If you’ve ever spoken to a songwriter who casually mentions a hit single but hesitates when the conversation turns to publishing, you already understand why Sony Music Publishing has officially launched a flagship office in Manila.

The expansion of Sony Music Publishing Philippines (SMP PH) marks a strategic investment in a market rich with talent but historically under-supported in publishing infrastructure.

Led by newly appointed General Manager Stephanie Ortiz, reporting to Sony Music Publishing Asia President Roslyn Pineda, the Manila office aims to formalize and strengthen the protection, payment, and positioning of Filipino songwriters globally.

SB19’s Pablo of SB19 spoke candidly about his early experience in the industry. “When I first entered the industry, I didn’t know anything about publishing,” he shared. “Many of my friends still don’t. For an artist whose group has helped define the modern P-pop wave, the admission underscored a wider industry gap. Pablo also reflected on the emotional labor behind songwriting itself. “It takes so much to create a song,” he said. “You live something, and then you try to translate that into something other people can carry.”

Guy Henderson, President of International at Sony Music Publishing, positioned the Philippine launch within a broader global context. As audiences worldwide embrace music beyond language barriers, he emphasized that access, not demand, is often the real obstacle.

“The world is listening,” Henderson noted, pointing to the rise of non-English music across Western markets. In this view, the role of publishing is to ensure creators are connected to the global ecosystem.

Roslyn Pineda referenced the opening of Sony Music Philippines in 2019 as a turning point. "Many artists," she said, "experienced a 'lightbulb moment' upon realizing publishing operates separately from recording contracts. That realization has informed SMP PH’s strategy: to build local awareness while offering international administration, royalty tracking, and licensing support.

with authenticity, Pablo rejected the idea that they are in opposition. ”Commercial doesn’t mean fake."

how they start writing their songs.

“Ever since nag-start kami, laging from personal life experiences yung base ng mga song. So, yung first step muna ay maka-heartbroken at umibig, magalit sa mga maling pangako ng buhay, you know, minsan, madalas. Pero yung, yung technical part of it is something that you could actually learn the same way that you learn a new language.”

Artificial intelligence also surfaced as a pressing issue. Henderson addressed it directly: “The same principles apply to AI: we put songwriters first and work with them to ensure their careers and songs are protected. At Sony Music Publishing, we approach AI the way we approach anything else by protecting our song licenses. It’s about supporting creativity in this new environment while also safeguarding writers, whether through direct engagement or industry-wide efforts, including lobbying for stronger laws to protect all songwriters.”

The launch of Sony Music Publishing Philippines signals a maturation of the country’s music ecosystem. Filipino artists have already demonstrated global appeal. What has been missing is the structural reinforcement behind the scenes.

For an industry long fueled by passion, this expansion represents a shift toward durability, where creativity and commercial structure are finally moving in step.