight handful to a dozen on a really jam packed release schedule. 

Of course, the main music outlets would still be the established platforms on TV, radio, and print, as well as the various social media platforms utilized in these modern times. And I did just that to the best of my abilities with the talented team I worked with. 

Maintaining a playlist was for my peace of mind. Knowing that there’s a place I can readily put all this music, just after it was born into the world, meant that I was instrumental in putting it out there. And at the start, it did exactly what it was meant to do, which was to collect all these tunes in one place which I can then listen to and remember who put out what, and from a totally enjoyment perspective, to appreciate the music these musicians, production people and the label worked on and from the artist whose idea this was born out of.

Over time, the Pinoy Pop Playlist had grown with a modest following. Not so much that I can brag about some hefty numbers, but enough that I can totally appreciate it and say that yes, this is a good thing that I’m reaching these listeners. 

However, I eventually had to leave the music industry because it was impossible to maintain my position at the label from several thousand kilometers away (approximately 13,700 km). So, curating the playlist was no longer a priority, as I’m not really into that world anymore. For a couple of months, I missed keeping the playlist up to date, and adding new music was relegated to a mere afterthought. But I continued writing about pop music anyway through my Audiojunkie column, so I thought: why not connect my column to that playlist, since it’s somewhat the same thing, after all? Right? 

So, yeah, every week I’d save a bit of space here to mention and give a quickreview of the music featured on the Pinoy Pop Playlist. It’s all going to be new and fresh (even if it’s a cover of an oldie, it should be a ‘new version’). And it’s going to come from everywhere. From the labels to indie acts, they can be featured in it. If you’re a DIY music artist, shoot me a direct message as my socials are tied to the Pinoy Pop Playlist anyway. And to kick it off, here’s the Top 10 at P.P.P. counting down from ten to one: “Bitin” by Over October, “Di Na Babalik Sa’yo” by Shanne Dandan, “Puso” by Rob Deniel. “LNP” by Sponge Cola, “Flying Kiss” by Dilaw, “Pag-ibig Na Walang Hanggan” by EJ De Perio, “Ahon” by December Avenue, “San Ka Pupunta?” by The Dawn, J-pop sounding “Palapit Sa U” by Geiko, and at number one is the latest from Janine titled “Pikit Mata.”

Follow the "Pinoy Pop Playlist 2025" on Spotify.